KATHMANDU: Armed Police Force (APF) today claimed that the security officials were left with no options but to open fire for their self-defense after a group of miscreants took APF personnel hostage. The miscreants held APF men hostage for hours at a building and attempted snatching their rifles. The incident occurred at Bhauratar- 2 of Parsa district yesterday.

Issuing a press statement today, APF headquarters stated, "APF personnel, entrusted with responsibility of maintaining law and order in the areas, had to resort to firing in a retaliatory action".

Three persons were killed and two others sustained injuries in the firing.

"Acting on a tip-off, a police inspector-led team was dispatched from APF Security Base Camp at Bageshwori Titrauna.

They raided the house of Arjun Mahato and Hemanta Mahato and recovered a large cache of illegal arms and ammunition. But irked locals locked them up in the house for alleged robbery bid," read the statement signed by DSP Ajaya Chhatkuli.

The miscreants had also detonated an impoverished explosive device and pelted bricks and stones at the police personnel. "The local hooligans in belligerent mood paid no head to repeated warnings of police officials not to attack on security force. Instead, they made an unsuccessful attempt to burn them alive, maintaining zero-tolerance," added the statement.

The APF personnel had opened fire at the miscreants breaking the doors of the building that housed a local club.

Sagar Patel, who was taken hostage by the locals for allegedly cooperating with security officials, was also killed by the villagers. Sandeep Sah Kanu and Rupesh Sah Kanu were killed in police firing. Meanwhile, Parsa District Administration Office and police have formed separate investigation teams to probe the incident.