Cadres of the opposition Maoist-Madhesi parties clashed with police in several parts of the country on Sunday.

Violent clashes broke out between the Maoist-Madhesi cadres and the police in Pokhara, Chitwan and Bhairahawa when the latter intervened in the former’s protest rallies. As part of the UCPN (Maoist)-led 30-parties alliance’s agitation against the ruling parties, the opposition cadres descended on the streets wielding bamboo batons.

Around two dozen protestors and some policemen are reported to have been injured in the clashes after which Pokhara, Chitwan and Bhairahawa remained tense for the rest of the day. The Maoist-Madhesi cadres have announced a shutdown in Bhairahawa on Monday over police’s intervention in their rally.

Even in Kathmandu, the opposition cadres descended on the streets with bamboo batons in their hands and shouting slogans against the ruling parties.

The Maoist-Madhesi parties have been carrying out a series of protests, which they say will culminate in a four-day nationwide shutdown in April, apparently to mount pressure on the ruling NC-UML for a package deal on the disputed issues of the new constitution.

The ruling parties have, however, urged the opposition to withdraw all their protest programs for resumption of serious talks.

Meanwhile, the Constituent Assembly (CA) Chair Subhas Nembang is expected to call the next CA meeting later today, saying that the NC-UML and the Maoist-Madhesi parties did not appear serious to break the deadlock through negotiations.