Owing to a turf war between the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) and Sanghiya Samabesi Madhesi Alliance, the educational institutions in Janakpur have been closed again.

The schools which resumed classes just a few days ago were shut down again on Sunday. Though the SLMM agreed to resume schools, a student union affiliated to the Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party closed them.

Meanwhile, a clash occurred between the students close to Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party and students of Meet Campus at Janakpur-4 on Sunday morning. The students of Meet Campus, waiving batons, chased away the protesters.

Gyanendra Kumar Jha, leader of the student wing that enforced closure of the educational institution, said the students of Meet Campus attacked them under the leadership of Campus Chief Manoj Sah.

District Police Office in Dhanusha arrested Jha for forcefully closing the educational institutions in the area. Sanghiya Samabesi Madhesi Alliance leaders, including lawmaker Dinesh Sah, met with Superintendent of Police Ramdutta Joshi later and bailed him out.

Leader of the protesting student union, Bhawesh Mishra, claimed they were compelled to close schools as some school administrations charged fees for three months when classes were not run due to Tarai protests.

“Schools and colleges were closed for about three months during the protest. We demand academic institutions not to charge fees for the period,” said Mishra. He also accused the SLMM leaders of taking a hefty amount from private schools and colleges.

On Friday, students from some private schools took out a protest rally in Janakpur demanding that tuition fees for three months be exempted.