The Marchawar area in Rupandehi district remained tense on Sunday as well due to sporadic clashes between the supporters of CK Raut, coordinator of the “Independent Madhes” campaign, and security personnel.

Demanding unconditional release of the 17 people detained on Saturday, Raut’s supporters hurled stones at the Bagauli Police Post in Marchawar. Chief District Officer Binod Prakash Singh said the protesters had looted some weapons 

from the police post. An SLR was recovered nearby after some time, he added. Six protesters were caught on Sunday.

It is still not clear how many weapons were taken away. Superintendent of Police Dipak Thapa and DSP Bel Bahadur Pandey, who were at the site, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

According to the local administration, police fired five warning shots and lobbed as many teargas canisters to contain the situation. 

Police have been deployed heavily in the area following the incident. A woman was injured in the clash. The protests are thought to have turned nastier after she was hurt.

The situation returned to normal in the evening, said SP Rabindra Dhanuk of Rupandehi. Villagers have been terrorised after the incident. “People are afraid of leaving their homes,” a local resident told the Post over phone. The village close to the Indian border is 17 kilometres south of Bhairahawa.

Police made 17 arrests on Saturday as protests organised by Raut’s supporters turned violent. 

They had pelted the security personnel with stones and torched a truck. Raut’s supporters had gathered at Adarsha Higher Secondary School to protest his arrest from Janakpur, Dhanusha, on February 2.