This Article is From Sep 26, 2015

As Protests Roil Nepal, Warnings Blare on Edges of Bihar

Hundreds of protesters have been opposing Nepal's new Constitution near its border with India.

Raxaul: For the last three days on India's side of its border with Nepal, in Bihar, loudspeakers have been booming with warnings.

"Please don't gather here. You are also requested not to travel towards Nepal till further notice," Indian officials have been announcing.

Tensions have been rising along the border between India and Nepal near Bihar over the last few days, amid unrest in the Himalayan nation following the adoption of a new constitution on Sunday.

Groups representing the Madhesis, the community that mainly lives in Nepal's plains and has close ethnic and familial ties with Indian residents, have been protesting the constitution calling for amendments.

On the other side of the border, armed Nepal police commandoes have clashed repeatedly with hundreds of protesters who have been raising slogans and occasionally pelting stones at the cops.

The protesters want at least seven changes in the constitution including proportional representation in Nepal's parliament and no bar from holding constitutional posts like that of the President and Prime Minister.

As a result of the unrest, the two important border crossing points from Bihar into Nepal, have mostly remained shut for the last couple of days.

Nepal's Foreign Ministry today summoned the Indian ambassador Ranjit Rae for a clarification on whether India had imposed any restriction on trade with the country.

With roads blocked there has been a shortage of essential supplies in Nepal as trucks from the India's side are either stranded at some places or unwilling to risk entry from gates that are open.

In major towns in Nepal like Biratnagar, close to Bihar's Forbesganj, shortages have already hit.

"We are not getting essential commodities. The markets are closed. It's become a very big problem," Jagbandhu Jha, a resident in Biratnagar, said.
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