Kathmandu, March 27
An alleged wildlife smuggling gang and the security personnel deployed in the Parsa National Park have exchanged fire on Friday morning. A member of the alleged smuggling gang died in the encounter.
Likewise, Nepal Army soldier Min Bahadur Chhantyal sustained injuries in the incident.
Bishnu Prasad Shrestha, the spokesperson at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, informs that the gang of 11 people had opened fire after seeing the security personnel at around 9:30 am this morning, after which the guards also retaliated. He says the deceased is yet to be identified.
“After hearing the sound of firing, the personnel, who were on a regular patrol, had gone towards that site,” Shrestha says, “Other gang members except the deceased have run away leaving their arms there.”
One person, identified as Mohan Singh Dong of Makawanpur district, has been arrested in the clash. The security personnel also confiscated two guns, explosives and a sharp weapon from him.
Shrestha claims that the authorities have tightened security in the national parks in view of the current lockdown announced to control the coronavirus outbreak.
