Three young Madhesi activists were today killed in alleged police firing and several others injured in clashes when Madhesi cadres tried to disrupt a public meeting of the main opposition party CPN-UML in Nepal.
The United Democratic Madhesi Front activists were killed when police opened fire to disperse the UDMF cadres who had encircled the venue of the meeting in Saptari district, party sources said.
The agitating Madhesis announced a two-day general strike in southern districts from tomorrow to protest against the killing of the agitators in police firing.
Sanjay Mehta, 18, had sustained serious injuries in the clashes that erupted when CPN-UML chairman and Nepal's former prime minister KP Oli was addressing a gathering nearby.
Mehta died moments later. Pitambar Mahato and Digambar Jha also died in the incident.
The police resorted to firing after they failed to control the Madhesi cadres. They earlier baton charged them and fired tear gas cells, said Chief District Officer Baldev Gautam.
The public meeting was called by Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist as part of its Mechi-Mahakali campaign launched two days ago in the Terai's Jhapa district.
The CPN-UML says the campaign is aimed at strengthening the national unity and expedite the implementation of the Constitution.
The Madhesi Front was disrupting the meeting as part of its separate campaign against local body polls scheduled for May 14.
Prime Minister Prachanda has said the government is trying to bring the Madhes-centric parties on board for the polls.
Meanwhile, the CPN-UML postponed its Mechi-Mahakali campaign for three days in view of the violent clashes.
Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a six-month- long agitation against the implementation of the Constitution without amending its provisions that would address the demands for more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries.
At least 50 people died in the violent Madhesi protest between September 2015 and February last year.
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