Supporters of the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) gathered at the no-man’s-land between Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha border hurled Molotov cocktails and stones in a clash with police on Wednesday.

At least four police personnel and around a dozen of protesters were injured.

SLMM leader Pashupatidayal Mishra claimed the clash ensued after police started throwing stones at them.

Nepali security agencies expressed dissatisfaction towards the Indian border security force, Sashastra Seema Bal, for not stopping the violent activities at the border point. The Indian side had earlier said that it would not allow protesters from staging protest at the no-man’s-land. An officer at Nanpara Police in India said the people protesting at the no-man’s-land were Nepalis, and it was the job of the Nepali security agencies to clear them. In Siraha, locals formed a  45km-long human chain along the East-West Highway in support of the ongoing Madhes agitation and calling on the government to respect human rights.

Tarai-Kathmandu ties could end, warns Thakur

JANAKPUR: Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur has warned that the relations between Kathmandu and Madhes could end if the major political parties fail to take the talks with the Madhes-based parties seriously. Addressing a protest programme at Dhalkebar on Wednesday, Thakur said the major political leaders should have understood by now that the Tarai is the lifeline of Nepal. If they are still not serious about the talks, that lifeline could be destroyed, he said.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)