One refugee has been killed after Indian police opened fire to prevent them from crossing Mechi bridge, Tuesday.

Saha Bahadur Dewan, a refugee from Pathari camp, died of bullet wounds as he was being taken to hospital in Dharan.

Likewise, at least 100 Bhutanese refugees were injured when Indian police used force to prevent them from crossing the Mechi Bridge on the Nepal-Indian border on the second day of their ‘Long March’ to Bhutan.

Reports say the Indian police opened fire and used several rounds teargas shells after hundreds of refugees tried to cross the Mechi Bridge in Jhapa to enter India. The injured refugees have been undergoing treatment at Mechi Zonal Hospital and the condition of a few of them is said to be critical. According to state-owned Radio Nepal, the Indian police apprehended eight Bhutanese refugees during the clash.

Situation remains tense in and around Mechi Bridge due to frequent clashes between the refugees and Indian security men. India has deployed Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and combat forces of West Bengal Police to the refugees’ Long March.

Over 15000 refugees are participating in the Long March.

Meanwhile, Home Ministry has issued a statement urging for restraint in Mechi border. Stating that Nepal government had always backed the right to dignified repatriation of the refugees, the Ministry has appealed to the refugees to stop intensifying tension in the border region and return back to the camps.

Beldangi curfew stays

Meanwhile, indefinite curfew continues in Beldangi refugee camp in Jhapa. The Jhapa district administration had imposed indefinite curfew there to prevent violence in the wake of relentless protests following the death of a refugee youth in police firing on Sunday. Another refugee was killed on Monday in police action when the refugees attacked the police and defied curfew orders. Some police personnel were also injured in the clash.