Around 100 people were on Tuesday injured in Nepal’s historical Janakpur town as agitating Madhesis clashed with security personnel, less than two weeks after country’s first woman President escaped unhurt in a similar showdown over the controversial new Constitution.
Tensions were running high throughout the day as the clashes broke out in the southern town of Janakpur, over 225 kms from here and home to the famous Ram Janaki temple.
Around 45 security personnel and 55 cadres of Madhesi Morcha were injured in the stand-off, the Kathmandu Post reported. Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin, are agitating over the new Constitution demanding more representation. They are also protesting division of their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure and have led an ongoing blockade of key border trade points with India.
Supporters of Samyukta loktantrik Madhesi Morcha - an alliance of Madhes-centric parties that has been protesting the new Constitution seeking broader rights — hurled stones at Janaki Police Station. In retaliation, security personnel wielded baton and lobbed tear- gas shells, the report said.
The protesters hurled 21 petrol bomb at police.