Itahari, February 5:

Four squatters were injured when police charged batons when the former were staging a sit-in in front of Itahari Area Police Office today.

The squatters were demanding release of their leaders and an end to police suppression on the protesters. Prabin Rai, Prem Shrestha, Narayan Shrestha and a woman were injured in the incident. The agitators alleged that ASI Purna Bahadur Karki, who was under the influence of alcohol, charged batons on them indiscriminately.

The squatters, who had constructed 30 huts in a public land at Halgada in Itahari-2 three days ago, are on agitation after the police demolished the huts.

Hira Acharya, Itahari chairman of Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Squatters’ Association said YCDL cadres seized four Maoist cadres and handed them over to the police after they captured two leaders of the association.

An agitator, Makardhoj Rai, said the four were arrested to make public the ill practices within the party.