-19 RJPN protestors arrested in Nawalparasi
-Govt office and motorcycle torched, bank vandalized in Mahottari
-Clashes in Janakpur, vehicle vandalized
NAWALPARASI/MAHOTTARI/JANAKPUR, June 19: The poll-opposing Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) tried various antics to disrupt candidacy registration in various districts of provinces 1, 5 and 7, on Sunday - the final day to register candidacy for the second round of local level election slated for June 28.
In a bid to prevent the candidates from registering their candidacies in Nawalparasi district of Province 5, the RJPN enforced a district banda, citing the clashes with police earlier on Saturday. During the banda, RJPN cadres prevented all four-wheelers to ply the roads. However, two-wheelers like motorbikes and scooters were allowed.
Police took under control five protestors affiliated to RJPN, including the party's district chairman Puran Chaudhary. Meanwhile, 14 cadres were arrested a day earlier on Saturday, according to Sub-inspector Rajendra Chaudhary.
In order to avoid any unpleasant situation, the candidates visited the district election office early in the morning from 6 am to file their candidacies. The candidates of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), CPN (Maoist Center) and the main opposition CPN-UML, among candidates of fringe parties and independent candidates, filed their nominations to contest the polls.
Talks to persuade RJPN to join polls fruitless
They are vying for various positions, such as ward chairman, rural municipality chief and deputy chief in the district's seven local units - three municipalities and four rural municipalities.
The strong presence of security personnel is said to have prevented untoward incidents during the banda. The RJPN has a strong hold in Ramgram Municipality and Pakalihawa, Sarawal, Pratappur and Susta rural municipalities. In these local units, candidates of top political parties were escorted by security personnel. RJPN cadres and leaders have warned the aspiring candidates of fringe parties not to register their candidacies for the election.
RJPN cadres set on fire a government office at Sadowa of Mahottari. They also torched a motorcycle (Ja 1 Ba 382) belonging to the Road Divisional Office in Mujeliya citing defiance of banda, according to the District Police Office (DPO), Mahottari. They also vandalized Sahayogi Development Bank in Jaleswar.
The general strike called by RJPN affected normal life in the district, leading to forceful closure of shops, industries, educational institutes, among others. Protestors burnt tyres at various chowks of the district.
The protestors clashed with police in Janakpur district. The clashes ensued in the evening after RJPN cadres obstructed a police vehicle at Janak Chowk.
RJPN central leaders Renu Jha, Reeta Mishra, Punam Jha, Sarita Sharma, and district leader Sanjaya Singh sustained injuries in the clash. They have already returned home after receiving treatment at Janakpur Zonal Hospital.
Police also arrested about two and a half dozen RJPN leaders and caders, including RJPN district General Secretary Lal Kishwar Sah, Ritesh Singh, Surita Sah, Parmeshwar Sah, among others. All the arrestees were released in the evening.
During the demonstrations, RJPN cadres also vandalized a vehicle (Ba 1 Jha 7154) used by the chief of Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City. The vehicle was parked on the sub-metropolis' premises. The protestors also vandalized about half a dozen vehicles in the district on Sunday, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Lal Mani Acharya, chief of DPO, Dhanusha.
