Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha border point in Banke district remained tense on Thursday as the locals clashed with the supporters of Madhes-based parties staging sit-in at the no-man’s-land.  

The protesters, however, claimed that they were assaulted by security personnel in civvies while they were staging a peaceful protest.

The clash erupted when the activists of the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) barred some Nepalgunj locals from visiting the bordering Indian town of Rupaidiha to buy fuel and other daily essentials, said Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector Amit Malla.

The enraged locals also detained some of the SLMM men and later handed them over to police.

SLMM leader Lalit Kumar Rauniyar, however, accused the security agency behind the incident.

“The incident occurred as the security personnel in civvies attacked us. They tried to deal our peaceful protest with violence,” Rauniyar claimed.  

A large number of security personnel was mobilised at the border point in the wake of the clash. Cross-border transportation resumed after the protesters were removed from the no-man’s-land.

The SLMM supporters and locals also clashed at Biratchowk in Rautahat district on Wednesday night. The fight broke out after a group of protesters allegedly

misbehaved with a local man. The locals vandalised tents and chairs used by the

SLMM protesters at their sit-in venue.

Rickshaw drivers protest against SLMM extortion

Electric rickshaw drivers staged a sit-in at Janaki Chowk in Janakpur against the SLMM on Thursday. The rickshaw drivers said they were protesting as the SLMM people were extorting them to support their protest. One of the rickshaw drivers, Mohammad Bechan of Lahan, said the SLMM men were using assault and vandalism threats to extract money.

Indian security forces misbehave with drivers

Indian security personnel allegedly misbehaved with some fuel tanker drivers at Jogbani customs point on Thursday. Khilendra Karki, chief of Biratnagar Nepal Oil Corporation Regional Office, said the tanker drivers staged a protest at Jogbani customs point in the afternoon, accusing the Indian security personnel of assaulting some of their friends while returning to Nepal. Thirty-three petrol and 91 diesel tankers are still stranded at Jogbani border point in India.

Talks meaningless, say SLMM leaders

SLMM leaders on Thursday said that the Madhesi people were not ready to accept the new constitution which does not address their rights. Chairman of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahanta Thakur said they will not withdraw the protest until their demands are addressed. Chairman of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Upendra Yadav claimed the ongoing talks between the SLMM and the government was meaningless. He said the Madhes-based parties are preparing to step up their protest in the coming days. Meanwhile, Sadbhawana Party Regional Party Organisation has recommended expelling lawmaker Madhawanirani Sah from the party for voting in the presidential election.

Fuel crisis hits foreign missions

The ongoing fuel crisis in the country has also affected the Kathmandu-based diplomatic missions.

In order to make sure that shortage of petroleum products does not hinder the day to day operations of foreign missions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies to provide 100 litres fuel to the Kathmandu-based embassies per week, a source said.

One official said most of the foreign missions are in want of cooking gas, more than petrol or diesel.

The official said that the Foreign Ministry is unable to provide cooking gas since the government is not in charge of supplying LPG. Of late, the Foreign Ministry has been receiving letters from various embassies, requesting fuel.