JANAKPURDHAM: An injured Armed Police Force official, who was being taken to Janakpur-based hospital on an ambulance, was detained by a group of protesters, apparently cadres and supporters of the United Democratic Madhesi Front, and murdered in Bhagawanpur of Mahottari district.

The victim has been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Thaman Bahadur BK, who hailed from Nepalgunj.

Four other security personnel who were on the seized ambulance have gone out of contact.

Earlier in the morning, another group had targeted BK and beaten him black and blue at Jaleshwar.

A mob intercepted the Mahottari District Hospital's ambulance, which was carrying the injured APF man, and seized him this afternoon, according to the District Police Office.

They set the ambulance on fire and murdered the APF official at around 2 pm.

Four other APF personnel, who were accompanying BK, have gone out of contact after the incident, the DPO said.

After receiving information about the incident, a team of security personnel, led by a senior official, was dispatched to the site. The mob, however, has prevented the security forces to reach there.

Security personnel have fired numerous shots in air and lobbed tear gas shells in order to disperse the mob.

At least three protesters were killed in police action in Jaleshwar on Wednesday.

Janakpur remains tense

Janakpur has also remained tense today as hundreds of protesters have taken to streets defying curfew.

As clashes erupted between the protesters and security personnel , the latter fired several rounds of rubber bullets this afternoon.

At least four protesters have been hit by bullets.

Tension runs high at Pindali Chowk and Mills Area among other places.

Injured man dies

Meanwhile, a protester who was injured in Janakpurdham a few days ago has breathed his last at the Kathmandu-based Norvic Hospital today.

The person has been identified as Birendra Bichhya.