Nepalis among immigrants shot by Mexican military

KATHMANDU: Nepalis were among a group of immigrants fired upon by the Mexican military near the Mexico-Guatemala border earlier this week. The incident resulted in six fatalities, according to Mexico’s Ministry of Defence.

The incident occurred on October 1 near the town of Huixtla in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, approximately 41 kilometers from the border city of Tapachula.

“….military personnel identified 33 migrants of Egyptian, Nepali, Cuban, Indian, Pakistani and Arab nationality, of whom 4 had died, 12 injured and 17 unharmed”, the ministry said in a press release on Wednesday. It added that two more people died after being transported to a local hospital.

The area where the shooting took place is known as a starting point for migrants and asylum seekers beginning their journey toward the United States through Mexico.

The Ministry of Defence has removed from service the two soldiers responsible for opening fire on the immigrants. However, further details about the incident and the ongoing investigation have not been released.