RAUTAHAT: A dozen civilians were injured when locals clashed with armed police personnel in Jhunkhunwa VDC along the Birendra highway in Rautahat district Wednesday night.

The incident began when an 11 year old boy Shekh Jamshed Alam, 11, a resident of Jhunkhunwa-5, was beaten up on the charges of stealing a mobile phone and handed over to Phutaha Base Camp of Armed Police Force on Wednesday afternoon. However, dispute ensued between the police and APF over the severe beating meted out to the boy.

Consequently the locals set fire to the police post in the course of dispute. The police baton-charged the locals in attempt to bring the situation under control. Though the main culprits involved in the incident managed to flee the scene, innocent civilians ended up at the receiving end.

As the clash occurred at night, women and children also became victims in the incident, according to the locals.

Ram Janam Chaudhari, Muna Paswan, Birendra Raut, Kisi Baitha, Parmud Miya, Gangaram Baitha, Jamdar Miya, Ram Babu Baitha, Mukesh Das, Pradid Baitha and Jamsed Miya were among the injured.

The injured are undergoing treatment in Gaur Hospital, according to Pramod Yadav, a doctor in the hospital. A source added that the condition of Jamdar, Mukehs and Parmud was critical.

Irate locals obstructed the Gaur-Chandranigahpur road with trees since early Thurday morning.

However, the road was cleared and traffic resumed at 1 pm after an agreement was reached with the locals, police said.

The agreement demanded action against the AFP personnel involved in the incident, free treatment to the injured and a ban on the illegal sale of alcohol, Mahesh Shrestha, SP, APF Border Security Office in Gaur said.