Student unions affiliated to ruling parties touched the podium, which the United Democratic Madheshi Front had constructed in Itahari for organising its protest programme. Itahari is tense after the incident. Locals blazed the stage prepared for the leaders of Madhesi Morcha—Mahanta Thakur, Upendra Yadav, Rajendra Mahato, among others. Locals blocked all four entry points to Itahari by burning tires. However, a short assembly was addressed by Limbuwan Party Chair Kumar Lingden later in the day. Terming the protest against Madhesi leaders as a mistake, Lingden said, “This is an agitation to ensure everyone’s rights. If we had welcomed Upendra Yadav and Mahanta Thakur here, they would have done same to us in Janakpur.”
