Police intervened a public hearing program organized by eight 8 student organizations affiliated to opposition parties at Dhangadi, headquarters of far western Kailali District, Thursday afternoon.

At least six students were injured when police resorted to baton (lathi) charge on the peaceful hearing program on ‘total democracy and current agitation’ at local LN Chowk, reports said.

The organizers said police also fired in the air to disrupt the peaceful meeting without provocation. They said police also arrested a Nepal Student’s Union (NSU) leader Lok Raj Bhatta. Those injured includes NSU central working committee member Nain Singh Maher.

Local authorities have not given reason for the intervention. When contacted by Nepalnews, officials at the district headquarters said ‘things had returned to normalcy’. They did not elaborate.