A clash erupted between the ruling and opposition parties in Rautahat's Maulapur Municipality over the issue of town conference.The clash erupted when the cadres of four opposition parties tried to interfere with the scheduled town conference over the allegation of massive irregularities in the local level. Police fired 23 rounds of tear gas shells and 14 rounds of shots to take the situation under control.

Earlier, the four opposition parties - CPN-MC, Upendra Yadav-led SJP-N, CPN-UML faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal and the Nepali Congress - had submitted a memorandum to the district administration office, claiming that there had been widespread corruption at the municipality and demanded that the town conference be put off until the irregularities were investigated. But, as the ruling party chose to organise the conference despite the opposition's demand, the cadres of the opposition parties resorted to protest resulting in a clash between the opposition and supporters of Prabhu Sah. Maulapur bazaar remained tense for nearly four hours due to the clash.

At the conference, Mayor Rina Kumari Sah unveiled the municipality's budget worth Rs 360 million for the upcoming fiscal.

According to Chief District Officer Indradev Yadav, a total of 19 persons, including nine policemen, were injured in the clash.

"The injured policemen are being treated at the district hospital in Gaur while others are undergoing treatment at local health centres," Yadav said.

Furthermore, the CDO explained that police were compelled to use force as the situation had gone out of control. "As the situation was all set to go out of hand and policemen were being injured, police had to use force," he said, adding that "Anyone found to be acting against the law will be punished."