4 Nepali plain districts clamp curfews

Four southern Nepal's plain district governments issued curfew orders on Sunday.

In Biratnagar of Morang district, some 240 km southeast to Kathmandu, the local government imposed curfew from 9:00 a.m. (03: 15 GMT) to 06:00 p.m. (12:15 GMT) on Sunday.

In Inaruwa of Sunsari district, some 220 km southeast to capital Kathmandu, the local government continued to impose the indefinite curfew, which began at 04:00 p.m. (10:15 GMT) on Feb. 1 following at least three Madhesi activists' death in clash with police. But it relaxed the indefinite curfew there from 05:00 a.m. on Sunday (22:45 GMT, Saturday) to 10:00 a.m. (04:15 GMT).

In Birgunj of Parsa district, some 95 km south to Kathmandu, local government clamped a curfew from 08:00 a.m. (02:15 GMT) to 08:00 p.m. (14:15 GMT). On Saturday, one person was killed when police opened fire at protesting crowd in Birgunj. Over nine persons were injured in the incident, of whom four have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment.

The District Administration Office of Sarlahi, some 100 km south to Kathmandu clamped curfew from 7:30 a.m. (01:45 GMT) to 8: 00 p.m.(14:15 GMT) in various places across the district. On Saturday, an activist from Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF, also called Madhesi Janadhikar Forum) was killed and scores hurt when MPRF clashed with locals.

The violent demonstrations, mainly led by MPRF since Jan. 19, have caused at least sixteen people's death. Many Terai towns witnessed curfews, strikes and widespread vandalism of public and private property in the unrest.

Madhesi people are people mainly living in Nepal's south Terai plains with Indian origin.

Source: Xinhua