Students launch protests against China’s encroachment in Nepal

Students in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Monday launched protests against the Chinese encroachment into the country’s territory.

A massive protest march was held in front of the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, political sources told ET from the Nepalese capital. More such protests are in pipeline.

This is the second such public protest against the Chinese encroachment into the Humla area of Nepal.

China has constructed buildings in some of the villages after illegally occupying the areas. A key delineator, Pillar Number-11 that defined Nepal’s border with the Chinese has been missing from Humla.

The protest has a deepened the political crisis in Nepal. The protestors, who have carried placards and posters saying “Return Nepal’s land” and “Stop Chinese expansionism”, have found support from the opposition Nepali Congress (NC). The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has interestingly denied China occupying Nepalese land.

The Nepalese foreign ministry had rejected reports in local media about illegal construction by the Chinese in the Humla district.

The opposition has lashed out at the government for making comments even before a team of government officials visited the area and filed a field report on the developments.

The release from the Ministry further claimed that the same sort of issue was raised in 2016 which turned down the earlier claims.