Protest against Koshi Province: 22 with 10 police wounded in Damak clash

Kathmandu:  A clash on Tuesday evening in Damak of Jhapa district has left at least 22 people injured, including 10 police personnel.

Twenty-two people, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Lama, were injured following the clash between police and protestors. The clash took place for about one and a half hours after the protestors organized fire-lit rally against the naming of Province no.1 as ‘Koshi Province’.

The District Police Office of Jhapa said 10 police personnel were injured. Clashes broke out between the two sides after the police stopped the protesters, who had come from about 300 meters away, and tried to extinguish the flames at the main Republic Square in Damak.

Police was compelled to use force after the clash turned violent.

The police fired 19 shells of tear gas, five rounds of black fire and one round in the air to disperse the crowd and protect public property. Following the clash and ensuing gunfire, the market area in Damak was closed in the evening.

Shots fired by the police seriously injured two people, said Thangsang Lawati, central commander of Limbuwan Volunteer. He also claimed that 10 more members of the Volunteer sustained injuries in the clash.

The seriously injured are Diksha Chhetri and Gajendra Phago, Lawati added. According to him, both of them have been taken to Birta City Hospital in Birtamode for further treatment.

The District Police Office has beefed up security situations in Damak after the incident.