BARA: At least 50 demonstrators were injured when the police charged them with batons, fired tear gas shells and bullets when the former defied a curfew.

Charandev Jayasabal of Kachorba VDC-3 was shot in the leg and is undergoing treatment in a local health post. Ramashre Yadav, Anup Sahani, Ram Pukar Yadav, Manu Yadav, Rama Shah, Dinesh Shaha, Rambinesh Tatma, Lalai Raya Yadav were also hurt in the police action. All the injured are undergoing treatment in Kachorba Sub-health Post.

According to eyewitnesses, the police fired more than 100 tear gas shells. Bara CDO Taranath Gautam said the curfew had been clamped and security personnel deployed to prevent a clash between a contractor and villagers.

District Police Office Bara, however, claimed to have fired only 15 tear gas shells to disperse the mob. Policeman Sikindra Shah also sustained injuries in the incident.

CDO Gautam had issued a curfew notice effective from 11 am today. Nine persons, including police personnel, were injured yesterday in a clash over fishing in a pond in Kachorba VDC.