Police have arrested 16 people for their alleged involvement in the shooting incident that claimed the life of one person in Rautahat Gadhimai on Saturday.

Ramkumar Rai Yadav, 50, a local, was killed in a dispute over the expansion of a local road in Gadhimai Municipality-8 Dhobiniya on Saturday.

Yadav, who was seriously injured due to a bullet injury, died during treatment at Birgunj Birgunj Medical College. His body is still kept in the hospital. Relatives have not received the body.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Uma Shankar Yadav said that 16 people from the village were arrested till last night on suspicion of their involvement in the incident.

Four people were injured during the clashes between the two sides.

"Among the injured, two people have been hit by bullet fragments," DSP Yadav said. They seem to have been hit with sticks or stones. We are currently investigating.”

Among the injured, Niranjan Rai Yadav and Pratap Yadav of the same place were shot at. Injured Kapildev Rai Yadav and one other person suffered fractured head.

DSP Yadav informed that the condition of Niranjan Yadav among the bullet victims is critical. All four injured people are being treated at Grande Hospital in Garuda, Rautahat.

Police arrested Ramsevak Rai, Lal Babu Yadav, Dinesh Yadav, Mithilesh Yadav, Binesh Yadav, Bacha Giri, Shyam Yadav, Pradeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav and others on suspicion of involvement in the incident.

After the shooting incident in which one person died and four others were injured, the police have increased security alert. Rautahat SP Bir Bahadur Budha Magar along with security officers reached the spot last night.

“The situation there is normal now. The police are still providing security at the scene so that there are no more incidents of clashes," said DSP Yadav. "The main shooter has not been identified. We are investigating further.'

During the expansion of the road, there was a dispute between the Rameshwar Rai and Rajkumar Yadav sides of the road. Both sides have been disputing for the past few days saying that their land should not fall on the road.

After the dispute escalated between the two parties, a team led by Police Inspector Birendra Paswan of the Garuda Area Police reached the spot and returned after negotiating with both the parties.

According to DSP Yadav, the police team returned from the scene after a verbal agreement to solve the problem by discussing with Garudha Municipality Mayor Shyam Prasad Yadav at 8 am on Monday morning.

Two hours after the return of the police (around 3 pm), the incident involving shooting took place, the police said.

During the dispute, Rajkumar Pakshadhar initially pelted stones at the opposition and Ram Ishwar Paksha opened fire, the locals alleged.

The police have not yet revealed the identity of the shooter.

According to the police, shots were fired from a 12-bore gun during the clash. DSP Yadav said that a detailed investigation of the incident is underway.