By Kosh R. Koirala
Kathmandu, Jun 1 : Nepal Government has urged the India to take urgent measures for the safety and security of the Nepali community in the bordering areas of the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya.
Issuing a press statement on Monday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) regretted the killings and eviction of Nepalis living and working in Langpih area on the border of the two Indian states. The Ministry Spokesperson Durga Prasad Bhattarai urged the Indian government to act immediately for the security of Nepali community living in the areas.
The MoFA’s call to the southern neighbor comes in the wake of the alleged communal violence and a standing ultimatum to the minority Nepali speaking community by the indigenous Khasi community in Langpih area on the border of Assam and Meghalaya. Reports said at least 17 Nepali-speaking people were killed and thousand others were forced to flee following a series of attacks in the communal violence in the third week of May.
Langpih village, about 60 km from Guwahati in Assam and 140 km from Shillong, has been a bone of contention between Assam and Meghalaya. The area has often hit the headlines since the Assam government laid the cornerstone for a health center there in July 2008.
Latest series of violence ensued after four people were killed and several others injured in firing by Assam police personnel at Langpih village on May 14, following a clash between tribal Khasis with Nepali nationals at a weekly market.
The MoFA spokesperson Bhattarai said Nepal government has already taken up the issue of the alleged communal violence against Nepali community with the Indian government and is closely assessing the situation there.
Various organizations in Nepal have protested the alleged killing and eviction of Nepali-speaking population in the troubled Langpih areas. On Monday, Youth Federation Nepal, the youth wing of the ruling CPN-UML, submitted a memorandum to the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, demanding security of the Nepali-speaking populace in the area.
[ via Asian Tribune ]
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