Curfew continues at Barahathawa

Barahathawa in Sarlahi district remains under curfew since Friday afternoon, with local authorities extending the curfew until 8:00 am the next day, Sunday. The decision comes in the wake of heightened tensions following the death of 30-year-old Jay Shankar Saha in a clash between demonstrators and security personnel.

Saha lost his life during a protest where locals were advocating for the upgrading of a primary health center in Barahathawa municipality-6. The demonstrators are now demanding justice for Saha, the establishment of a 50-bed provincial hospital in Barahathawa, and the recognition of the deceased as a martyr. They have adamantly prevented authorities from removing Saha’s body from the incident site.

Chief District Officer in Sarlahi, Komal Prasad Dhamala, has stated that he is unaware of the circumstances leading to Saha’s death and denies issuing orders for security personnel to open fire. Dhamala acknowledges the challenges in recovering the body due to protestors picketing around it, and discussions with concerned parties are underway for investigation and retrieval.

In response to the incident, locals have staged demonstrations in Malangawa, the district headquarters, and Salempur of Kabilas municipality, burning tires and causing injuries on both sides. Friday’s protests escalated, leading to the torching of a motorcycle and car near the residence of Mayor Kalpana Katuwal.

The unrest stems from a municipality decision to hand over the primary health center of Barahathawa-6 to the Madhes Province government for upgrading to a 50-bed hospital. Despite an earlier decision, the municipality retracted its stance, leading to dissatisfaction among political parties, including Nepali Congress, Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Bahujan, and Janamat Party. The withdrawal of the decision sparked violent demonstrations, prompting police to resort to blank firing and tear gas shells to contain the situation.

The situation in Barahathawa remains tense as authorities attempt to address the grievances of the protestors and restore calm to the troubled region.