Bhairahawa, October 7

A clash erupted between cadres of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front and police at the Belhiya entry point of Bhairahawa in Rupandehi today, leaving 10 security persons, including DSP Mahendra Khadka injured.

Krishna Bahadur Chhetri of Bhalabari, Rupandehi was seriously injured after he was attacked by the agitators.

Today, Sadbhawana Party Chairperson Rajendra Mahato had come to Belahiya to take charge of the sit-in there. Tension had built up after the police acted to remove the agitators from the sit-in site.

UDMF cadres hurled stones from Indian territory.

According to Rupandehi police chief SP Rajendra Prasad Dhakal, DSP Khadka and other policemen were injured when stones fell on them.

Sometime later, a severely injured Chhetri had returned from the nearby Indian market to the Nepali side. According to SP Dhakal, the agitators chopped off four fingers off his right hand and attacked him all over the body with sharp weapons on the Indian side.

His condition is learnt to be critical and he is undergoing treatment at Bhairahawa-based Universal Medical College.

Police have said that he was dumped in the Dasgaja area after being attacked with sharp weapons.

Earlier today, Mahato had torched the copies of the constitution in Sunauli bazaar of India before the clash took place.

Mahato had taken the charge of the sit-in here concluding that the earlier leadership of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairperson Mahantha Thakur had been ineffective.