By Kamil Zaheer
KATHMANDU, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Sunday it was "deeply concerned" by rising violence in Nepal's food producing southern plains which has left seven people dead.
Ethnic Madhesis in the country's Terai lowlands have been protesting for 10 days over what they say is the political and commercial dominance of people who live in the hills and mountains of Nepal's north.
In the latest unrest, one man was shot and killed by police on Sunday. Since the protests began dozens have been injured and three towns placed under curfew.
"We are seeing a very worrying escalation of tension and violence in communities in the Terai," said Lena Sundh, representative in Nepal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Madhesis say they face widespread discrimination, resulting in their under-representation in parliament, political parties, the army and police, despite being the majority in an area that is home to almost half the country's population of 26 million.
The Madhesis, who live in the fertile strip of land by the Indian border, are ethnically and culturally closer to people from neighbouring Indian states than to Nepalis from the hills.
"We want to be treated as equals in politics and in running the nation. Why can't they understand that?" said one of the protesters, 36-year-old Ram Chandra Patel, in Jeetpur, 90 km (60 miles) southeast of Kathmandu.
The violence has tarnished a peace deal between the government and Maoist rebels sealed in November ending a conflict which killed 13,000 people.
Sundh warned that unless there was action, including dialogue, the violence could grow.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said he wants talks, but community leaders say they are yet to receive an invite.
In a statement, the United Nations urged leaders to reach out to the Madhesis and signal they are working to address their concerns. It called on the police to exercise greater restraint.
Six of the seven people who have died have been shot by police, while one Madhesi was gunned down during a clash with Maoists.
In Sunday's violence in Kalaiya, 75 km (50 miles) southeast of Kathmandu, protesters defied a curfew to confront police.
(Additional reporting by Gopal Sharma)