Nawalparasi, September 15

A four-year-old boy was killed in police firing when the agitators affiliated to United Democratic Madhesi Front clashed with police personnel at Bethari of Rupandehi’s Gonaha VDC, along Bhairahawa-Lumbini road section today.

UDMF, however, claimed that four persons, including the kid, were killed and six demonstrators were injured in police firing. Superintendent of Police Rajendra Dhakal at Nawalparasi District Police Office confirmed that Chandan Kumar Patel, 4, from Bethari was killed in the incident. UDMF Rupandehi district Coordinator Mahendra

Yadav, however, claimed that Raj Kumar Barai, 34, of Hattibangai VDC, Gonaha VDC’s   Ranju Kshetri, 14, and Bindu Lakol, 35, were also killed in the police firing. Dhakal did not confirm the deaths of other three.

An eyewitness said Patel was killed after a bullet fired by police hit him while he was playing in his house.

A clash between the police and UDMF cadres broke out when the police intervened after agitators attacked a truck heading out of Lumbini Industrial Corridor at around 5:00pm today. The agitators vandalised three trucks and two police vans. Six protesters and six police personnel injured in the clashes are being treated at Universal Medical College, Bhairahawa.

SP Dhakal said clashes occurred after demonstrators attacked the trucks coming out of the corridor with police escort. SP Dhakal said police were forced to open fire after the agitators tried to torch the vehicles.

Meanwhile, Rupandehi DAO clamped curfew from Bhairahawa to Gonaha from 8:00pm today till 6:00am on Thursday, said Rupandehi CDO Bishnu Prasad Dhakal.