Newly surfaced reports say at least eight persons, including a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), two inspectors of the Nepal Police, and a two-year-old toddler were killed and 42 other policemen were injured in the clash that took place in Kailali on Monday (August 24, 2015). The clash with agitating Tharuhat activists in Shankarpur area of Tikapur Municipality erupted after the irate cadres breached the restricted zone.

According to Republica, those killed by the irate protestors include Senior Superintendent of Police Laxman Neupane, Inspector duo Balram Bista and Keshab Bohara, constables Lokendra Chand and Laxman Khadka. Likewise, Armed Police Force (APF) Head Constable Lalit Saud, and constable Ram Bihari Chaudhary were also killed in the clash. The national daily also reported a two-year old son of APF Assistant Head Constable Netra Bahadur Saud was also killed by the protestors.

Around 20,000 demonstrators had picketed a police team led  by SSP Laxman Neupane five km north of Tikapur. Additional police force has been deployed to the incident site.

The local administration had imposed a curfew from 2 p.m. Monday to prevent protests from spiraling out of control. But thousands of protesters defied the curfew and attacked police with spades, axes, slings, batons, stones and bricks.

Nepali Times reports that police also opened fire at protesters, leaving dozens of people injured and that details of fatalities are yet to come.

In Kailali, the Tharus have opposed the seven-province model of federalism that has put Kailali and Kanchanpur districts in the far-western province. The indigenous Tharu people have been enforcing an indefinite general strike for several days demanding an autonomous Tharuhat province.