Tension ran high at Laxmipurpatari Rural Municipality after locals resorted to vandalising the rural municipality building over financial anomalies, in Siraha district.

Locals staging protest against financial irregularities at Laxmipurpatari Rural Municipality in Siraha, on Sunday, December 8, 2019. The protest took an ugly turn after protesters resorted to vandalism. Photo: THT

Locals have been agitating for the past one week demanding transparency in the rural municipality’s financial matters.  They accused the rural municipality chair and administration chief of financial anomalies.

More than a dozen locals, including policemen, were injured in a clash. Agitators damaged windowpanes and doors. Police had to fire five rounds of tear gas shells to control the situation after demonstrators tried to attack elected representatives inside the office premises.

Police have brought the situation under control and efforts are under way to resolve the dispute through an all-party meet.