LUMBINI: Tension ran high in Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district on Thursday due to a clash between police and agitators today.

The United Madheshi Front and the Tharuhat Struggle Committee have been enforcing shutdown in the district for some days, protesting the delineation of federal provinces in the draft constitution.

The protest took a violent turn today when a group of shutdown enforcers started vandalising public vehicles, hospital and hotels. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to take the situation under control.

The agitators set ablaze the City Hospital, Nans Hotel, Castle Hotel among other private and public properties, the police said.

Two agitators were critically injured while four sustained minor injuries, added a police source.

A clash between police and demonstrators has also been reported in Belhaiya in the district.