Rautahat, June 30

A youth was killed when police opened fire while trying to remove the road obstruction in the Sarlahi section of the East- West Highway today.

Locals had blocked the East- West Highway in Sarlahi keeping the body of a minor boy after he died due to drowning in a ditch. One dozen locals, including police personnel, were hurt in the incident.

Province 2 Police Chief DIG Pradumna Karki identified the deceased as Kewal Mahato, 27, of Gaurishankar village in Ishworpur, Sarlahi. Mahato was killed when police personnel opened fire after protesters pelted stones at the police while the latter were making efforts to remove the road obstruction.

Mahato received a bullet in his head. DIG Karki said that police had to open fire out of compulsion as the demonstrators did not back off from their position despite repeated attempts.

According to Dhanusha Province Police Office, Amil Ray Yadav, 12, had gone missing in the ditch in Banke khola yesterday. The ditch was formed after sand and boulder were extracted from the khola.

Locals were furious after Yadav’s body was recovered today.

Locals of Ishworpur had kept the body on the road in Banke forest lying between Sarlahi and Mahottari and blocked the road along the East-West Highway. Police said their personnel were forced to open fire as demonstrators did not agree to remove the obstruction.

“The highway resumed after protesters were dispersed”, said DIG Karki.

Injured police personnel are being treated at Sarlahi Hospital.