Four people killed in clash between police and squatters

KATHMANDU: Four people have been killed in a clash between police and squatters at Motipur Industrial Area spread over Butwal Sub-metropolis-17 and 18 in Rupandehi Sunday.

Sushil Gurung, public relations officer at Universal College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital (UCMS), Bhairhwara, said three of the deceased were yet to be identified whereas the fourth one was identified as Ramesh Pariyar, aged around 48, of Kapilvastu.

Pariyar died in the course of treatment at the hospital. Other three died on the way to hospital, Gurung informed. All the deceased are civilians.

Five other policemen and four civilians are being treated at the hospital. More details of the incident are yet to come.

Police also demolished the temporary shelters of squatters in the industrial area. Many people were injured in the clash. Tensions ran high earlier in the day after the administration tried to evict the squatters.

A large number of squatters built temporary shelters by encroaching land in the industrial area since last week.