Birgunj, March 31

Seven policemen were injured when locals attacked a police team commissioned to nab fugitive criminals in Parsa’s Bahudarmai Municipality, Patani yesterday, District Police Office of Parsa said.

According to DPO spokesperson Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu, the policemen have returned to duty following treatment at Birgunj-based Narayani Sub-regional Hospital.

Earlier on Friday, a joint police team from Mahuban Police Post and DPO had reached Patani on a tip-off that a few fugitives who were convicted in the smuggling of marijuana were holed up there.

“But no sooner had the police reached the village than the locals attacked on-duty personnel,” said Superintendent of Police Ganesh Regmi, adding a group of 10 to 15 persons had attacked the police team with home-made weapons such as sickles and lathis.

In the wake of the incident, another police team from the DPO and Area Police Office, Pokhariya had reached the site and rescued the injured police personnel. Police had also detained three locals accusing them of helping the criminals flee by attacking the police. The locals, however, have claimed that the persons arrested were innocent, saying the trio had come out of home just out of curiosity to learn what was happening.

Parsa police said search for the fugitives and other persons who were involved in the attack on police was on. “As an investigation is on, the guilty will be brought to book,” police said.