Madhesi agitation turns violent in Nepal

Violence returned to Nepal on Friday following the failure of talks between the Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of four political parties of Nepal, and the government on the issue of amending the country's new constitution promulgated barely two months ago.

Madhesi Morcha cadres on Friday vandalized an ambulance at Katahari area of Morang district near the Nepal-India border.

They pelted stones at the ambulance, en route to Biratagar from Rangeli, carrying a child patient suffering from pneumonia and her mother, said Pramod Kharel, the Morang district police spokesperson.

The mother sustained minor injuries in the attack.

In Birgunj town in Parsa District, the Morcha supporters -- barely a few hours after allowing passage of essential medicines -- hurled petrol bombs at a truck carrying medical supplies.

The truck, carrying life saving drugs, was set on fire by the agitating Madhesi Morcha cadres on Thursday night. The truck displayed a banner reading "essential medications", said the truck driver.

Parsa Police Office Deputy S.P. Robindra Bogati said the truck, parked in front of a Birgunj sub-metropolitan godown was set on fire. Police said the fire destroyed Rs.2 million worth of antibiotics.

The agitating cadres also vandalised the residence of former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in Rauthat. They also set afire and vandalised over a dozen vehicles in various parts of the Tarai region.

Political parties and indigenous groups based in Nepal's Terai region are protesting the country's new constitution, promulgated on September 20, which, they claim, fails to address their long-standing grievances.

The new federal republican charter discriminates against the Teraian groups in the matter of delineation of provinces and other significant issues, the protestors aver.

Nepal's hospitals and private medical distributors have been reportedly running short of drugs due to the so far two-month-old violent protests along the Nepal-India border that have led to blockading of supplies of essential goods, drugs and fuel.

A meeting of the Morcha in Kathmandu on Thursday decided to allow cargo trucks carrying medicines, oxygen cylinders and health-related equipment to enter Nepal from the eastern Nepali Biratnagar border during the day-time.