Children rights activists have expressed serious concerns over deteriorating child rights situation in the country because of the ongoing political unrest in several Tarai districts.

Noting that seven minors have lost their lives in protests in various Tarai districts, children rights defenders have once again appealed

the government and the agitating party to stop using children in political rallies and demonstrations.

“The state security agencies are using brute force to suppress demonstrations, bullets are being fired indiscriminately. How can you explain security forces opening fire at a busy marketplace which led to the death of a four-year-old ?” said Mohna Ansari, a member of National Human Rights Commission.

Children rights activist Milan Dharel said: “We have a culture of using children in political rallies. Even the parties that have committed to uphold the children’s rights are parading children in the streets. The death of seven innocent children is the height of children’s

rights abuse. This must stop immediately.”

The Tarai unrest has also barred children from going to school regularly, though many of the parties involved in the protest had earlier  pledged to make schools zone of peace.