Suspected poachers and Nepal Army personnel deployed for the security of the Bardiya National Park (BNP) exchanged fire at Thumni area in Bardiya district on Thursday.

According to the BNP administration, the NA patrol team opened fire in retaliation after the poachers shot at them. “There was no human casualty in the incident,” said Ashok Kumar Thapa, the assistant conservation officer at the park. Some poachers are suspected to have sustained bullet injuries.

NA battalion chief Rajendra Panta said a group of six-seven poachers fired three rounds of bullets upon seeing the patrol team. The poachers managed to flee after the incident. “The search is on to nab the poachers,” said Panta.

The security personnel recovered a musket, 16 bullets, 250 kg gun powder, about 50 kg dried meat of deer and five traps. Two blankets, some rice and kitchen utensils were also seized from the incident site.

The poachers might have entered the park area about a week ago and stayed there by erecting tent, the BNP said. According to park officials, the NA patrol and the poachers exchanged fire as the dog barked upon detecting the security personnel.

The incident site is in the Chure forest area some 8 km north from Bhastal Post of the park along the East-West Highway. A huge number of NA personnel and BNP guards have been mobilised in the area in hunt for the poachers but to no avail till Thursday evening.