The clash occurred after police used force against local villagers who encirculed Area Police Office of Dewangunj demanding release of smuggled cotton seized by police. The villagers pelted stones at the police office protesting "police excess". [break]
Police said the villagers went on a rampage after they seized 15 sacks of cotton smuggled from India by one Ashok Gupta, a resident of Dewangunj. Police fired in the air and then used tear gas to disperse the protestors.
As the agitating crowd did not budge, police fired a few rounds at the crowd leaving one person injured. The injured has been identified as Sanu Yadav, a local Nepali Congress (NC) cadre. He is being treated at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan.
"One person has been shot," Superintendent of Police (SP) Raju Manandhar said. "However, it is yet to be ascertained who shot him."
Similarly, locals including Salim Miya, Dhirendra Mehata and Bhavi Devi Mehta were also injured in the clash. According to SP Manandhar, over one and a half dozen villagers were arrested. They were released later after an all party-meeting.
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