BIRGUNJ: Five police personnel were injured in a clash between locals and police at Chini Mill Chok of Jira Bhawani Rural Municipality in Parsa district on Monday.

A group of locals led by Vice Chair of the rural municipality Usha Chaudary reached Area Police Office, Sedhuwa demanding immediate release of four Indian nationals and two mobile phone thieves, engaged in a violent confrontation with the police. The law enforcers fired 27 rounds in air to contain the mob resorting to vandalism.

Police had taken four- Bajrangi Gauro, Ram Prabesh Gauro, Bishnu Bhar Gauro and Din Dayal Mahato- Indian nationals of Betiya distrct in India into custody on Sunday after they were found riding in a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol. Likewise, Supa Lama and Dinesh Lama who were arrested on charges of mobile phone theft were also kept at Area Police Office, Sedhuwa when the locals reached the office.

After heated discussions with the locals, Police used normal force to transfer the arrestees from area office to District Police Office, Parsa.

However, the locals vandalised the waiting room at the office and torched a police motorcycle forcing police to open air fire, said Police Inspector Gyan Kumar Mahato.

The clash which ensued left five policemen with injuries. Sub Inspector Rajesh Chaudary, Assistant Sub Inspector, Gopal Khadka and Sukeshwor Mahato, Head Constable, Alok Baitha and Constable Jay Prakash Yadav suffered injuries in the violent confrontation.

It has been learnt that Constable Yadav has sustained serious injuries in the incident.