One person has been shot dead in a clash between cadres of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) and the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) in Ramnagar of Sarlahi Tuesday morning. NC cadre Ram Bilas Mahato, 50, has been shot dead in the clash that started at around 8:30 in the morning.
Police also fired blank shots and tear gas shells to take the situation under control.
The clash was triggered by misbehavior with chairman of ward 4 of Ramnagar rural municipality Ram Naresh Mahato, elected on an NC ticket, on Monday. Four more NC cadres have been injured in the clash, according to the police.
NC lawmaker from Sarlahi-4 Amresh Kumar Singh accused former Maoist leader Shiva Pujan Rai, who was punished for abuse of diplomatic passport in the past, of attacking the NC ward chairman. "There was attack on the ward chairman's house even Tuesday morning. Former Maoists opened fire during the incident. Ward chairman's uncle died after that," Singh claimed. "The clash started after pressure on the ward chairman to quit NC and join CPN."
The police, on their part, said the identity of the persons who fired bullets is yet to be known. The situation is now under control and the incident is being investigated.
