Reports from mid-western town of Nepalgunj say an elderly person seriously injured in firing by security personnel in Guleriya of the mid-western district of Bardiya on Thursday has succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in the Indian city of Lucknow.

A journalist based in Nepalgunj quoted family members of Prem Lal Lamichhane, a resident of Bardiya, as saying that Lamichhane was injured in firing by security personnel in Guleriya Thursday afternoon and was taken to Lucknow for treatment where he died. The authorities are yet to confirm the death of Lamichhane.

According to Kantipur daily, security personnel indiscriminately shot at peaceful demonstrators injuring over three dozen of them. The Defense Ministry said 26 people were injured when security personnel were compelled to open fire to control the crowd. The Royal Nepalese Army has claimed that security personnel were forced to retaliate after they came into fire from SMG guns from the side of the demonstrators.

The RNA’s statement is yet to be verified independently.

The injured personnel are undergoing treatment at the district hospital of Guleriya and regional hospital at Nepalgunj.

At least one dozen people have been killed in firing by security personnel across the country since the seven party alliance called an indefinite strike beginning April 6, this year. nepalnews.com by Apr 21 06