Eighteen demonstrators, including the UCPN (Maoist) chief of Jhapa district, sustained injuries in a clash with security personnel in Bhadrapur on Thursday. Police personnel were also injured in the incident. The clash erupted when security personnel tried to stop the protest rally advancing to the District Administration Office (DAO). The activists of the 30-party opposition alliance, led by UCPN (Maoist), were rallying to press the ruling parties to adopt the new constitution based on broad consensus among all sides. They had planned to stage a sit-in at the DAO, but the security personnel intervened. The Maoist district chief, Dharmashila Chapagain, and some district leaders sustained injuries in the scuffle. Two protesters are said to be in serious condition. The injured are receiving treatment at Bhadrapur-based Mechi Zonal Hospital and Om Sai Hospital. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bishwo Mani Pokharel said that the police had used ‘minor force’ to control the situation. He added that the security personnel on duty were compelled to use their batons to disperse the mob after they started pelting stones and bricks. The supporters of the opposition alliance also took out protest rallies in various parts of the country on Thursday. Our local correspondents confirmed that similar protest rallies were staged in Biratnagar, Janakpur, Nepalgunj, Gulariya, Dang and Surkhet, among other places.