At least 13 persons including seven women were injured when a clash broke out between police and locals in the premises of District Administrative Office (DAO), Jumla on Tuesday.

The clash ensued after the irate locals, specially women, tried to enter the DAO demanding the authority to allow them to graze their cattle in a local community forest.

Locals of Bayalkatiya in Chandannath Municipality-9 have been demanding to include Sambhunath Community Forest in Majhpatal Community Forest for the past one year.

Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Sapkota said that police resorted to baton charge after the protesters started attacking the security personnel at the gate of the office.

The injured are receiving treatment at the Karnali Health Science Foundation. One policeman was also injured in the clash.

Bayalkatiya locals had been utilising the Sambhunath and Majhpatal Community Forests until few years ago.

But, from the last year, locals from Talium restricted Bayalkatiya dwellers from using the community forests, according to District Forest Officer Mohan Shrestha, who was also present during the protest.