Govt declares victim of Kanchanpur SSB firing a martyr with monetary compensation to bereaved family; Modi expresses sorrow over the Kanchanpur incident

Kathmandu / March 10: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Bimalendra Nidhi, has said Nepali national Govinda Gautam who had died Thursday from firing from the India’s Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) in Kanchanpur has been given the status of a martyr.

In his response to lawmakers’ queries relating to the Saptari and Kanchanpur incidents in today’s meeting of the Legislature-Parliament, Minister Nidhi said the government decided to declare Gautam a martyr, provide compensation of one million rupees to his family, perform his last rites with hounour and guarantee free education to his children.

The Minister apprised the meeting that Gautam was killed yesterday in shooting by the SSB force, following a dispute surfaced after the Indian side demolished a culvert constructed by the Nepali side at Ananda Bazar of southern Kanchanpur near the Nepal-India border, implementing the February 21 agreement reached between the Nepal-India border officials for the same.

Condemning the incident, he said the Ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs have already expressed their views over the tragic incident to which an innocent Nepali lost his life.

He, following the direction of the Prime Minister, held telephone talks with Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs, Government of India, on the matter and called on the Indian government for an action against the guilty in the incident.

Similarly, Foreign Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat had called up the Indian Minister for External Affairs, urging not to repeat such incident in the future, as said by Minister Nidhi in the meeting. Likewise, the Foreign Ministry drew the attention of Indian Embassy here towards the incident.

Modi expresses sorrow over the Kanchanpur incident

The DPM apprised the House that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal got a telephone call on behalf of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, expressing sorrow over the Kanchanpur incident.

National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Modi, Ajit Kumar Doval, called up Prime Minister Dahal, expressing sorrow over the incident. The Indian Prime Minister, through his security advisor, offered tribute to the departed soul and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

In his reply to lawmakers’ queries regarding the Saptari incident, the Home Minister said police had to open fire at the scene in its attempts to control the protest of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) against the CPN (UML)’s Mechi Mahakali campaign by an irate mob so as to prevent a possible big loss of life and damages. The incident was a result of police action taken after attempts were made to attack on security personnel despite the demonstration of restraint by the security force, and it was meant for averting losses to both sides, he added.

Stating that the government was engaged in implementing the constitution, amending it and the election phase, the Home Minister said the constitution amendment bill mhas already been tabled (in parliament) and the implementation of the local level restructuring started by publishing it in the Nepal Gazette for the purpose of the local level elections slated for May 14. He added that coordination is being established with all the security bodies in preparation to the election in this context.

The Minister for Home Affairs also informed the Parliament about the Jajarkot bus accident, stating that the people injured in the accident have been rescued by helicopter and taken to different places for treatment, as well as distribution of relief has been moved ahead. RSS