A city safari driver was killed after being hit by a bullet fired by the Armed Police Force (APF) during a clash with an alleged smuggling group in Sunsari district late Wednesday night.
The incident occurred around midnight in Laukahi, Koshi Rural Municipality, when a group allegedly smuggling sugar from India into Nepal came into confrontation with APF personnel. The deceased has been identified as Vijay Sah, a resident of Koshi Rural Municipality–1, who worked as a city safari driver.
According to the APF, Sah was transporting sugar from Birpur, India, to Nepal when the incident took place near the APF’s No. 3 post. APF No. 4 Battalion, Sunsari, Superintendent of Police Nirmal Kumar Thapa said that three autos and a city safari were entering Nepal from India when shots were fired at APF personnel from the lead vehicle. He said the APF returned fire in self-defense.
Thapa stated that the APF personnel were compelled to open fire to protect their lives after the smugglers fired first. During the exchange, Sah was hit by a bullet and died on the spot, according to local residents.
Following the incident, locals staged protests, claiming an innocent person was killed due to APF firing. Demonstrators blocked the Laukahi section of the East–West Highway, disrupting vehicular movement. Sunsari Police Chief SP Keshav Kumar Thebe said efforts were underway to clear the road and restore traffic.
Protesters have demanded an impartial investigation and strict action against those responsible. Although tension prevailed in the area for some time, SP Thebe said the situation was brought under control due to the presence of security personnel.
Chief District Officer of Sunsari, Basudev Ghimire, confirmed that the city safari carrying sugar smuggled from India has been seized. He said a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine whether the smuggling group had indeed opened fire on the APF. The APF, however, has maintained that it fired only in self-defense.
Further investigation into the incident is ongoing, authorities said.
