Indian pilgrims returning from a visit to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu were reportedly targeted amid the unrest in Nepal after miscreants attacked
their bus on Thursday morning. According to police, the pilgrims were returning from a visit to the temple when their bus, bearing a UP registration number, came under attack, the Times of India reported. Assailants hurled stones at the bus, smashing its windows, and robbed the passengers of their bags, cash and mobile phones. Several of them were also left injured. The bus driver, Raj, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, shared that the mob attacked the bus when it was on its way back to India. "The attackers broke all the glass panes with stones and looted our belongings," he shared. The damaged bus reached the Sonauli border near Maharajganj in UP on Thursday evening. "Seven to eight passengers were hurt, but Nepalese army personnel came to our aid. The Indian government later arranged for all stranded passengers to be airlifted from Kathmandu to Delhi," Shyamu Nishad, a bus staffer, told TOI. Several tourists from Andhra Pradesh remain stranded in Nepal amid the unrest. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said as many as 200 Telugu people are stranded in the riot-hit country. Meanwhile, the regular bus service operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) that runs between Delhi and Kathmandu has been stuck in Nepal due to the ongoing turmoil in the country, according to officials. The Delhi-Kathmandu Maitri Bus Sewa, covering a distance of 1,167 kilometres, operated six times a week. The Indian government is coordinating with the embassies of Nepal and India in the matter. Also Read: Nepal's Gen-Z Protestors Now Back Kulman Ghising As Their PM; Balen Shah, Sushila Karki No Longer In Running
Nepal protests: What is happening?
The protests began on September 8 in Kathmandu and other major cities, including Pokhara, Butwal, and Birgunj, after the government imposed a ban on major social media platforms, citing tax revenue and cybersecurity concerns. Protesters took to the streets demanding an end to institutionalised corruption and favouritism in governance and the revocation of the ban on social media platforms, which they see as an attempt to suppress free speech. Public frustration deepened further when the "Nepo Babies" trend on social media exposed the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children, highlighting the economic disparity between them and ordinary citizens.
Rs 8 Billion Burnt Overnight: Watch How Hilton Kathmandu, Once Nepal's Pride, Turned Into A Charred Symbol Of Unrest
As tensions mounted, the situation quickly escalated on the ground. At least 30 people were killed and 1033 were injured in clashes with security forces. A curfew was imposed in several cities, including Kathmandu, to control the situation.
The movement had led to the resignation of several ministers in the government, including the resignation of KP Sharma Oli as Prime Minister.
