Parsa declared riot-hit zone as Birgunj death toll hits 5

BIRGUNJ/RAUTAHAT, Sept 1: Four protestors died in Parsa district and one in Bara Tuesday, following police firing as the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) intensified its protests against the proposed demarcation of federal provinces and other provisions included in the draft constitution, now under discussion in the Constituent Assembly.

Those who died Tuesday include Dharma Raj Singh, 30, of Maniyari and Dinanath Sah, 27, of Bahuwari. Bhola Prasad Sah of Bara and Sohan Sah Talwar of Parsa breathed their last while undergoing treatment at the National Medical College Teaching Hospital. They had sustained serious bullet injuries in Monday police firing in Birgunj.

In Bara, the deceased has been identified as Hifajat Miya of Kalaiya municipality-10. Miya, 24, breathed his last in the afternoon while undergoing treatment at Kalaiya Hospital. He was shot in police firing at Bharat Chowk, Kalaiya.

Earlier on Monday, Dilip Chaurasiya, 30, of Birgunj Sub-Metropolis-25, was killed in Birgunj.

The total of six protesters killed in Parsa and Bara in the last two days ranged in ages between 20 and 30. Police had shot the protesters above the waist, according to doctors treating the injuries.

So far, 21 persons including eight security personnel have been killed in protests in different parts of the country against the proposed federal demarcations and other issues.

Three out of the 15 injured agitators in Birgunj, who are in critical condition, were airlifted to the capital on Tuesday evening for treatment. The protesters defied the curfew clamped since Monday and clashed with police in different parts of Birgunj on Monday and Tuesday.

After the situation went out of control, the local administration declared Parsa district a riot zone effective from 2 p.m., Tuesday.

Likewise, a dozen local agitators were also injured during a clash with police in Kalaiya Municipality, district headquarters of Bara.

Govt offices, NC office vandalized in Mahottari

Agitating cadres of the UDMF Tuesday morning vandalized half a dozen government offices, including the District Administration Office, District Development Committee Office and District Election Office and the party offices of the Nepali Congress and Rastriya Prajatantra Party in Jaleshwor, district headquarters of Mahottari, according to district-based Republica correspondent, Mahesh Kumar Das.

Hundreds of locals and cadres from various villages who had gathered at Jaleshwor engaged in vandalism there.