Local people in Birgunj area have been facing difficulties due to the continued demonstrations at the Birgunj-Raxaul border.

They said they hoped that the situation will be normal after the formation of the new government but the blockade still continues, obstructing cross-border movement.

As a result, people in the area are facing an acute shortage of fuels and cooking gas. Niraj Patel, a local resident, said their situation is worsening day by day. “The protests and blockade have affected mostly low-income people,” Patel said, adding that those who have connections are able to manage all necessary goods. Patel and many other locals said protesters who are staging sit-in on the no-man’s-land come from India. Transport workers, meanwhile, have been passing days with a hope that the situation will be normal. Ranjit Shreebastav, a local resident, said they helped protesters for some days thinking that the problem will be resolved politically. “But we are ubale to earn a living for the past several days due to the problem,” he said.    It is learnt that the situation at Birgunj-Raxaul border worsened due to the personal interests of some businessmen along the Nepal-India border.

Likewise, Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha activists staged “Janjir Julus” (chain rally) at Lahan in Siraha on Friday. Morcha leaders said they took out the symbolic rally to show that they are discriminated against by the government.

Similarly, four Sadbhawana Party cadres sustained injuries as police charged batons during a motorcycle rally in Inaruwa on Friday. Police said they resorted to the move after activists pelted stones at security personnel.

Thirteen fuel tankers enter Nepal

NEPALGUNJ: Thirteen fuel tankers entered Nepal from Nepalgunj-Rupaidhia border point on Friday. Jamunaha Area Police Office informed that 12 diesel tankers and one bullet of aviation fuel entered Nepal. Regional chief of Nepal Oil Corporation, Shree Chandra Shrestha, said 30 tankers have been loaded with fuel at Gonda depot in India. He said they planned to send 10 tankers of diesel to Kathmandu on Friday. Meanwhile, Biratnagar customs officials said seven diesel tankers 15 LP gas bullets entered Nepal via Jogbani.