The ongoing Madhes protest and blockade of essential goods at several border points remained intact on Sunday.

Agitating Madhes-based parties, except Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik, continued their protest in some Tarai districts. Transportation of cargo trucks came to halt in Biratnagar, Birgunj and Bhairahawa customs points on Sunday.

However, 42 fuel tankers entered the country through Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha border point, and 14 fuel tankers and three gas bullets from Kakadvitta on Sunday. On Saturday, 11 fuel tankers entered through Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha border point.

Nine protesters and four security personnel were injured in sporadic clashes between the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) activists and the police at no man’s land in Biratnagar. The clash ensued as police attempted to disperse protesters who staged a sit-in pressing for their demands. The dispersed protesters then fled to Indian territory before hurling stones at the police.

In Sarlahai, the SLMM torched three motorcycles used in smuggling fuel from India on Saturday night. The motorcycles were torched along with around 130 litres petrol and diesel brought into the district from India.

Similarly, protesters torched a motorcycle belonging to Jayaram Dahal, a non-gazetted officer at District Land Revenue Office, at Manaharwa along the Kailaiya-Piluwa road stretch on Sunday. A group of some 15 people had intercepted Dahal while on his way to Hetauda. SLMM cadres also torched a rickshaw at Gadhimai-7 charging the rickshaw puller of using his vehicle in smuggling fuel.

Our correspondent from Siraha said that the agitating SLMM activists took out a protest rally using 48 fake bodies of those killed in the two-month long Tarai protest, in Lahan.

Fuel shortage leads to school closure

POKHARA: Pokhara-based schools have started closing their classes due to acute shortage of petroleum products. Kamala Pradhan, operator of Kinder Garden School in the city, said they closed school for one month starting Saturday as they could run school bus due to fuel shortage. “Since there is no alternative, we decided to close the school up to Chhat festival,” she said.

Education officials said almost all schools in the area have been affected due to the fuel shortage. Assistant District Education Officer Hem Narayan Chapagain said they have not asked any school to halt classes but they decided to closes on their own as they could not arrange fuel for school buses.

Chapagain said almost all schools in Pokhara have school buses and that students have been unable to attend the school due to few public vehicles on the road.

As there are few passengers plying the roads, people are compelled to travel on bus roofs. “Even teachers are unable to attend classes,” said Suresh Manandhar, chief at Kanya Campus in Nadipur. He said around 40 percent of students remain absent from classes these days.

Meanwhile, Chinu Ranabhat, district president the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal (PABSON), said local administration allocated too little fuel for schools to run buses. “However, regular examinations were held despite fuel crisis,” he said.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)

Madhesi parties mull change in tactics

Keeping in mind the festive season, Madhes-based parties are likely to consider ‘some tactical changes’ in their protest programmes.

As criticism mounts from various quarters over the undue situation created by bandas in the lives of common public, Madhesi parties are positive in easing the protests. However, protesters are yet to reach on any conclusion due to differences among the agitating fronts and fearing backlash from their supporters.

Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahanta Thakur said that a joint meeting of several agitated fronts will decide whether to continue with the programmes or make changes. He claimed that most of the parties are reluctant to make any changes in the protest.

“We are aware of difficulties created by banda to both the people in the hills and Tarai. But supporters would not accept our changes as they feel that it is their final chance to press the government on their demands,” said Thakur.

Protesters affiliated with the Tharuhat/Tharuwan Joint Struggle Committee have announced to ease the banda by lifting public transportation strike in Kailali for a few days for the upcoming Dashain festival.

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Loktantrik General Secretary Ram Janam Chaudhary said much will depend on the approach to be taken by Nepali Congress and CPN-UML in addressing concerns of agitating groups.

“What would people think if we abruptly halt the protest without reaching any conclusion? The government should create an environment for us to withdraw the protest,” said Chaudhary.

Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) is reluctant to announce any change as some of its member parties and smaller fronts carrying parallel protests are adamant in continuing the obstruction at border checkpoints. They fear they might lose support of the public. SLMM leaders said that they will take a decision only after holding another round of talks with major parties.

The private sector, civil society and rights groups have been pressing both the major parties and agitating groups to ease normal lives crippled by the two-month long banda and blockade. Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Nepalese Industry and Nepal Chamber of Commerce on Saturday jointly submitted a memorandum to Thakur urging the latter to end the banda before Dashain festival.