Police personnel on Monday night arrested Tek Bahadur Chaudhary, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) chairman in Kailali Constituency-1, for his alleged involvement in Tikapur clashes in which nine people were killed.

Chaudhary was detained from his house, his family members said. He was asleep when police reached his house to arrest him.

However, Suman Dhital, chief at the Area Administration Office in Tikapur, said he had not received any information about the matter. Dhital said Chaudhary might have been arrested to carry out investigation into the clash and that police were looking into the matter.

Chief District Officer Mohan Chapagain said police arrested 15 people in connection with the Tikapur clashes and that Chaudhary was one of arrestees.

Eight policemen and a two-year-old boy were killed when Tharu demonstrators protesting against the delineation of federal provinces clashed with police personnel, breaching curfew order in Tikapur on August 24.