Tension flared up at Rangeli Bazaar in Morang district on Wednesday after the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha decided to disrupt a programme of CPN-UML youth wing Youth Association Nepal (YAN) scheduled for Thursday.

Morcha protesters took to the street since early morning and enforced a banda. They burnt tyres at major junctions in the bazaar area and

also obstructed vehicular movement.

The SLMM intensified protests following reports that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as well as other UML leaders will attend the programme in Rangeli, the former headquarters of Morang district.

SLMM activists also staged similar demonstrations in the area on Wednesday evening. They clashed with police as the latter resorted to baton charge. The SLMM said some of its activists sustained injuries in the incident. They blamed the security personnel for using excessive force during their peaceful protest.

SLMM activists have also called for a complete shutdown of the market area for Thursday apparently to foil the YAN’s programme.

A large number of security personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.