Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) activists torched district party office of the CPN-UML in Birgunj on Saturday morning.

Accusing the ruling UML of trying to defame the ongoing Madhes movement, SLMM cadres barged into UML’s Ranighat-based party office on Saturday morning and set it on fire. The SLMM activists also threw some furniture into the Sirsiya river. This is the third attack at UML’s party office in Parsa district in the past few days.

The UML and its youth wing Youth Association Nepal were scheduled to organise an interaction on the new constitution at the party office on Saturday. The party activists, however, later conducted the interaction. The Morcha on Friday had issued a statement, warning against “activities against Madhes movement”.  

The Morcha, an alliance of four Madhes-based parties, has been spearheading protests in the Tarai region, especially in the east, against the constitution that was promulgated on September 20.

Extortion complaints

BIRGUNJ: Business community in Birgunj has said SLMM  activists have been extorting businesspersons. They have claimed that the protesters have been demanding money from businesspersons to allow them to run their businesses. “We have to pay Rs 10,000 a day to run our factories. If we fail to meet their demand, they hurl stones and petrol bombs at factories,” said an industrialist seeking anonymity. SLMM has been demanding hefty amount from educational institutions as well.

Lawmakers barred

JANAKPUR: The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and other agitating groups have decided to bar lawmakers who they say were “involved in endorsing the constitution” from entering Dhanusha district. Issuing a joint press statement, the agitating groups said they would not let the lawmakers to enter the district for their “role in promulgating a constitution that is against Madhes”. The agitating groups say the new constitution marginalises various sections of society.