On Friday, protests erupted in Nepal’s Anandabazaar near the border with India, over the death of a Nepalese man in alleged firing by India’s Sashastra Seema Bal.
Another group of demonstrators tried to march on the Indian embassy in Kathmandu in protest over the shooting, but were stopped by police, leading to scuffles, police official Chhabi Lal said.
Dozens of people were protesting over a damaged culvert in Anandabazaar on Thursday when Indian border guards opened fire, killing Govinda Gautam.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday telephoned Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda and condoled Gautam’s death. He said Indian authorities have initiated a probe into the killing.
Prachanda, expressing Nepal's readiness to provide the required support for the investigation, said the Kanchanpur incident was “very serious”. He expressed hope that the guilty would be booked after necessary investigation.
The deceased has been declared as a martyr by the Nepal government. The government will provide Rs 10,00,000 compensation to his next of kin, and fund his children’s education.
Nepal's ties with India were strained towards the end of 2015 and into last year after it blamed India for tacitly supporting a months-long blockade on fuel and goods by Madhesis who are opposed to Nepal's constitution.
(With inputs from PTI and Reuters)
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