A policeman, a journalist and a civilian were injured when Maoist rebels opened fire indiscriminately at Kalaiya, the district headquarter of southern district of Bara on Thursday morning.

According to reports, police constable Shiva Thapa was injured critically when the rebels opened fire targeting him at around 9 a. m. Bara district correspondent of Nepal Samacharpatra daily, Satya Prakash Shrestha, who was reading a newspaper at a local stationery shop, was also injured. An employee with the District Health Office of Bara, Bhikhari Prasad Saha, was also hit with the bullets.

Shrestha, who is also the district president of Human Rights and Peace Society – a leading rights group—was hit on his leg by the bullet.

According to police, all the injured persons have been taken to the Narayani regional hospital at Birgunj for treatment.

Eyewitnesses said two rebels arrived on a motorbike, opened fire indiscriminately and immediately fled. Police said a search operation is underway.