Rautahat, July 4:

Cadres of the Jwala Singh-led Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha clashed with the police patrol team at Santapur Dostiya VDC last night. According to the Rautahat district police office, 50 JTMM-J cadres came on 15 mobikes and began firing at a police patrol team of Santapur Dostiya VDC after abducting a contractor of Lamaha bridge, Narayan Neupane.

The police patrol team retaliated and the clash lasted for 30-odd minutes, the police said.

Neupane sustained a bullet injury in the leg in the cross-firing but police was able to free him, informed Superintendent of Police Yogeshwor Romkhami.

The police suspect that at least 10 JTMM-J cadres sustained bullet injuries.

JTMM-J district president Sher Singh said there was no encounter as had been claimed by the police.