15 Madhesi leaders organise a press conference in Kathmandu on Friday to denounce 'police's atrocity' in Rangeli, Morang. Photo: Gopen Rai

Madhesi legislators have boycotted Parliament, protesting against the Rangeli shooting incident in which three protesters were killed and many injured.

As soon as Parliament began clause-wise deliberations on the first constitution amendment bill for the second consecutive day on Friday, Madhesi legislator Laxman Lal Karna rose from his chair and criticised the state for “using excessive force to interrupt talks.”

"Whenever we get closer to a breakthrough, the state kills our people," said Karna. "It happened in Birganj, in Saptari and then in Rangeli. If the state quells our peaceful protests with bullets, it is pointless to hold further talks and seek a political deal."

After Karna's speech, all Madhesi legislators walked out of the house. The Tharuhat party also boycotted Parliament in solidarity with Madhesi legislators.

In Rangeli, a nondescript town in the eastern plains district of Morang, three people were killed in a violent clash between police and Madhesi protesters. Many more were severely injured and are undergoing treatment in the nearby city of Biratnagar.

The deceased have been identified as 60-year-old Draupadi Devi Chaudhari, Mahadev Rishidev and Sibu Majhi.

The clash broke out when police stopped Madhesi protesters from marching towards a public gathering of the Youth Force, a young wing of the ruling UML. The Force had organised an event to 'raise awareness about the constitution among Madhesi people'.

But the Madhesi Front, an alliance of four Madhes-based parties spearheading an agitation against the new constitution for the last six months, held out a rally to disrupt the program organised by the Youth Force.

Madhesi leaders have claimed that the rally was 'peaceful', but journalists who were on the ground reported that protesters were carrying batons, spears and knives.

In Parliament, UML legislators have blamed the Front for 'fueling tension' by 'provoking Madhesi people to disrupt their peaceful demonstration’. "Our program was peaceful, but they tried to attack us with knives and spears," said UML legislator Yagya Raj Sunuwar.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the both sides to respect constitutional rights to gather peacefully and find a political solution to the crisis.