Rangeli bazaar in Morang remained shut on Friday to protest the killing of three agitators in police firing in Rangeli, Morang on Thursday. 

As a result, transportation on the Rangeli-Biratnagar road has come to a halt, while a large number of security forces have been deployed.

Madhesi Morcha leaders dubbed the probe committee that was formed to investigate the Rangeli incident as “pretentious” one. Morcha leaders have refused to recognise the committee formed under the leaders of the ruling parties excluding the Morcha.

Morcha’s Morang coordinator Rajkumar Yadav said, “Would the ruling parties carry out an objective investigation? This is all pretention. We will not accept this committee.” 

The agitators were killed in a clash with police that ensued after police stopped SLMM cadres from marching towards the programme venue of Youth Force Nepal, ruling CPN-UML aligned youth wing, where UML senior leaders were scheduled to attend the programme.