Mahendranagar, May 17:

Maoist cadres today clashed with police after the latter intervened in a torch rally here today. The Maoists were protesting police intervention at the Kanchanpur District Administration Office on Tuesday.

Seven security personnel and three Maoists were injured in the clash.

The clash ensued at 7:00 pm after security personnel intervened in the Maoist cadres’ attempt to enter Mahendranagar’s Bhanu Chowk. Police also fired two rounds of tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

Chairperson of the All Nepal Women’s Kanchanpur branch Sharada Chaudhary, Tulsi Malla and Chahana Chaudhary were critically injured, said the Maoists.

Three civilian policemen including inspector Yogendra Thapa of the zonal police

office and four cops of the armed police force were injured. The injured have been admitted to the Mahakali Zonal Hospital, said superintendent of police at the district police office Chhabi Lal Banjade. He added that the Maoists’ Mahendranagar in-charge Kamal Chhetri, who absconded after vandalising the DAO, has been taken into custody.

The Maoist cadres torched two police posts at Bhanu Chowk this evening and entire Mahendranagar bazaar remained tense till late in the evening. Meanwhile, government and non-government offices, finance companies and corporation offices, which shut since yesterday demanding security, remained closed today as well.