Nepal to give Rs 1 million to families of 52 people killed during Madhesi protests

Nepal's new government on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs 1 million each to families of 52 people, including 11 security personnel, who were killed during the Madhesis' protests over the new Constitution.

The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prachanda decided to provide the compensation to 41 civilians and 11 security personnel, who were killed in the months-long anti-Constitution protests, minister for environment Jaya Dev Joshi told PTI.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet had decided that Nepali Rs 1 million will be given to the families of those killed in the protests. It also decided to provide free medical treatment to those injured in the agitation.

Meanwhile, the government today formed a seven-member probe committee led by former Supreme Court justice Girish Chandra Lal to investigate into violent incidents occurred during the protests.

Prime Minister and CPN Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" and coalition partner Nepali Congress had recently signed a pact with the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front and other ethnic groups which agreed to provide compensation to families of the Madhesi unrest and form a commission to probe into the violent incidents during the protest.

The Madhesi parties had led the six months-long agitation, mainly to protest against the seven-province federal model enshrined in the new Constitution.
The protests by Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, had also disrupted the supplies of petroleum products and cooking gas among other essentials to Nepal, creating massive shortage of essential goods.