Several people including four police personnel were injured in a clash between security personnel and Nepali Congress cadres in Balra Municipality of Sarlahi district on Monday.

The clash ensued over the election venue after the two factions of the party chose two different venues to hold the election.

According to the police, in their effort to hold the ward election at their desired venues, the anti-establishment faction of the party tried to take election officer Umesh Chandra Jha to the ward office while the establishment faction wanted the election to take place at a local school in Gadhiya of the municipality.

The police intervened and tried to escort Jha away from both the factions after the situation became tense.

“The party cadres started pelting stones after we stopped them from forcibly taking the election officer to their desired venue,” said SP Krishna Prasain, “We fired a few shells of tear gas to bring the situation under control.”

Prasain informed that Jha has sustained injuries to his head while Inspector Suresh Thakur and three other police personnel have sustained injuries during the clash.

“The situation is under control as of now and the injured are receiving treatment at the District Hospital,” said Prasain.

Federal lawmaker from the area Amresh Kumar Singh accused the police of using excessive force and injuring the party cadres.

“The police have used excessive force and injured our party cadres,” said Singh, “This shows Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand’s derangement of power.”

Earlier on Sunday, Province 2 Minister for Women, Children, Youth and Sports Birendra Singh’s bodyguard fired in the air after two factions of the party clashed during the party convention held at Achalgad of the same municipality.