India in touch with Nepal on Mechi Bridge violence

New Delhi, June 1: India has said it was in touch with Nepal following violence at Mechi bridge on the border between the two countries on May 30.

Indian authorities have also taken necessary steps to ensure security and to maintain law and order along the border, a foreign office spokesman said.

One Bhutanese refugee was killed and several were injured in clashes during the ''march'' to Bhutan via India as an exercise of their right of returning to their home country.

''The issue of refugees living in Nepal is a bilateral matter between Nepal and Bhutan. It is our hope that both our friends Nepal and Bhutan would be able to pursue their dialogue to find an early solution to this humanitarian problem,'' the spokesman said.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed alarm over the escalation of conflict at the Mechi Bridge and urged the agitating refugees to return to their respective camps and to shun violence.

''We are indeed extremely concerned by the latest developments and fully understand the increasing frustration of the refugees about the lack of progress on repatriation,'' UNHCR representative in Nepal Abraham Abraham said in the release.

''Although we still do not have all of the details of what transpired, there is no justification for such violence and loss of life. This is a terrible tragedy and our condolences go to all the families of those who died and were injured,'' he added.

Some 107,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the last 16 years.

UNI