At least six people, among them a reporter and a police officer, were injured when a clash broke out between the supporters of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and police at BP Chowk in Gaur, Rautahat, on Sunday.

The confrontation ensued when police intervened to stop the Morcha supporters from disrupting an assembly organised by CPN-UML at the nearby Barrack Chowk. UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was invited to address the assembly, was escorted out of the event venue amid tight security arrangement and taken to Chandranigahapur.   

The local administration had stepped up security in and around Gaur in view of the UML event and the Morcha’s protest against the government’s decision to conduct the local level elections without resolving the boundary dispute.

Situation in Gaur remained tense for at least three hours because of the clash.

Journalist Pravat Kumar Jha, who was on the field for reporting, was injured when he got caught in the melee. 

The Rautahat chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists condemned the incident. 

PM cancels Bara trip

BARA: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has cancelled his scheduled visit to Bara after the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha threatened to bar him, according to local CPN (Maoist Centre) 

leader Shambhu Mandal. Dahal was due to inaugurate the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project at Simraungadh on Monday. 

The Morcha had issued a press statement on Friday, announcing to obstruct Prime Minister Dahal from attending the programme.