Rajendra mahato injured

Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, one of the key leaders of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front, was injured in a clash with police at Rani customs point, near Biratnagar of Morang district, on Saturday.

Morang District Police Office spokesperson DSP Pramod Kumar Kharel told THT Online that Mahato among some other cadres of the Front had gathered at the border point to stage a sit-in protest. “We told them that they cannot stage any protest in the border area,” Kharel said, “But, they began pelting stones at us and ran away to the other side of the border.”

He, however, said that police did not have any information about actual injury of Mahato. “However, one of our constables sustained some injury.”

Police had to use two rounds of tear gas to disperse them, he added. “The situation is already under our control.” Meanwhile, Upendra Mahato, a Central Committee member of Sadbhawana Party, wrote on Facebook that the protesters seized leader Mahato from the police custody and took him to the Golden Hospital in Biratnagar. According to Upendra, the top leader of his party sustained injuries on his head and limbs and is currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit after undergoing CT scan and other tests. He has posted photographs also.

A video posted by the Image Television on its YouTube channel shows that the Indian security personnel resorted to lathi charge after the protesters started pelting stones at the Nepali security personnel, who were seen trying to protect themselves with shields,  from the Indian side of the border.