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A person died on the spot and another was injured when police opened fire at a mob trying to rob a ballot box at Sorungchhabise in Katari Municipality-10 of Udayapur district on Friday.

The deceased has been identified as local Nabin Katuwal (19). He was hit by a bullet in the chest.

Police said that Man Shrestha (13), who was staying in the house, was injured in the firing. 

 Meanwhile, police constable Bishnu Tamang was injured when the cadres of a political party pelted stones at the security personnel.

Katuwal was the nephew of Gaur Bahadur Katuwal, an independent of Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal.

Laxman Paudel, District Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, said that the police opened fire after a dispute ensued between the Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal cadres at the polling station.

Chief District Officer Birendra Kumar Yadav said that the police opened fire after a group of 50/60 persons tried to rob a ballot box.

It has been learnt that police fired eight rounds of bullets to disperse the mob.

Chhetra Bahadur Khadka from CPN-UML, Bal Bahadur Karki from Nepali Congress, Tek Narayan Shrestha from CPN (Unified Socialist) and Gaur Bahadur Katuwal from independent had filed candidacies for the post of ward chairman in Katari-10. 

An unidentified person opened fire at Tatakhase polling station (Siddhakali Higher Secondary School) in Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality-2 of Gorkha during the local level elections on Friday.

Police said that an unidentified person opened fire when a dispute among the cadres of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN-UML escalated and turned into a clash this afternoon.

Election Officer Khimananda Gautam said that an unidentified person opened fire and an investigation into the incident is underway.

He said that the incident occurred when 55 percent voters had cast their ballots and around 80 persons were in the voting line.

It has been learnt that Manisha Thapa (22) sustained a bullet injury to her leg.

Thapa is a staffer assigned to conduct the elections.

She has been taken to a hospital for treatment.

security has been beefed up in the area following the incident.

The vote counting under the local level elections will be started from today evening itself after the voting is over.

Although it was stated that the voting will conclude at 5pm, it will be continued beyond that time as all the voters who enter the polling stations by 5pm will be allowed to cast their ballots.

Election Commission spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel said that the vote counting will be started immediately after holding an all-party discussion after the ballot boxes are transported to the Office of the Election Officer in a secured way under the witness of the parties and the candidates by preparing the required papers once the voting is over.

According to him, the voter turnout was 41 percent as of 2pm based on the preliminary information.

The voting is taking place peacefully and in an enthusiastic manner at 21,955 polling centres at all the 753 local units except one in Kapilbastu district.

Voting has been obstructed at some polling stations in Dolakha, Sarlahi, Saptari, Ramechhap, Parbat, Humla and Bajura due to minor dispute, EC spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel said. He said efforts are on to start the voting soon at the polling stations where it could not take place.

The Election Commission said that around 35 percent voters cast their votes across the country until 12 pm on Friday.

Voting is taking place in 21, 955 polling booths and 10, 756 polling stations of 753 local units.

The voting has been halted in Dolakha, Sarlahi, Saptari, Ramechhap, Parbat, Humla and Bajura owing to minor disputes, EC spokesperson Shalikram Sharma Paudel said.