At least 50 persons were injured when police and groups protesting against the renaming of Province 1 as Koshi clashed near Koshi Province Assembly building in Biratnagar on Sunday. According to the police, 38 security personnel and 12 protesters were injured in the clash. It has been learnt that 23 Nepali Police and 15 Armed Police Force (APF) personnel were injured in the incident.

Police said that the number of injured from both sides may increase.

“The details of all the injured have not been received as it is in the early stage,” police said. All the injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of Biratnagar. A source said that police fired 16 rounds of bullets in the air and also lobbed 61 teargas shells to take the situation under control. Police said that they were attacked with stones, batons and bottles. The situation near the Province Assembly building and other places has returned to normal. Police have also arrested 24 persons, who played a role to incite the protest, from the incident site. Prior to that, 37 persons were apprehended. The second and budget session of the Koshi Province Assembly was called at 2 pm today.