Itahari: Two persons were injured in a shootout at Bhojpure Hotel in Itahari Sub Metropolitan City-24 of Sunsari district at around 4 am this morning.

Police identified the injured as the hotel owner Gangaman Rai and a lodger Torna Poudel of Dhankuta district.  They were injured when another lodger of the hotel Rabindra Thapa of Khandbari fired a gun, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Naresh Raj Subedi said.

Thapa had rented a room in the hotel yesterday, said police.

Both the injured are undergoing treatment at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan.

Meanwhile, police have launched a search to find Thapa, who fled the scene following the incident, DSP Subedi said.

Police have recovered four used bullet shells from the site. Police suspect the shootout started after a brawl ensued from a dispute in playing card game.