Hetauda, September 21:

Three persons, including a policeman were hurt in a clash between policemen and robbers on the Narayangarh-Hetauda section of Mahendra Highway last night. A suspected robber, Maila Tamang of Bharta VDC, Makwanpur, died after being swept away by the Rapti river while he was trying to flee. A dozen robbers had blocked the road at Jaisingh and begun looting vehicles at 1 am. ASP Keshav Khadka, passenger Prem Prasad Sedhai and dacoit Jeet Bahadur Ghalan were hurt in the clash.

The robbers looted Rs 2.70 lakh from people in two buses bound for Kathmandu from Dharan and six trucks, eyewitness Keshav Khatiwada said.