Security personnel exchanged fire with poachers in Bardiya National Park last night.

According to the national park’s Assistant Conservation Officer Ashim Thapa, an exchange of fire took place between six or seven armed men and Nepali Army personnel deployed for security of the national park.

“This happened when a joint patrol team of security personnel and national park staff encountered a gang of armed poachers 6 km northwest of Khayarbhatti post,” said Thapa, adding that the patrolling team fired in response after armed hunters opened fire.

Following the incident, the national park authority, in the course of a search operation, has arrested two persons. The arrested are Chakra Bahadur Bista, 34, and Ganesh Tiwari, 24, of Barahatal, Surkhet. “We seized three muskets, 17 bullets, 200 grams gunpowder, a catapult, five sickles and the likes from the duo.”

The national park authority informed the incident took place while the hunters were dividing their game among themselves after killing some wild animals. The national park authority said search for the rest of the poachers was under way.