West Nepal on fire: 9 killed as protesters attack police over statehood demand

Kathmandu, Aug 25: Ethnic communities in western Nepal, while demanding a statehood, clashed with the police with spears and knives on Monday. This left six people dead and many others injured.

Raj Kumar Shrestha, a government administrator said that the injured were taken to the hospital and that the death toll may rise upto 20.

Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam said that the protesters surrounded police who were enforcing a curfew in Tikapur, which is around 400 kilometers west of Kathmandu. They attacked the police officers with knives, spears and stones and also set an officer ablaze. Additional enforcements had also been sent to control the law and order situation.

The ethnic Tharu group are asking for a separate state in the new constitution, which is being drafted and finalised by the Constituent Assembly. Nepal has been particularly worried about the drafting of the constitution, especially after the devastating earthquake this year.

The main political parties now agree that there should be seven federal states. However, the smaller parties and ethnic groups oppose the idea.

OneIndia News