Some two dozens of rights activists and Dalit leaders have been injured in a clash that took place in a demonstration organised today demanding a Dalit-friendly constitution.
The demonstration was organised by leaders of different organisations active for the rights of the Dalits and Dalit leaders associated with different political parties.
The clash took place at Bijulibazaar in the demonstration organised by the Dalit Rights Struggle Committee. Lawmakers – Man Bahadur Bishwokarma, Jitu Gautam, Daljit Sunar and Coordinator of the Committee and former lawmaker Binod Pahadi, and rights activists — Kamala Hemchuri, Suru Sunar, Ganesh BK and Padam Sundas – among others were injured in the incident.
Most of them have received head injuries and they are undergoing treatment at Minbhawan-based Civil Service Hospital. CPN (UML) leader and lawmaker Jitu Gautam demanded investigation over the ‘police suppression on peaceful protest’ organised to exert pressure as the preliminary draft of the new constitution has curtailed the rights of Dalits established after second people’s movement. He condemned what he termed police suppression of their political rights to organise peaceful protests and assembly for their rights in democracy. Likewise, rights activist Saru Sunar urged the government to provide treatment to the injured and added that today’s demonstration was their phase-wise agitation they have been organising.
