Peddler killed in police action

BIRGUNJ: One smuggler was killed when their team clashed with police in Gamhariya of Parsa's Mahadevpatti VDC on Thursday night.

Police from Subarnapur Police Post had reached there after being tipped off about large amount of hashish being smuggled via Janakitol border point. Asarphi Mahato Kewat, 32, a resident of Janakitol VDC-3, died en route to hospital in Birgunj, Inspector Bhuwaneshwor Shah said, adding that Kewat received five bullets in the abdomen when the police opened fire. Locals, however, claimed that Kewat was captured by police and killed when there was disagreement over bribe.

Inspector Shah said Kewat was mistakenly hit in the abdomen, instead of his hand. Following the incident, tension flared in Mahadevpatti VDC.