Two civilians have been injured during firing in the eastern district of Ilam on Wednesday.

According to reports, a local businessman, Mukesh Agrawal, and taxi driver, Biswomani Khulal, were injured when policemen opened fire at them at Ilam chowk in district headquarters of Ilam at around 3:00 p. m.

Police said the civilians were injured when they opened fire in retaliation of firing by Maoist rebels.

Reports, however, quoted local people as saying that policemen opened fire at civilians without provocation.

The injured duo are undergoing treatment at the B. P. Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences at Dharan.

Earlier, unconfirmed reports said the civilians were injured in the firing by rebels.

Explosion at RBB office

Meanwhile, the Maoists carried out explosion at the Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) in Gothalapani Bazaar in Baitadi district this afternoon.

Reports said the main door of the building and walls were damaged in the blast. The Maoists who came in a group of three or four fled the scene as soon as they detonated the bomb.

However, nobody was injured in the blast.