The agitators enforced banda in Rupandehi and Palpa districts protesting the statute amendment bill that was registered in Parliament on Tuesday with a proposal to split Province 5. Several political parties, student groups, business community, civil society leaders and the general public demonstrated in Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Kapilvastu, Dang and Banke districts.
In Butwal, tension flared up as the protesters clashed with police. The demonstrators and security personnel hurled stones at each other. Tension escalated after some youths carrying national flags started vandalising the martyr’s memorial pillar and park at Hospitalline.
Police said they were compelled to use force to disperse the unruly mob. The martyr’s memorial park was built by the CPN (Maoist Centre) two years ago. The enraged protesters removed the hammer and sickle from there and hoisted the national flag.
Meanwhile, the CPN-UML and its student wing All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) said they were not involved in the vandalism. They demanded identification of the guilty and action against them. The ANNFSU was one of the student unions that have begun an indefinite Rupandehi banda. Normal life was greatly affected in the district due to the shutdown. Transportation was disrupted while marketplaces, business enterprises and educational institutions remained shut.
Tags:
News