Death toll in Kapilbastu climbs to 17

The human cost of sudden burst of unrest in Kapilbastu and surrounding areas early this week has been appallingly high.

After the police recovered twelve more dead bodies on Wednesday from near a rivulet in Bisampur VDC of Kapilbastu district, the death toll of the violence has climbed to 17. Still half a dozen more people are said to be missing since the violence.

Reports say that in last few days, around 300 homes and 100 vehicles have been set to fire by mobs in the district. Police fear that some more people could have died in those fires.

Several places in the district including Chandrauta bazaar have been under curfew since Sunday. On Wednesday, too, the administration has announced curfew from noon after a break of few hours in the morning.

Kapilbastu's Krishna Nagar, Chandrauta and Birpur areas and Rupandehi's Butwal have been in the grip of unrest since Sunday this week.

Following the killing of one Mohit Khan, leader of Democratic Madhesi Front and a former leader of anti-Maoist resistance group, on Sunday (September 16) morning in Birpur area, violence had erupted in Kapilbastu and Rupandehi districts.

In the ensuing violence that took a communal colour, a total of 17 persons have already died including Khan. Political parties and civil society in these districts have been holding goodwill rallies appealing for the communal harmony.

On Wednesday, a team of Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR-Nepal) led by its chief Richard Bennett visited the affected areas. nepalnews.com sd Sep 19 07

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