Nepal Violence

Nepalis began voting for a new parliament on Sunday with the army on alert as a series of small blasts blamed on a rogue Maoist group reminded the Himalayan nation of the violence and instability it is hoping to leave behind.

Millions of Nepalese today voted in the country's first local-level polls in two decades as the Himalayan nation took a crucial step towards cementing democracy amid political turmoil.

About 1,000 Madhesis and demonstrators from other minority groups seeking more rights and representation in Nepal's new Constitution scuffled with police today, even as Prime Minister K P Oli warned that the government will not keep quiet if the protests become violent.

In a fresh wave of violence over the economic blockade, Madhesi agitators reportedly clashed with Indians at the Indo-Nepal border near Raxaul in Bihar on Thursday.

Nepal today decided to clear key highways and border points blockaded by Indian-origin Madhesis for over two-months, affecting the supply of essential goods to the land-locked country, a day after four protesters died in police firing.

Fresh violence is being reported from the Nepalese side of border with India where the Madhesi community continues a blockade, severely affecting the trade ties between the two countries.

Nepal police shot dead four Indian-origin Madhesis blockading a key highway in Terai over the new Constitution as violence returned to the country already reeling under acute shortage of essential goods, prompting India to express "distress" at the loss of lives.

At India's bustling border with Nepal in Bihar's Raxaul, there is an uneasy calm. Since Tuesday morning, an otherwise open border with free access from both sides to pedestrians, horse-carts and motorcyclists, is totally shut.

Condoling the death of an Indian due to police firing in Nepal, the United States today asked Nepalese leaders to "reach an accommodation" that builds the "broadest possible support" for the country's Constitution.

India on Sunday said it does not want to prescribe any model to Nepal over its Constitution and is only concerned about violence and instability in the neighbouring country that would also affect India as well.

India summoned its ambassador to Nepal home for urgent talks, officials said today, following a sudden downturn in ties after the Himalayan nation adopted a new constitution that sparked weeks of border violence that killed more than 40 people.

Violence continued in Nepal today as three people protesting against the Constitution adopted a day ago were injured in police firing. India, voicing deep concern over the violence, expressed hope that the Nepalese leadership will take initiatives to "effectively and credibly" address the reasons behind the confrontation.

Nepal adopted its first democratic constitution on Sunday amid protests and at least one death, which took place in Birgunj in the southern part of the tiny nation that has seen war, a palace massacre and a devastating earthquake since a campaign to create a modern state began more than 65 years ago.

Expressing concern over the violent situation in several parts of Nepal along the Indian border, India today asked the country to resolve differences through dialogue free from violence which would enable broad-based ownership and acceptance.

India has said completion of Nepal's new Constitution should be an occasion of joy and not violence, a day before promulgation of the statute following protests on a federal model by Madhesi groups that has spilled over to districts bordering India.

Nepalis began voting for a new parliament on Sunday with the army on alert as a series of small blasts blamed on a rogue Maoist group reminded the Himalayan nation of the violence and instability it is hoping to leave behind.

Millions of Nepalese today voted in the country's first local-level polls in two decades as the Himalayan nation took a crucial step towards cementing democracy amid political turmoil.

About 1,000 Madhesis and demonstrators from other minority groups seeking more rights and representation in Nepal's new Constitution scuffled with police today, even as Prime Minister K P Oli warned that the government will not keep quiet if the protests become violent.

In a fresh wave of violence over the economic blockade, Madhesi agitators reportedly clashed with Indians at the Indo-Nepal border near Raxaul in Bihar on Thursday.

Nepal today decided to clear key highways and border points blockaded by Indian-origin Madhesis for over two-months, affecting the supply of essential goods to the land-locked country, a day after four protesters died in police firing.

Fresh violence is being reported from the Nepalese side of border with India where the Madhesi community continues a blockade, severely affecting the trade ties between the two countries.

Nepal police shot dead four Indian-origin Madhesis blockading a key highway in Terai over the new Constitution as violence returned to the country already reeling under acute shortage of essential goods, prompting India to express "distress" at the loss of lives.

At India's bustling border with Nepal in Bihar's Raxaul, there is an uneasy calm. Since Tuesday morning, an otherwise open border with free access from both sides to pedestrians, horse-carts and motorcyclists, is totally shut.

Condoling the death of an Indian due to police firing in Nepal, the United States today asked Nepalese leaders to "reach an accommodation" that builds the "broadest possible support" for the country's Constitution.

India on Sunday said it does not want to prescribe any model to Nepal over its Constitution and is only concerned about violence and instability in the neighbouring country that would also affect India as well.

India summoned its ambassador to Nepal home for urgent talks, officials said today, following a sudden downturn in ties after the Himalayan nation adopted a new constitution that sparked weeks of border violence that killed more than 40 people.

Violence continued in Nepal today as three people protesting against the Constitution adopted a day ago were injured in police firing. India, voicing deep concern over the violence, expressed hope that the Nepalese leadership will take initiatives to "effectively and credibly" address the reasons behind the confrontation.

Nepal adopted its first democratic constitution on Sunday amid protests and at least one death, which took place in Birgunj in the southern part of the tiny nation that has seen war, a palace massacre and a devastating earthquake since a campaign to create a modern state began more than 65 years ago.

Expressing concern over the violent situation in several parts of Nepal along the Indian border, India today asked the country to resolve differences through dialogue free from violence which would enable broad-based ownership and acceptance.

India has said completion of Nepal's new Constitution should be an occasion of joy and not violence, a day before promulgation of the statute following protests on a federal model by Madhesi groups that has spilled over to districts bordering India.