Nepal police shoot dead two protesters

More than 40 people, including 25 policemen, are said to have been injured in the clash.

Nepalese lawmakers belonging to Madhes-based parties today obstucted proceedings at the Parliament over the police firing that killed two protesters following which the meeting was postponed. The police said they resorted to firing after the almost 2,500-strong crowd attacked them with petrol bombs and bricks when they tried to forcibly remove cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front blocking the nation’s main highway.

In any case, the latest deaths are likely to dampen ongoing dialogue efforts between the government and the leaders of Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of four regional parties that demand changes to the new constitution.

The protesters have imposed a general strike in southern Nepal since September and blocked the main border crossings with India, resulting in severe fuel shortages across Nepal.

The clashes are expected to escalate the tensions, just as monthslong protests by the Madeshi ethnic group over Nepal’s new constitution had eased over the past few weeks during a series of festivals in the Himalayan nation.

India has supported the protests by imposing an informal blockade on Nepal, which has severely impacted the flow of goods into its landlocked northern neighbor.

Kathmandu: Fresh violence is being reported from the Nepalese side of border with India where the Madhesi community continues a blockade, severely affecting the trade ties between the two countries.

“One protester was killed at Bhardaha and another at Rupani”, he said. The region has been witnessing demonstrations and protests for the past three months, leading to severe shortages of fuel, drugs and other medicines.

“The security situation is relatively calm, but there are still minor protests despite the curfew”, the police official added. The Madhesis were killed during clashes between the agitators and the security personnel, who were escorting vehicles carrying passengers, police said about the incident that has raised fears of further political turmoil in Nepal.

“They are doing it to hide our demands and views”, said Rajendra Mahato, President of the Sadbhavana Party which is actively involved in the protests in Nepal’s Birgunj town.