At least four Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) activists were injured in a clash with security personnel in Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari, on Tuesday. 

The clash ensued as the protesting RJP-N activists attempted to padlock the office of Chief Election Officer. As part of its protest programmes, the RJP-N, an alliance of six Madhes-based parties, was scheduled to padlock the offices of election officers across the nation on Tuesday.

The party cadres padlocked the office of chief election officer on the building of the Urban Development and Building Construction Division Office, but the security personnel broke the lock immediately. The clash ensued as the protesters made an attempt to padlock again. 

The RJP-N leadership claimed that police used excessive force as their party cadres were holding a peaceful protest. “The security personnel tried to provoke the protesters by unnecessarily using force during peaceful agitation,” said Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, the RJP-N central vice-chairman.

In Mahottari, RJP-N supporters padlocked election offices at Jaleshwor, Aurahi, Samasi and Pipara. They chanted anti-government slogans and demanded their demands be addressed before holding the second phase of local elections.