Child among 3 hurt in protests over new constitution in Nepal

A child and two people were wounded when supporters of Madhesi parties, unhappy with Nepal’s new constitution, damaged over 70 vehicles on Sunday.

Updated on: Sep 27, 2015, 18:49:26 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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A three-year-old child and two people were wounded when supporters of Madhesi parties, unhappy with Nepal’s new constitution, damaged over 70 vehicles on Sunday.

A Madhesi got injured due to firing by Nepal Police. (Maniram Sharma/ HT Photo)

The convoy of vehicles escorted by police was targeted along a 15km stretch on the East-West Highway at Bhardaha in Saptari district bordering India.

The more-than-a-month-long protests by Madhesi and Tharu communities in the southern plains against demarcation of states in Nepal’s recently-approved constitution have claimed 44 lives so far.

Police officer Shishir Kumar Karmacharya said three passengers were wounded in Sunday’s attack and they have been taken to hospitals in Dharan and Biratnagar for treatment.

Protests intensified since Thursday with Tharu and Madhesi outfits deciding to prevent movement of vehicles on highways and block entry points to Nepal from the Indian side.

Thousands of trucks carrying goods and fuel have been left stranded at entry points along the border.

India has blamed protests in Terai for the volatile situation. But Kathmandu termed disruption in entry of trucks from India, which have affected supplies in Nepal, as an undeclared embargo by New Delhi.

Nepal relies extensively on India for petroleum products and the protest-marred supply choke has forced the government to enforce rationing of automobile fuel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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