A 15-year old boy was killed and at least a dozen wounded in police fire as communal riots broke out in Nepalgunj district, some 400-km west of Kathmandu.

According to official sources, Kamal Giri was killed and others wounded when a group of protestors ignored curfew and police warnings in front of the district administration office. This is the first incident where police action has claimed a human life since the seven party coalition formed the government eight months ago.

Nepalgunj is under curfew after people belonging to the hill and terai (plain) communities clashed and went on a vandalising spree. A day long ‘terai bandh’ called on Monday by the Nepal Sadhbhavana Party (NSP-A)—one of the constituents of the coalition goverment led by Prime Minister G P Koirala—against the finalised interim constitution is believed to have triggered the major reaction today. The NSP leadership, though, had put their signature on the interim constitution agreement with a dissenting note.

About 25 vehicles and an equal number of houses have been damaged in the clashes but there are no casualty figures available, said a home ministry official.

As the situation turned grim, Prime Minister G P Koirala summoned the chief of army staff, Gen Rukmangad Katwal, but the government has not decided to deploy the army. A PMO official said the army has been put on high alert.

The breaking out of riots in Nepalgunj coincides with a stiff resistance by Maoists to reopening of police posts in many places including along highway sretches.

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