BIRGUNJ: A gang of smugglers assaulted policemen and snatched their rifle on being interrupted by the police as the culprits were smuggling petroleum products at 3 this morning in Parsa district. The gang then fled the scene of crime.

According to the District Police Office (DPO), Parsa, the policemen deployed by the Pithariguthi police post of the district acted on a tip off and reached the site where the petroleum products were being smuggled to Indian bordering market, Inarwa.

A confrontation had ensued between the policemen and some 40 smugglers after the former tried to stop the smuggling. The conflict escalated when three more policemen from Pangdepur joined the police team.

The smugglers then beat up the policemen with sticks and fled the scene while also looting their three-nought-three rifle.

Superintendent of Police at Parsa DPO, Rewati Dhakal said that Sub-Inspector Bishnudev Yadav, Constables Prem Bahadur Rana and Arjun Chaudhary were hurt in the incident. The injured policemen are currently receiving treatment at the National Medical College and Neuro Hospital at Birgunj.

Police are currently looking for the absconding smugglers.