Since protests began, nearly 50 people have been killed in violent episodes during the protests.
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Demonstrations against the changes included in a new constitution have shut down a variety of towns in the southern plains of Nepal crippling markets and transportation.
“Two were killed in the police firing”, district police chief Bhim Dhakal told AFP. Kathmandu has accused New Delhi of imposing an unofficial blockade on the border.
The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, expressed “his growing concern over the blocking of essential supplies on the Nepal-India border”, in a statement on Friday.
Nepal is heavily dependent on India for fuel and other supplies, but little cargo has crossed the border from India since protests against the constitution broke out in late September.
But according to Shambhu Jha, a Madhesi protester who said he was at the clash in Bhardaha, the group fought with the police only after officers used tear gas on the protesters.
Nepalese police personnel stand guard along the highway after a brief clash with the Madhesi protesters demonstrating against the new constitution in Birgunj.
Two Indian-origin Madhesis were shot and killed by the Nepal police during a protest that created a blockade of a key highway.
Several rounds of talks have been held between the agitating Madhesh Morcha and the government to seek political solution for the Madhes people’s demand for “adequate” statutory representation. “We do not want HIT, we want to be FIT”, popular Nepali Comedian Manoj Gajurel said addressing Nepali-Americans in front of the White House as he blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “unofficial blockade” of goods to Nepal.
Nepal is reeling under a severe crisis following three months of strikes and protests by Madhesis.
More than 40 people have died in the violent agitation that has also overwhelmed Indo-Nepal ties as transit of goods and fuel to the Himalayan nation has been badly affected.
Laxman Lal Karna, a senior leader of the Sadbhavana Party organising the protests, said protesters were shot while sitting peacefully on the road to block vehicular traffic and enforce a strike.
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In a related development, Nepal today deployed more security in its volatile Terai region to clear key highways and border trade points with India even as Indian-origin Madhesis defied curfew to intensify agitation against the new Constitution.
