Nepal: Madhesis protestors lathicharged

Nepalese police on Monday (November 2) forcibly removed the agitating protesters from their sit-in spot on crucial Miteri Bridge at Indo-Nepal border, opening the Birgunj-Raxaul border point after 40 days. The protesters initially hurled stones towards police when the latter started removing them early this morning. They were eventually chased away by police. Some 170 freight trucks entered into India from Nepal after the border was opened, The Kathmandu Post reported. However, no trucks have entered into Nepal from the Indian side so far, it added. Madhesis - who claim to represent the interests of the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region (plains) - have been protesting close to the main Nepal-India trading point near Raxaul, through which about 70 per cent of bilateral trade is done. Their agitation has led to a halt in supply of essential goods, causing acute shortage of fuel in Nepal. Raxaul customs superintendent Arun Kumar Rajat said that the trucks stranded on Indian side will be sent to Nepal since the border was cleared since this morning. "There is no point in stopping the freight trucks and tankers as the border has cleared. The trucks, tankers and LPG bullets will be sent to Nepal," he was quoted as saying by the Post.