At least four people protesting against the proposed federal delineation died and dozens others were injured in clashes with security forces in several Tarai districts on Wednesday.

Three persons died when police opened fire at a demonstration at Jaleshwor in Mahottari. The victims were identified as Ram Bibek Yadav, Amit Kapar and Rohan Chaudhary.

Bikash Mishra, reporter at Mirchi FM, also sustained bullet injury on his arm in the incident. He claimed that police shot at him even after he identified himself as a reporter. At least 30 people were hurt in the incident.

One protesters, who was critically injured in the Jaleshwor clash, was referred to Janakpur Hospital for treatment. The Post correspondent in Janakpur said that three seriously injured people were brought to Janakpur Zonal Hospital from Jaleshwor. One of them, identified as Birendra Dittha, had sustained bullet injury in his head and was in critical state.

Security personnel in Jaleshwor had lobbed around 50 tear gas canisters and fired around 20 shots at the demonstrators.    

Chief District Officer (CDO) Deepak Kafle said security personnel were compelled to open fire after the demonstrators set fire to the residence of a local judge and attempted to attack the security personnel at the District Police Office.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Saurav Rana said they had fired rubber bullets to take the situation under control. The local Administration clamped indefinite curfew in Jaleshwor and its vicinity after the incident.

Following the clash at Jaleshwor, protesters torched a police post at Balawa VDC. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Binod Silwal

said the protesters torched the post that had been recently evacuated.

In Saptari district, 63-year-old Ram Kisun Raut died after he was shot on his chest by the Armed Police Force personnel at Bhardaha. Four other protesters suffered bullet wounds in the incident.

SP Sishir Karmacharya said some security personnel were also hurt by stones thrown by the protesters.

CDO Birendra Kumar Yadav said curfew was clamped in Bhardaha area from 2 pm until 6 am Thursday.

In Siraha district, at least 17 people, including security personnel, were injured in a clash between police and protesters in Lahan area. The clash ensued when security personnel intervened when the protesters were tried to block the East West Highway at Traffic Chowk. SP Ram Kripal Sah said police fired four warning shots and lobbed a few tear gas canisters to take the situation under control.

The protesters also torched a police post in front of Lahan Traffic Police Office. DSP Uma Prasad Chaturbedi said the protesters attacked them with catapults and Molotov cocktails.  

Demonstrators and security forces also clashed at Golbazar in Mirchaiya.

CDO Man Bahadur Bishwokarma said curfew was enforced in Lahan from 11 pm until 5 am Thursday.

In Morang district, demonstrators clashed with security personnel at Roadcess Chowk of Biratnagar. At least 20 people, including Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal’s lawmaker Usha Yadav and former lawmaker Jayaram Yadav, were injured.

DSP Pramod Kharel said police fired 18 rounds of bullets into the air and a few tear-gas shells to disperse the demonstrators.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)