Rautahat, June 24

Four persons were injured in a clash that broke out between two groups of locals after the dispute over road expansion turned ugly at Bankul of Baudhimai Municipality-7, Rautahat, last night.

The group led by ward chair Bijay Kusawaha had clashed with another group led by local Jaya Govind Kusawaha over the road expansion at around 8:00 pm yesterday night.

Ward chair’s group had attacked Jaya Govind’s group with khukuri and sticks. Locals Raj Kumar Prasad Kusawaha, Shiv Govind Prasad Kusawaha and Radheshyam Prasad Kusawaha, including Jaya Govind, were injured in the incident.

The condition of Raj Kumar and Shiv Govind is said to be critical. They were referred to Chitwan and are being treated at Bharatpur Medical College after they could not be treated at Gaur Hospital.

Doctor Rabindra Jha at Gaur Hospital said both had received deep cuts in their heads. Injured Jaya Govind and Radheshyam have returned home after treatment.

Jaya Govind was protesting the plan to construct the road that goes through his private land. The dispute took an ugly turn after the preparations were made to gravel the road yesterday.

Jaya Govind had filed a case at the district court stating that road was being diverted to his land illegally.

The court had issued the stay order around three weeks ago in favour of Govind.

Superintendent of Police Rabindra KC in Rautahat said that police had started an investigation into the incident and pledged to book the guilty at any cost.