Kathmandu - Police have fired into a crowd of
demonstrators in Nepal, killing one, as the country
prepares to adopt a controversial new constitution.
The new charter, aimed at cementing Nepal's
transformation from Hindu monarchy to secular
democracy, will come into force later on Sunday.
Authorities said the fatality occurred in the
southern district of Parsa when police opened fire
on a crowd of demonstrators after thousands of
Madhesi demonstrators defied a curfew.
"One person was killed when the police were forced
to fire after thousands came out in the street
defying the curfew," Kesheb Raj Ghimire, Parsa's
chief district officer, told AFP news agency by
phone.
"They attacked with stones and glass bottles. Some
of the security forces have been injured as well as
the demonstrators. The situation here is tense."
Legislators here in Kathmandu, the capital, adopted
the bill on Wednesday despite weeks of violent
protests that left more than 40 people dead, among
them two children and a police officer who was
lynched as he was driven to hospital in an
ambulance.
The new constitution will divide the Himalayan
nation of 28 million people into seven federal
provinces, a move aimed at devolving power from
the centre.
However, some historically marginalised groups say
the division will leave them under-represented in
parliament.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
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