45 Chinese nationals in Nepal demand flights to go home, throw stones

Chinese nationals stranded in Nepal because of the coronavirus limitations argued with the police in an effort to reach the Prime Minister’s Office in Kathmandu. 45 of them had been arrested, Nepal police said.

“Four police staff, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Haribahadur Basnet, were wounded in the clash when the protestors entered a prohibited zone,” Superintendent of Nepal Police, Somendra Singh Rathore, said to ANI.

Like India, Nepal delayed international flights on March 22 as part of careful measures against the spread of the coronavirus. The restrictions will continue till this month-end.

The protesters, stranded in the country because of flight restrictions, stated that they had run out of money and didn’t have the means to stay in the country any longer.

While several countries, including the US, the UK, Australia and France have chartered departure flights for their citizens in Nepal, no official flights have been made to rescue stranded Chinese nationals.

The protest some of them held posters such as “I want to go home!” - turned violent when the police stopped them entering a prohibited zone of Singha Darbar that also houses the Prime Minister’s Office.

“They may face charges of protesting in the restricted zone and violating the lockdown under existing laws,” police spokeswoman Kiran Bajracharya said.

They made an effort to persuade the Chinese nationals to turn back and not violate the restrictions hadn’t helped, Police added.

Nepal has recorded just over 100 cases and has among the lowest number of coronavirus infections. On Friday, according to Nepal’s health ministry, three fresh cases were reported in the country.

“The total number of coronavirus cases has touched 102 in Nepal with three more tested positive on Friday. Two men aged 16 and 22 from Kapilvastu and a 16-year-old man from Nepalgunj have tested positive for COVID – 19,” the health ministry stated.

Nepal on Friday reported three new cases of the coronavirus, taking the total infections in the country to over 100, the health ministry said.