Fifteen people were injured during sporadic clashes between the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) supporters and security personnel at the Sunauli customs point on Monday.

 Ten security personnel, including two Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) officers, and five locals were injured when protesters hurled stones from no-man’s-land area.

After the incident, four Nepalis who went to Sunauli in India for their household activities were thrashed by unidentified persons.

The SLMM protesters staged sit-in at Sunauli point, obstructing the vehicular movement at the border. After the protest programme, some Nepali security personnel went to the border crossing and requested not to block the border. Suddenly, the protesters hurled stones at the security personnel. The stones were also hurled from the roofs of houses from the Indian territory, a witness said.

DSP duo, Rameshwor Karki of the Nepal Police and Shankar Khanal of the Armed Police Force were injured in the incident. DSP Karki said the protesters had planned the attack. Police arrested three protesters.

SLMM supporters have taken Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Birgunj chief Ashok Sah under control and forced him to participate in the sit-in protest at the no-man’s land area. Sah was heading towards Raxaul for talks with his Indian counterpart on resumption of fuel supply by Indian Oil Corporation. The leaders and activists of SLMM, Sanghiya Samabeshi Madhesi Morcha and villagers from different areas have been staging sit-in at the border.

Meanwhile, a clash erupted between security personnel and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha supporters after police tried to disperse the protesters from Jogbani border point in Biratnagar. DSP Pramod Kharel said police fired warning shots to bring the situation under control. Police arrested Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum-Nepal Central Committee members Bhuraj Rai and Ram Bilas Yadav. The officials at Indian and Nepali customs later agreed to allow cargo trucks and oil tankers enter Nepal after security personnel removed the obstruction. But the agitating Morcha leaders said they would continue the sit-in at the border points.

Tharuhat calls off protest in Dang

DANG: The Tharuhat/Tharuwan Joint Struggle Committee on Monday lifted the protest programme which had started on August 12. Spokesperson of the committee Prakash Kumar Chaudhary said they allowed the market, transportation and offices to reopen owing to the hardship faced by the public. Chaudhary said they decided to lift the protest after the government created an environment for talks.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)