Kathmandu, April 20: In order to silence agitating students, the Nepalese government has slightly reduced the prices of petroleum products effective from today. The diesel price was reduced by Rs two to Rs 20.93 per litre, whereas the price of kerosene was reduced by Rs one to Rs 16.88, according to a press release issued by Nepal Oil Corporation.

Similarly, the subsidised kerosene price has been reduced by Rs three to Rs 12.50 per litre. The government has been distributing ration cards to provide cooking fuel at a subsidised price after the recent price hikes in petroleum products. The p rice of airplane fuel has been reduced by Rs one per litre to Rs 20.63.

However, the price of petrol fixed at Rs 56 has not been changed.

The prices were reduced keeping with the reduction in international fuel price, the corporation said in the press release. However, the student organisations which have announced a shut down in Kathmandu valley for April 23 and a number of other protest shows, have not yet changed their plans.

On April 8, one student was killed and two injured when police opened fire in Butwal, west of here, during a protest against petroleum price rises

Last month state-run Nepal Oil Corporation raised fuel prices, citing higher international prices due to the Iraq war

Bureau Report