. As violence escalated in Simara and its neighbouring areas, the local administration has declared the highway a prohibited zone until further notice on Monday. The administration has declared, 200 metres on either side, of Amlekhgunj-Dhansar Khola of the east-west highway and Pathlaiya to Jitpur road of Birgunj-Pathlaiya road section of the Tribhuvan Highway as prohibited zone. Chief District Administrator Bal Krishna Panthi informed that only vehicular movement will be allowed and any other activities like holding meetings, conferences and gatherings are strictly restricted in the prohibited area. Meanwhile, the protesters continued to protest breaching the prohibited zone. The locals of Simara have been holding protests since the past nine days against the government move to roll back its decision to shift Land Revenue, Land Survey and Mapping offices to Simara. Clashes took place between the protesters and the police after the latter used force to control the protests . Both sides pelted stones at each other. The police have fired several rounds of tear gas. Injuries on both sides have been reported.