The city of Lahan has remained tense on January 19 after police intervened at the program being organized for the eighth anniversary of the sacrifice, being organized by Free Madhes Alliance. The program was being held at the premises of Pashupati Adarsha Higher Secondary School when the police forced all the attendees out of the area before Raut’s arrival. The demonstrators pelted stones at the police prompting police to retaliate with four shells of teargas. Raut’s supporters also vandalized half a dozen vehicles at Saheed Chok in Lahan after getting information of Raut’s arrest. Two constables were arrested in repeated clashes between police and demonstrators. The clashes prompted the closure of markets in Lahan. Police denied the claim by Raut’s supporters that he had been arrested at Shambhunath of Saptari. Human rights organizations including NHRC Janakpur, INSEC, Third Alliance and WHRD Siraha had monitored the situation in Lahan for the day.