By A Staff Reporter
KATHMANDU, Jan. 22: A high level eight-party meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar Monday decided to ask the government to form a high level probe commission to investigate the violent activities in different Terai districts including the death of a student in Lahan.

The meeting while expressing sorrow over the death of Ramesh Kumar Mahato in Lahan Friday also decided to ask the government to take action against the people involved in violent activities, and provide appropriate compensation to the families of the victims.

A joint statement signed by the leaders of the eight parties urged all including the government to move ahead the talks process on matters that can be fulfilled before the CA elections.

It said that they agreed that the CA elections could solve all the problems of class, region, caste and gender related to the Madhesis, women, dalit, indigenous and nationalities.

The top leaders of the eight parties also appealed not to organise any protests and strikes that could affect the election to the constituent assembly. The leaders concluded that all problems could be solved through consensus and peaceful way.

Ramesh Mahato, a student, died on Friday during a clash between the Maoists and the supporters of the Madhesi Peoples' Rights Forum. During the clash the Maoists allegedly opened fire killing the student at Lahan of Siraha.

The tension in the area further aggravated when the violent mob torched over a dozen long route vehicles plying on the East-West Highway. The transport entrepreneurs launched indefinite nation-wide protest following the incident after demanding proper compensation of the damage and assurance for security.

During the meeting, the Maoists decided to issue a separate statement expressing sorrow over the death of Mahato.

The representatives of eight political parties have also decided to visit Lahan at the earliest possible to assess the situation there.

Emerging from the meeting, CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the meeting had decided to solve the problem and move forward after forging consensus with all the forces. "As the solution to all the problems is the election to constituent assembly, we have to exert all our efforts to make it a success."

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula appealed for co-operation from all sides as the government has launched nationwide campaign to update voters' list and to distribute citizenship certificates. He added that the government was subtly carrying out probe on the Terai region incidents.

Sitaula informed that a goodwill rally would be organised by tomorrow in Lahan.

CPN (UML) leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the government should bring the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha and other factions of Terai group to the negotiating table.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan, senior Maoist leader Dev Gurung, NC-D leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, President of Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) leader Bharat Bimal Yadav and others had participated in the meeting.

Nepali Congress leader Dr. Ram Baran Yadav said that all should move forward after forging consensus and exercise restraint. He said that the anti-democratic elements could raise their heads if such turmoil continued.