Cop, civilian killed in fresh Nepal agitations

Violence on Friday continued unabated in Nepal over a new Constitution that proposes a federal structure as a policeman and a civilian were killed in latest clashes between protesters and security personnel in western Nepal, taking the death toll to 21.

Tension also ran high in eastern Nepal after similar clashes erupted in different places.

A policeman was killed during a clash that erupted between security personnel and protesters at Mainapokhar in Bardiya district in the morning, according to police.

A group of protestors brandishing lethal weapons attacked security personnel at Mainapokhar at around 8 am and the deceased, identified as a head constable, suffered serious injuries when the security personnel tried to protect two buses.

In a separate incident, a motorcyclist died in Piprahawa Chowk of Ganapur on the Nepalgunj-Kohalpur road section in Banke district when the protesters pelted stones at him for defying the strike.

The deceased has been identified as a 22-year-old man. According to police, the youth - who sustained serious injuries after being hit by stones - succumbed on his way to the hospital.

The pillion rider was seriously injured in the incident, police said.