Kathmandu, December 25- Several Dalit students and activist were injured by government security forces’s action during a peaceful students’ protest against the recent announcement of reducing MBBS admission quota previously allocated for Dalits from 15% to 9%. Injured among the protesters in the incident that occurred over a protest demonstration in Mandala Maitighar on December 17 were: 1 Aananda Bishwakarma (broken hand), 2 Birendra Bishwakarma (broken hand), 3 Rajendra Sunar (seriously beaten), 4 Shambhu B.K. (seriously beaten), 5 Sahes Bishwakarma (seriously beaten), 6 Kamala Hemchuri (seriously beaten), 7 Juna Nepali, 8 Rahen Sunar, 9 Ramesh Malla, 10 Pampha Nepali, 11 Radhika Nepali, 12 Dev Raj Tamata, 13 Vim Bishwakarma, 14 Kamal Ghatani, 15 Ram Nepali, 16 Khagendra Lamjel, 17 Bishnu Nepali, 18 Sagar Nepali, 19 Surendra Kisan, 20 Bhumi Raj Nepali, and 21 Rajendra Tamrakar.

Report by:
Shambhu Rasali Palpali

Nepaldalitinfo adds:

Nepaldalitinfo International Network deplores the unwarranted action of government security forces seriously injuring the students protesting peacefully against the reduction in MBBS admission quota for Dalits.

The present Government of Nepal has reduced the percentage of MBBS admission seat quota allocated by the past government for Dalits from 15% to 9% . The slashing of the Dalit quoata was largely due to the reason that the government was under increasing pressure to increase quota for other more influential ethnic groups like Madeshis, who are putting pressure on government to make decision in their favor, and also because, they have their own men in the decision making board. Dalits lacking both these factors have been treated unjustifiably, as it was always easier for the Ministry of Education to make decision against those who remain weak to make their case strongly.

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