SARLAHI: A blank fire by an unidentified group today caused a stampede in Hairwan of Sarlahi.

The shot supposedly prompted by a gang fight in the busy market place triggered the stampede, said police.

Panick-striken shoppers rushed to safety as shopkeepers pulled down their shutters fearing possible attacks from vandals. However, no casualties were reported.

The firing took place in Kuswaha, the busy market place at around 10 am. The incident left the market eerily queit throughout the day.

Sarad Oli, DSP at the District Police Office, said an investigation is on to determine what went wrong and who shot in air. It was not immediately clear as to what prompted the brawl but locals said they saw two groups of people each led by Kumar Poudel and Harka Thapa of Sagarnath Forest Development Project flexing their muscles yesterday over some petty firewood issues that probably prompted the fight.

Eyewitnesses said Harka's group manhandled the members of Kumar's group but the shot was fired by one unidentified person.

According to a businessman, he took to safety immediately after he heard a loud shot followed by a commotion of people fighting for an exit from the crowded marketplace. Bishnu Parajuli, Inspector, Area Police Office in Hariwan, informed that an all-party meeting has been called to resolve the dispute.