Two people lost their lives in election-related violence in Udayapur and Solukhumbu districts. Violent clashes, mainly over disputes regarding vote counting, have been reported in the postelection phase at several places of the country.

A 19-year-old youth died of bullet injuries when security personnel opened fire at Sorungchhabise in Katari Municipality-10, Udayapur, on Friday. Nabin Katuwal, a local, died on the spot after being hit in the chest by a bullet while 14-year-old Mohan Shrestha, also a local resident, sustained bullet injuries in the incident.

Katuwal was the nephew of Gaur Bahadur Katuwal, an independent candidate of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal. According to Chand’s district secretary Laxman Paudel, the security personnel used excessive force when some locals stopped Nepali Congress activists from casting proxy votes. He demanded a probe into the incident and legal action against the guilty.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Birendra Kumar Yadav said the security personnel deployed in Kalika Secondary School polling centre were compelled to take action after an unruly mob of around 50-60 people attempted to loot the ballot boxes. Police fired eight bullets to contain the situation, he added.

In Solukhumbu, a 35-year-old man died in a violent clash between the activists of Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) at Sotang Rural Municipality-3 on Friday evening. Police identified the deceased as Sudip Rai. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Jung Shah, Rai sustained critical head injuries as the Congress activists hurled stones at him. Critically injured Rai died in the course of treatment at Phaplu Hospital.

“Investigation into the incident is underway after taking three suspects into custody,” said Shah.

In Humla, at least three people were injured, one critically, in a violent clash that took place at a vote counting centre in Kharpunath Rural Municipality on Saturday. According to Sagar Shahi, a local resident, the activists of the five-party alliance assaulted CPN-UML supporters with iron rods during the clash. The injured were airlifted to the district hospital for treatment. Preparation is underway to take critically injured Chhatta Bahadur Shahi to Surkhet as his treatment is not possible in the district, said police.

In Bajura, police fired 12 rounds of bullets after a violent clash erupted between UML and Congress activists. The supporters of the rival political parties clashed over a dispute regarding the seal of some ballot boxes.

Meanwhile, vote counting has been halted in Birtamod Municipality of Jhapa district due to disruptions by Congress activists. They disrupted the vote counting after some ballot papers were recovered in a vehicle belonging to the district election office.