The Nepal government on Friday announced that the families of those killed during the Madhesi protests in the country last year and early this year will get compensation of Nepali Rs 10 lakh (Rs 6.25 lakh), PTI reported. The move was announced by the country’s new Prime Minister Prachanda after his first Cabinet meeting. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on Thursday. Those arrested during the protests will be released and free medical treatment will be provided to those who were injured, the Cabinet announced.

The Madhesi community, largely of Indian origin, were opposed to the new Nepali Constitution that divided their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure. The community wanted the government to demarcate their province and fix electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. At least 50 people were killed in the protests, which went on for six months.