India says deeply concerned over Nepal deaths

New Delhi, Jan 21: India on Thursday expressed deep concern over the death of three protesters in Nepal in police firing during the day and said that political problems needed political solution.

"Deeply concerned at the loss of three lives in police firing in Morang district in Nepal's Terai today (Thursday)," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on the ministry's Twitter account late on Thursday evening.

"Political problems need political solution," he added.

At least three people were killed and five others injured in Morang district when anti-government protesters clashed with police.

Nepal's southern plains, the Terai, has witnessed killing of at least 56 people and policemen in five months in anti-constitution protests launched by the Samuktya Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha.

Tension flared up in the southern town of Biratnagar bordering India after cadres of the Morcha attempted to disturb a programme organised by ruling CPN-UML's (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist) youth wing with the Youth Association of Nepal (YAN).

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, the CPN-UML chief, was supposed to address the programme but cancelled it, sensing the mood of the protesters.

Local authorities imposed a curfew in Rangeli area after the violent clash during which Morcha members set fire to a police station in Dainiya in Rangeli bazaar.

Toyam Rai, chief district officer, confirmed to the media that two people were killed at the clash site while the third succumbed in a hospital. Police fired shots in the air and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.

IANS