Nepal continues to burn in the struggle between ethnic Madhesis and the Government as both sides have refused to meet each other halfway. However, the Government on Friday formed a panel to probe the death of three Madhesi protesters in police firing in a town bordering India amid continued protests over the new Constitution that has claimed 55 lives so far.
An all-party meeting decided to form the 10-member committee under the CPN-UMl lawmaker Shiva Kumar Mandal to probe the violence in Rangeli Municipality of southern Morang district.
According to Chief District Officer of Morang District Toyam Raya, the committee will find out the reasons behind the incident. “The committee will make a field-based study and come up with solution to the problem,” Republica quoted him as saying.
Madhesi Morcha leaders dubbed the probe committee as “pretentious” one. Morcha leaders refused to recognise the committee formed under the leaders of the ruling parties excluding the Morcha.
Since Friday morning, incensed Madhesi activists forced markets to shut down and indulged in arson besides clashing with the police in several parts of the Terai as the protest assumed a form more violent than earlier.
Violence erupted in Rangeli after hundreds of activists of Samyukta loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SlMM) armed with batons, knives and petrol bombs tried to disrupt an event hosted by Youth Association of Nepal (YAN) to honour the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the situation remained tense in Rangeli. The markets in Morang remained shut to protest against the incident. As a result, transportation on the Rangeli- Biratnagar road has come to a halt. Security forces have been deployed in the area. Protest rallies were also organised in neighbouring Sarlahi, Rautahat and Dhanusha districts.
The irate cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) vandalised under-construction Armed Police Base Camp at Rangelli Chokraha. Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato during a rally said that the Government is provoking the agitating Madhesi Morcha to turn their peaceful protest into a violent one.
The Madhesis have been protesting against the perpetuation of this very discrimination in the new Constitution, adopted on September 20 last year.