Three persons died and five others injured in police firing at Rangeli Bazaar in Morang district on Thursday.

Tension flared up in the southern bordering town after cadres of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) cadres attempted to disrupt a programme organised by CPN-UML youth wing Youth Association of Nepal (YAN).

Police fired shots in the air and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the crowd and take situation under control.

Morang Chief District Officer Swayam Raya confirmed the death of three protesters. The deceased have been identified as Draupadi Devi Chaudhary, 60, of Rangeli-4, Shivu Majhi, of Dayaniya-9, and Mahadev Hrishi, of Bardanga-2.

DIG Madhav Joshi said the injured have been receiving medical attention at Golden Hospital in Dharan.

The situation in Rangeli Bazaar and Dayaniya Chowk was tense until later in the day, DIG Joshi informed.

Last night, Morcha cadres also vandalised houses of two UML cadres in Rangeli. They had also clashed with police personnel yesterday.

Tension erupted in Rangeli since Wednesday after Morcha decided to ruin the YAN’s programme to honour Prme Minister KP Sharma Oli.