Locals protested in front of the District Police Office in Saptari after a man injured in police shooting died.
On Wednesday, locals gathered in front of the police office to demonstrate. They also burned tires in protest.
A police team deployed to confiscate illegal homemade liquor in Kamalpur, Rajgadh Rural Municipality-2, near the Nepal-India border, opened fire at around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Basnet, 35-year-old Lalu Yadav died after being shot in the thigh by police. He succumbed to excessive bleeding while being taken to the hospital.
A team of 10 police personnel, led by a police inspector, was deployed to confiscate the liquor.
“The team was dispatched after learning that several houses had homemade liquor. Police were stationed at houses in groups of two or three,” DSP Basnet said. “However, the locals created a commotion and attacked the police. The police couldn’t come together. The shooting occurred in self-defense after the attack.”
Nearly 100 people pelted stones at the police after their arrival.
DSP Basnet said that the police initially fired warning shots when the locals refused to let them leave, even after being told the liquor would not be confiscated.
“We said we wouldn’t seize the liquor and would leave, but they didn’t agree. That’s when the shooting happened. Initially, four rounds of warning shots were fired in the air,” he said. “One round hit the victim.”
After the incident, the police transported the victim to the hospital in their vehicle, but delays due to various obstacles may have contributed to the outcome, he added.
Efforts are underway to hold discussions with leaders of all political parties following the incident.
