The last rites of martyr Padam Limbu alias Lajehang, who died due to police beating during the demonstration demanding the cancelation of the name 'Koshi Province', is set to be performed on Saturday.
Lajehang was injured in a clash with the police during a protest in Biratnagar on March 19. He suffered a head injury and passed away in course of treatment at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences on March 24.
Lajehang's body has been kept in the mortuary for almost a month. The government has already declared him a martyr and the state government has also provided Rs 300,000 to his family.
Sanghiya Limbuwan Sunsari Chairman Amar Ijam said a meeting of the Province 1 Renaming Joint Struggle Committee decided to perform final rites for Lajehang in coordination with his family members in Belbari on Saturday (April 22).
According to Ijam, there will a funeral procession prior to the final rites.
“The body will be kept at Dharan for paying tributes at Dharan at 10 am, at Itahari at 11 am and at Rodshesh Chowk at 12 pm for tributes,” said Ijam, adding, “The body will be carried around the Province Assembly building before being taken to Belbari, the home town of Lajehang.” The final rites of Lajehang will be performed at 4 pm, according to Ijam.
Similarly, the Joint Struggle Committee will hold a peaceful protest program on April 23 in Itahari, in Biratnagar on April 24.
Lajehang from Belbari was active in politics staying in Dharan. He was the deputy commander of the Limbuwan Volunteers of Federal Limbuwan Rastriya Manch.
Ethnic groups including Kirat Yakthung Chumlung, Kirat Rai Yayokkha, Kirat Dharma Tatha Sahitya Utthan Sangh, Sherpa Association of Nepal, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), among others have been staging demonstrations calling for the scrapping of Koshi as the name for Province 1.
The protest further intensified following the death of Lajehang. Board reading Koshi Province and banners were removed, letter pads, documents were torn stamps were incinerated in the course of demonstrations.
Following pressures and protests from all quarters, a cabinet meeting on April 7 declared Lajehang a martyr on April 7 (2023).
