Belbichhuwa is a border settlement in Nepal, about 4 km east of Gaur. Tension ran high after some unidentified masked men fired about 50 bullets at the APF post from Nabaratan across the border.

The armed assailants fled after Indian security personnel reached the area following the discussion by Superintendent of Police Sanubabu Thapaliya with his Indian counterpart in Sitamadi about the incident.

The local administration suspects infiltration in the indefinite protests that started in Gaur on Wednesday demanding the reversal of the government’s decision to extend administrative services in Chandranigahpur. Sources said some miscreants could have been hired for the violence.

APF Superintendent of Police Bidur Khatiwada said some unidentified men fired at the post from the Indian soil 200 metres away. He informed that security personnel fired three rounds in the air and lobbed some tear gas shells in response. Nine locals were injured.

The assailants first attacked the APF post with stones and batons. Some locals even retaliated against the attackers who later opened fire and hurled Molotov cocktails targeting the post.

Chief District Officer Madan Bhujel said the local administration has informed Indian authorities after the assailants fired at the post from bamboo clumps on the other side of the border.

According to Joint-Secretary Laxmi Dhakal at the Home Ministry, the CDO immediately contacted the District Magistrate and the SP in Sitamadi and there was a search operation from both the sides. “We have informed the Indian Embassy about the incident,” said Dhakal.

Indian and Nepali forces patrolled the border following the incident. “An investigation is under way. Some of those involved in the firing have been identified,” said SP Thapaliya.

Life has not yet returned to normal in Gaur though there were no violent clashes on Monday. People did not venture out of their houses while market places remained shut. There were peaceful demonstrations in Gaur but the neighbouring Belbichhuwa village remained tense throughout the day.

Civil society leaders have urged a solution through talks at the earliest. Jagannath Keshary demanded the problem should be resolved through negotiations before it takes a nasty turn.

It seems that the protest led by the Rautahat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has gone beyond its control. Leaders from the 30-party opposition alliance are active in the protest now. The protesters on Wednesday burnt the effigies of CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was elected from the district, at BP Chowk.

“The Gaur protest has been completely politicised,” said a UML leader. The agitators last week hurled stones at the party offices of the Nepali Congress and the UML.

The locals had resorted to violent protests over Ram Aashish Thakur’s death on Friday evening after a police van hit him during the demonstration. Talks have not started as the agitators have set declaring Thakur a martyr as a precondition.