ITAHARI: Over 50 persons, including agitators and the police, were injured following clashes between Koshi flood victims and the police in Sunsari district headquarters, Inaruwa, this afternoon. Fifteen policemen and 35 agitating victims were injured when the latter tried to barge into the District Administration Office.

The Koshi flood victims reached the DAO alleging that the police manhandled them at Juddhagunj, a flood eroded area, at half-past-one. The clash intensified as the police rained batons on them. Fifteen policemen were injured when the unruly agitators pelted them with stones, the Sunsari DPO said. DSP Rajendra Basnet’s hand has been fractured. According to SP Rajendraman Shrestha, condition of five policemen is critical.

Similarly, eight out of 35 injured agitators are in critical condition, according to Pancha Narayan Mandal, president of Koshi Flood Victims’ Struggle Committee. The critically injured agitators are undergoing treatment at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, while other injured are undergoing treatment in district hospital Inaruwa.

The police had opened seven rounds of fire and fired two tear gas shells to bring the situation under control, the police said. Inaruwa bazaar remained tense throughout the day following the incident. Flood victims have planned to come with strong programmes of protests from Monday, said Mandal.