National
Sporadic incidents of violence reported as Nepal goes to vote
Police fire warning shots into the air in Rautahat, explosions at voting stations in Panchthar, Jhapa, Bardiya and Kailali.Post Report
Sporadic incidents of violence have been reported from various places during the federal and provincial assembly polls being held in a single phase on Sunday.
Security personnel opened fire at two polling centres in Rautahat to take the situation under control following a clash ensued between cadres of two political parties.
Superintendent of Police Bir Bahadur Budha Magar, chief at Rautahat District Police Office, said police fired warning shots into the air after cadres clashed at Kanakpur and Potiyahi polling stations in Rautahat.
Likewise, an explosion occurred near a polling station at Sukhbodh Secondary School in Panchthar, some two hours after the polling started.
Police said no human casualties were reported, adding the voting process was disrupted only for around five minutes.
An additional team of security personnel was mobilised from the headquarters soon after the explosion, according to District Police Office, Panchthar.
In Bardiya, a bomb exploded near a polling station at Shambhu Sharan Secondary School in Gulariya Municipality-2. Voters panicked after an explosion occurred about 20 metres away from the polling station.
Police Inspector Hridesh Sapkota said the polling has been halted following the explosion.
Similarly, an explosion occurred near a voting station located at Dhangadi-5 in Kailali district. Police said no human causalities have been reported, adding that additional security forces including Nepal Army personnel have been deployed at the polling station.
Meanwhile, a bomb disposal squad of the Nepal Army disposed suspicious objects found near eight polling stations in the district.
In Jhapa, a bomb exploded at a voting station located at Jhapa Rural Municipality-2. The voting that was briefly obstructed following the explosion at around 10:20am has now resumed.