Rajbiraj, December 29:

Two persons were killed in police retaliation in Kochabakhari VDC in the district last night.

Twenty-four-year old Laxman Mukhiya of Skarapura VDC and 23-year-old Om Prakash Mali of Bhairabhipur were killed when a joint patrol team of Sagarmatha Zonal Police Office and District Police Office, Saptari, opened fire on an armed gang of about 10 persons in retaliation.

The gang suddenly opened fire at the patrol team when the team reached Kochabakhari-7 last night, Saptari DPO, said.

The police also recovered a pressure cooker bomb, one country-made gun and five bullets from the incident site.

“The bodies have been brought to Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital for post-mortem,” police said, adding that the other members of the gang managed to flee.

Saying that Mali was a fellow student, students of World Vision Higher Secondary School today demonstrated in Rajbiraj today.

Meanwhile, Madhes Rastra Janatantrik Party-Revolutionary’s district secretary Kisan claimed that the Mukhiya and Mali were associated with his party.