Madhesi leader Rajendra Mahato injured in clashes with Nepal police

News reports and photos showed Rajendra Mahato , the chairman of Sadbhawan Party, one of the four constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front, had sustained injuries to his head and legs. He was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Updated on: Dec 27, 2015, 24:18:53 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Senior Madhesi leader Rajendra Mahato and several people were injured in a clash with Nepal Police during a protest near Biratnagar on the Indo-Nepal border on Saturday.

News reports and photos showed the chairman of Sadbhawan Party, one of the four constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front, had sustained injuries to his head and legs. He was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Madhesis who reside in the Terai plains bordering India have been protesting against Nepal’s new constitution for more than four months, seeking fresh demarcation of federal boundaries and other rights.

On Saturday, Mahato and other Madhesi protesters entered Nepal from India and tried to stage a sit-in on no man’s land. There was a clash when police asked them to shift their demonstration elsewhere.

Madhesi protesters have been blocking the Birganj border point, through which most trade between India and Nepal takes place, for three months. It has resulted in a crisis of essential items and fuel in the Himalayan country.

Nepal’s government tabled a constitution amendment bill in parliament this month to address the demands of Madhesis, but UDMF rejected it as vague and intensified its protests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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