Police and cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal exchanged fire at Maidane in Chainpur Municipality Ward 4, Sankhuwasabha, on Sunday afternoon.

“The firing started at around 3 pm,” said Chief District Officer Jiwan Prasad Acharya. “Details of the incident are yet to come.”

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Police opened fire after three cadres of the party, including Yubraj Rai, in charge of the outfit’s district unit who is also called Uttar Kumar, attacked the police personnel patrolling the area, according to the District Police Office.

“The cadres fired six shots at police,” said Acharya, adding that they had disappeared in the forest shortly afterwards.

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Police confiscated explosives from the cadres.

Personnel have been mobilised in the area to search for them, according to the District Police Office.