Nepal has historically sourced all its fuel from India, but the movement of cargo across Birgunj, about 55 miles (90km) south of Kathmandu, and other Indian border checkpoints has slowed to a crawl since the protests began.
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The Madhesis have close cultural and economic ties to Indians and New Delhi is sympathetic to their demands for greater inclusion in parliament and government. There were no reports of any clashes or violence, police said.
Police cleared protesters who were staging a sit-in on a “friendship” bridge across the border that is on the main supply route to the capital Kathmandu.
The protestors had reportedly blocked the Maitri bridge when the cops allegedly used batons on them to disperse them.
“More than 100 empty Indian trucks have left Birgunj to return to India but no vehicles have entered Nepal from the Indian side yet”, said Sishir Kumar Dhungana, the director general of the Department of Customs. The trucks were stranded due to blockade of the trading point by the Madhesi agitators for more than a month which was opened today with the help of security personnel, Dhakal said.
More than forty individuals have been killed in clashes between police and other people protesting towards the structure, which was launched in September after a lethal quake pushed warring political events to succeed in settlement.
Protesters from the Madhesi community who live along the Nepal-India border had pitched tents at the crossing, which carries 80 percent of Nepal’s trade and goods. Nepal has accused its neighbor of imposing a blockade on the country as way to intervene in its domestic affairs. An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Birgunj.
“On supply of fuel and other essentials, PM (Modi) assured that there is no obstacle from the Indian side”.
The demonstrations by protesters from the country’s southern lowlands triggered a crisis in Nepal.
Swarup said, “Causes underlying the present state of confrontation need to be addressed by the Government of Nepal credibly and effectively”. Madhesi parties – who claim to represent the interests of the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal’s Terai region – and Tharu ethnic groups have been agitating against the charter, which they say are discriminatory to their interests.
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