In the wake of continued unrest in Nepal, a bus with 49 Indian tourists was attacked along the India-Nepal border near Sonauli on September 9, with some passengers injured. The group had been traveling back from Kathmandu after a visit to the Pashupatinath Temple.
Driver Ramu Nishad explained the attack, “We were coming back after darshan from the Pashupatinath Temple, when suddenly a crowd mobbed our bus and attacked unnecessarily. There were women and senior citizens traveling with us, but the agitators didn’t bother.” Stone-pelting broke windows and injured people, including women and senior citizens. Those injured were taken to a Kathmandu hospital.
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The Indian Embassy made arrangements in association with the Nepalese authorities for a special flight, returning the remaining tourists safely to India.
The riotous protests in Nepal, initiated in the wake of anti-corruption rallies, have already taken 51 lives, a police officer quoted by Reuters said. The riots have resulted in arson attacks, vandalism, and bombings of correctional centers, leading to the escape of thousands of prisoners from jails.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) booked 67 prisoners, including a woman while trying to enter India at different checkpoints along the state borders of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. The officials stated that the convicts were arrested after they failed to showcase valid identity proofs.
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The crisis deepened after demonstrations compelled Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to quit on Tuesday. The Nepal Army enforced curfews and restriction orders as law and order began to break down in multiple districts.
With the situation in Nepal still tense, Indian security agencies remain on high alert to protect travelers and border people.
