TIA Correspondent
A 19-year-
old, Ashish Ram, of Raxaul in Bihar was killed after he received a bullet shot in his head when Nepal police opened fire on protesters at Shankaracharya Gate near Birgunj Customs at India Nepal border, official sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the issue of killing of the Indian in firing at Indo-Nepal border with his Nepalese counterpart K P Oli. In a telephonic conversation with Mr. Oli this evening, Prime Minister expressed shock and condemned the unfortunate killing of a youngster from Bihar and urged him to investigate the matter.
He also requested Nepalese leaders to work towards ensuring an early and effective solution to the crisis. On supply of fuel and other essentials, Mr. Modi assured that there is no obstacle from the Indian side.
Nepal’s Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay has termed the killing as tragic. Talking to a media, Mr Upadhyay said, concerned officers are looking into the matter. The Nepalese Ambassador said, peace dialogue between agitating parties and Nepal government is going on. Mr Upadhyay visited South Block and met senior officials of the External Affairs Ministry.
Earlier, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup, while expressing concern over the incident, said, issues facing Nepal are political and cannot be resolved by force. Mr Swarup said, causes underlying the current state of confrontation need to be addressed by the Government of Nepal credibly and effectively.
He said, India is also monitoring the situation carefully. Mr Swarup said, Indian freight forwarders and transporters have voiced their worries again today about the deteriorating situation across the border. The spokesperson said, India has advised them to exercise caution and not put themselves in danger.
Nepalese police had earlier today opened the Birgunj-Raxaul border point with India, forcibly removing the agitating protesters from their sit-in spot on crucial Miteri Bridge at Indo-Nepal border.