SUNSARI: Over two dozen people were injured in a clash between local people over a dispute at Narsingh-4 in Sunsari district. Some of them are reported to be in serious condition.

The clash flared up following an intervention of local people when a group of people tried to use local land for crematorium, police said.

"Stones were hurled at a meeting called at a local tea shop to settle the issue of using the land for crematorium, leading to the fight," said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dal Bahadur Shrestha.

Scores of local people marched in the streets in protest following the incident.

However, the situation has come under control after security personnel from the Nepal police and Armed Police Force reached the incident site and intervened, DSP Shrestha said, adding that police were also providing security to locals.

The injured were being treated at various health institutions like Biratnagar-based Neuro Hospital, BP Koirala Institute of Sciences in Dharan, Sunsari District Hospital and local health posts, according to a local.

Chief District Officer Gopal Prasad Parajuli said both the fighting sides were called for a dialogue to settle the issue.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Sita Ram Mehata requested the kin and relatives of those injured to keep restraints and urged all not to make the incident an issue of race and religion.