RAUTAHAT: A suspected bandit was killed and a policeman was injured when police exchanged fire with the suspects, on the bank of Lal Bakaiya River, in Debahi VDC-8 of Rautahat district in the wee hours of Monday.

The deceased has been identified as an Indian national Teji Lal Sah (44)* while the injured policeman has been identified as Constable Surendra Chaudhary, informed Superintendent of Police Ganesh Regmi of the Rautahat District Police Office.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of security personnel deployed from the District Police Office (DPO) and the Garuda Area Police Office had exchanged fire with a group of eight to 10 bandits who were in a hideout, at around 1:30 am, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nabin KC Bhandari at the DPO.

The accused dacoit, who was shot in his head, died on the spot when police opened fire. Constable Chaudhary, who inflicted injuries in his legs and arms in the fire exchange, has been referred to the Chure Hill Hospital in Hetaunda by the District Hospital, added DSP Bhandari.

Meanwhile, police confiscated an INSAS rifle with 15 bullets, an Italian pistol and a homemade gun from the incident site and the search is on for the rest of the bandits who fled the scene, said police.

*UPDATED AT 3:50 pm