Dhanusha, Feb. 12 -- Residents of Ramnagar Birta in Mahottari met Minister for Internal Affairs and Law in Province 2 Gyanendra Yadav on Monday and demanded the closure of illegal crusher industries that are in operation at the Rameshwornath Community Forest area and its vicinity.

The provincial government had directed all crusher industries across the eight districts of Province 2 to close down following the death of Dilip Mahato, a 24-year-old man of Dhanusha who had been protesting the illegal mining of riverbed materials, on January 9. However, despite the directive, illegal mining is still ongoing in the stealth of the night, say locals.

According to them, more than nine crusher industries in Ramnagar Birta of Bhangaha Municipality...