National
4-yr-old among four killed in Rupandehi police firing
A four-year-old boy was among four killed in police firing at Bethari in Rupandehi district on Tuesday evening.A four-year-old boy was among four killed in police firing at Bethari in Rupandehi district on Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred after some people hurled stones at the vehicles being escorted by the security personnel.
Locals claimed the victims were the innocent people who had gathered at a local market. Police, however, said they were compelled to open fire after the protesters attacked the trucks in the Lumbini corridor. Two police vans and as many goods-laden vehicles were vandalised in the incident. The dead boy has been identified as Chandan Kumar Patel, while identities of other three are yet to be ascertained. Half a dozen people were injured in the clash.
They are receiving treatment at Bhairahawa Medical College. The local administration has since clamped curfew in the area. Protests against the proposed federal model continued in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu district on Tuesday.
However, the agitation gradually receded in some eastern Tarai districts.
The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) activists resorted to arson and vandalism in Bara. The protesters took out a motorcycle rally to force shut down of factories and industries along the Birgunj-Pathalaiya industrial corridor.
The enraged protesters vandalised vehicles parked on the premises of some factories in the area, police said.
At least 15 people were injured when the demonstrators clashed with the security personnel at Nitanpur. The injured are receiving treatment at Narayani Sub-regional Hospital in Birgunj.
Police detained Jitendra Sonal, the central joint general secretary of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, for his alleged involvement in arson and vandalism.
In Sarlahi, the SLMM took out a baton rally with hundreds joining them in a show of strength at Malangawa, the district headquarters. They were demanding a stop to the ongoing clause-wise voting on the draft constitution at the Constituent Assembly.
There were also protests at various places in Rautahat, Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu, among other districts.
Meanwhile, life is gradually returning to normal in Morang, Sunsari, Siraha after the prolonged banda, with the partial resumption of transportation and reopening of market place.
Victims’ final rites performed
MAHOTTARI/DHANUSHA: The final rites of six people killed in the police firing were performed in Jaleshwor and Janakpur on Tuesday. The SLMM activists took out a funeral rally at Jaleshwor which was attended thousands. The six succumbed to bullet injuries during the protest in Mahottari against the proposed federal model. Similarly, three persons who were killed during clashes in Janakpur were cremated en masse on Tuesday. Central leaders of various Madhes-based parties attended the funeral.
(With inputs from local correspondents)