One killed in Surkhet protest with demand for intact mid-west region

One person was killed after police fired shots in the air to disperse demonstrators in Birendranagar, Surkhet who resorted to agitation demanding an undivided mid-west region. A curfew was imposed from 1:30 p.m. after the demonstrations which began in the morning went out of control. However, the protesters had aggravated the situation by defying the curfew. 45-year-old Tikaram Gautam succumbed to his injury after being shot by security personnel in front of Congress General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka's house in Birendranagar-8. The crowd had tried to attack Khadka's house in course of which the protester was shot when the police fired shots in the air to contain the crowd, according to District Administration Office, Surkhet. The police had to resort to firing several rounds of tear gas shells and baton charging to disperse the protesters. The demonstrators had vandalised offices of political parties at Birendranagar, and destroyed CCTV cameras, TV and furniture inside the District Administration Office. They also set ablaze six vehicles including one belonging to the police. The protesters have warned of continuing the strike until an intact mid-western region was guaranteed. Local residents of the region are agitating against the inclusion of five districts of Karrnali zone, and Surkhet, Jajarkot and Dailekh of Bheri zone in the far-west region.