Protests over Nepal's new constitution turned violent on Monday leaving 11 people dead and several others injured, according to the Associated Press.
Seven security personnel, a two-year-old boy, and three protesters died when protesters clashed with police in Tikapur of northwest Kailaii district on Monday, reported Kathmandu Post. At least 20 police officers were injured.
Early numbers set the death toll at nine, and that number was confirmed to by the home ministry on Monday. That number has since risen to 11, according to the Associated Press.
"We have confirmation on nine deaths. Prohibitory orders have been issued and the area is tense but under control," said home ministry spokesperson Laxmi Prasad Dhakal on Monday, according to Hindustan Times.
The protesters, mainly from ethnic Tharu community, were demanding a separate Tharuhat province comprising northwest districts with sizable Tharu population. Nepal's new constitution divides entire country into seven federal states and protesters are dissatisfied with it.
"About 4,000 demonstrators were marching towards Tikapur from Manuwa VDC where the incident took place. But the tragic incident took place as the huge mass beyond our expectations attacked the security personnel," Chief District Officer (CDO) Raj Kumar Shrestha said, according to Kathmandu Post.
District officials said as many as 42 police personnel were injured in the attack and that number of causality could rise, according to Himalaya Times.
Nepal's home minister Bamdev Gautam blamed protesters for violence.
"All of a sudden protesters encircled the police and attacked them with knives, axes, sickles and spears," he said, according to AFP. "Inspector Ram Bihari Tharu of the Armed Police Force was burnt alive," Guatam said while mentioning that protesters have set one security personnel on fire.
Nepalese government told the national parliament that it had deployed Nepali Army at several places and declared several sensitive areas riot hit zone, according to Himalayan Times.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala to express concern that the instability "would seriously compound the tragedy" from the earthquake earlier this year that hit Nepal. Modi appealed to all the people of Nepal and its government to "eschew violence and maintain social harmony," the Indian Embassy said in a statement.
