Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kailali, Raj Kumar Shrestha, said eight people killed in Tikapur riot have been identified. CDO Shrestha corrected his earlier statement in which he had said 20 people were killed in the violence. 

“Eight bodies have been identified, the process to identify the rest is underway but nothing can be said about the exact death toll,” said CDO Shrestha. 

Five Nepal Police personnel, two Armed Police Force (APF) men and a child have been identified so far. 

Seti Zone Police Chief SSP Laxman Neupane, two inspectors Keshav Bohara and Balram Bista are among the dead. 

According to APF DSP Ajaya Chatkuli, two head constables Ram Bihari Tharu and Lalit Sahu were killed in the riot. 

However, there is no confirmation about the injuries on the protestors’ side, said CDO Shrestha. He added that 40 injured people including five critical have been receiving medical attention at Tikapur Hospital. 

Meanwhile, Nepal Police Chief UPendra Kanta Aryal said 8-10 police personnel have not come in contact.

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(Tikapur Update) 

At least 17 security personnel including a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and three protesters have been killed in a violent clash between Tharuhat activists and police at Tikapur in Kailali district on Monday.

According to Chief District Officer of Kailali, Rajkumar Shrestha, 11 personnel of Armed Police Force (APF), six Nepal Police personnel and three protestors were killed in the clash. 

Seti Zonal Police Chief SSP Laxman Neupane, two inspectors Keshav Bohara, Balram Bista, a head constable and a constable are among the dead, said DIG at Nepal Police Headquarters, Hemanta Pal. 

The clash erupted after the protestors tried to defy the curfew and the prohibitory order issued by the district administration. The clashes occurred at Tikapur and Durgauli area after around 10,000 people marched towards the prohibited area. 

The area is still tense with sporadic clashes between the security personnel and the protestors. Kailali District Chief Rajkumar Shrestha said scores of people could have been killed in the incident. However, the casualty from the protestors’ side has yet to be confirmed. 

The authority had been clamping curfew in the district for the past four days.

The local administration has imposed prohibitory order in Tikapur from 11 am to 5 pm.