Nepal Maoist cadre, policeman killed in exchange of fire

A police constable and a radical Maoist party cadre were killed during a cross firing between the party and security personnel on Wednesday in Bhojpur district of eastern Nepal.

The incident happened on Wednesday morning when cadres of the banned Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, a breakaway Maoist faction, opened fire on the security personnel deployed at a weekly market in Bhojpur-7, police said.

The Okhaldhunga district in-charge of the splinter Maoist faction, Nir Kumar Rai, and police constable Sanjiv Rai died during the exchange of fire, officials said. Another police constable was also injured in the firing.

Police also recovered one loaded pistol from the deceased Maoist cadre.

Inspector General of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khanal informed the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of Parliament about the incident after Nepali Congress lawmakers Dilendra Prasad Badu and Dila Sangraula demanded that the police apprise the committee of the incident.

"The police personnel opened fire in retaliation after police constable Rai was hit by a bullet. On that score, Kumar also was struck by a bullet, Nepal Police chief Khanal said.