Nepalese students protest against blockade of Indian border

The four men were travelling in Nepal’s southeastern district of Sunsari early Wednesday when Indian police opened fire after entering Nepali territory, foreign ministry spokesman Tara Prasad Pokharel said.

Amid agitation by the Joint Madhesi Front in the Himalayan nation, scores of goods laden trucks are stranded on the India-Nepal border.

He will attend a religious function there on Tuesday and then reach New Delhi where he is likely to hold informal talks with the Indian political leaders about Nepal’s contemporary issues, according to RPP Nepal Co-General Secretary Rajaram Shrestha.

At least 50 people have been killed in the protests since August.

On Sunday 13 Indian border security officers crossed into Nepal chasing smugglers in the southeastern district of Jhapa, prompting reports in India that the officers had been detained.

Madhesis, who live in the Terai region of Nepal have been protesting over “discriminatory” seven-province model of new Constitution adopted by the Parliament.

Since India has apparently backed the Madhesh movement and has continued its economic blockade against Nepal for more than two months, the students have asked India to respect Nepali children’s right to life and education. India, backed by the U.S., is intent on maintaining its dominance in Nepal, which it has long regarded as part of its sphere of influence in South Asia.

Nepalese authorities have been rationing gasoline for taxis and public buses, but there’s been no fuel for private cars.

To ease the fuel shortage, the Nepal Oil Corporation signed an agreement in October to source fuel from China, ending the longstanding monopoly of Indian Oil Corporation as Nepal’s sole fuel supplier.

During his first visit to India in October, Thapa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

India, which has close cultural ties with the Madhesis, has restricted fuel supplies to Nepal, which relies on its giant neighbour for most of its fuel.