The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) restricted distribution and sales of national daily newspapers in Saptari district on Wednesday.

Morcha supporters said that they imposed the restriction on the newspapers as the dailies had been disseminating “news materials to suppress the ongoing Madhes protest”.

They seized newspapers, including Kantipur, The Kathmandu Post, Nagarik and Annapurna Post. Uttam Bhujel, the owner of Upayogi Book Shop in Rajbiraj, said the agitating Morcha supporters seized the newspapers that were being sold. The national dailies have arrived in the district for the first time in four months.

Meanwhile, the agitating SLMM supporters burnt effigies of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Oli and Speaker Onsari Gharti in Rajbiraj. Morcha supporters also burnt tyres in the various parts of the district in protest of “police brutality” in Janakpur.