Police fire shots as Bara hospital inauguration turns violent

A dispute over the inauguration of a newly built hospital in Feta Rural Municipality-3, Bara, turned into a clash on Saturday, leaving a youth seriously injured by a bullet. The district administration is preparing to impose a curfew because the situation is out of control, Chief District Officer Khadananda Adhikari told Nepal Press.

The rural municipality had organised the inauguration of the 15-bed hospital for Saturday, according to Nagarik and Annapurna Post. Locals opposed to the rural municipality chair, Rustam Ansari, protested that it should not be opened before it was finished and equipped: Nagarik reported that they wanted doctors, staff and medical equipment in place first, and Annapurna Post that electricity and furniture work was still incomplete. Onlinekhabar and Nagarik reported that the dispute escalated after protesters damaged the commemorative plaque at the site. Ratopati reported that the clash took place near Nepal Rastriya Secondary School. A Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker was due to be the chief guest; Nepal Press reported that she stayed in Kalaiya once the dispute began.

Accounts of the shooting differ. Madhesh Police Chief DIG Om Prasad Adhikari told Ratopati that police used batons when the two sides clashed and fired into the air after stones were thrown at them; he said one person was hit by a bullet, and Madhesh police said it had not been established whose bullet it was. Inspector Suman Lama, in charge of the Area Police Office in Prasauni Gandak, told Nagarik that police were forced to fire after protesters surrounded them and threw stones and bricks. Nagarik and Annapurna Post both reported that the youth was hit by police gunfire, and Annapurna Post said the clash began after police used force on locals protesting inside the hospital grounds.

Reports give different ages for the injured youth: 18 according to Nagarik, 14 according to Annapurna Post, and 17 according to the Chief District Officer, speaking to Nepal Press. His condition is serious and he is being treated in Birgunj: Madhesh police, Nagarik and Annapurna Post named the hospital as National Medical College, while Nepal Press reported Birgunj Health Care.

After the shooting, angry locals set motorcycles on fire: nine, according to Annapurna Post, and ten, according to Nagarik. The Chief District Officer told Nepal Press that about a dozen vehicles were burned and that more security personnel were being deployed alongside the curfew preparations. Annapurna Post reported that the district security committee was meeting as Feta remained tense.