Royalists vandalise Madhesi areas: Reports

Kathmandu, Feb 4 (UNI) At least 30 families have been displaced by alleged 'royalist vigilantes' who looted and set houses ablaze during demonstrations here by the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF), media reports said here today.

''The alleged royalists, who infiltrated the protest rallies of the MPRF in Chandranigahpur, vandalised local houses before being faced with retaliation from the locals,'' Kantipur said.

However, they managed to loot 13 houses in Dumariya VDC-2 Bastipur and torch six of them, it said.

The news has come at a time when major political parties and the Maoists have said the royalists have infiltrated into the demonstrations and created terror.

District chairman of MPRF, Amar Yadav, in a statement recently, alleged the hand of royalist elements behind such incidents in Chandranigahpur and Bastipur, the paper quoted Amar Yadav, district chairman of MPRF as saying. He said royalists had infiltrated into MPRF demonstrations.

Some of the houses were completely gutted by the fire. The settlement has become totally deserted after the arson, the newspaper said.

The royalists have not come out in support of the King, who is completely suspended after the promulgation of the new interim constitution on January 15, but have infiltrated into the demonstration of Terai people.

UNI