MAHENDRANAGAR: Four police personnel, including a Superintendent of Police, were injured when the UCPN-Maoist cadres, who were protesting against Umakanta Chaudhari, Minister for Health, in front of the Mahakali Zonal hospital, hurled stones at police personnel today.

According to the District Police Office, the Superintendent of Police, Kanchhanpur, Pawan Kumar Kharel, sustained injuries on his head. The other injured were head constable Mohansingh Chaisir and constables Devsingh Nagari and Bhim Bahadur Dhami.

Minister Chaudhari had arrived here to inspect the hospital. The incident took place when Chaudhari attempted to come out of the hospital premises.

SP Kharel ordered his men to charge batons on the demonstrators after he was injured. The police also fired five rounds of tear gas shells to control the mob. The police took the situation under control later.

Patients in the hospital had to suffer for some time due to the tear gas.

Minister Chaudhari inspected the Mahakali Zonal Hospital amid tension. Dr Khagendra Bhatta briefed the Minister on the situation and the problems of the hospital. Minister Chaudhari promised that he would help in the development of the hospital.

Chaudhary also directed health staffers to provide proper health services to the people.

Meanwhile, according to an eyewitness, police personnel also mercilessly thrashed a local drug store owner, Daya Prasad Nepal, in the incident. Nepal has sustained injuries on his head.