Indian national killed in shootout with Nepal police

An Indian national was killed during a shootout between Nepal Police and a group of alleged arms smugglers early on Monday, officials said.

An Indian national was killed during a shootout between Nepal Police and a group of alleged arms smugglers early on Monday, officials said.

A rifle, a home- made pistol and some bullets were found at the site of the shootout. The other arms smugglers were on the run and a search for them was underway, Nepal Police said in a statement. (AFP)

Tejhilala Shah, 44, a resident of East Champaran district of Bihar, died in the incident in Rauthat district of southern Nepal. A policeman also sustained serious injuries.

Acting on a tip-off that a cache of arms was being smuggled into Rauthat via the Lalbakaiya river embankment, police launched an operation. The group of arms smugglers fired at the police team in a bid to avoid arrest. The policemen retaliated, killing one of the alleged smugglers, said Pashupati Upadhyay of the Central Development Region Police Office.

Policeman Surendra Chaudhary was seriously injured when he was hit by a bullet.

A rifle, a home- made pistol and some bullets were found at the site of the shootout. The other arms smugglers were on the run and a search for them was underway, Nepal Police said in a statement.

Gangs involved in arms smuggling, drug trafficking and other criminal activities operate along the Nepal-India border.