SURKHET, Jan 1: Cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Nepal Communist Party and police exchanged fire at Cheneri Taal area in western Surkhet on Wednesday.

A team of police personnel was first targeted by the cadres of the outlawed Chand-led party when it was carrying out a search operation to nab the same party’s local leader Bajra Bahadur Shahi in the area.

“As the cadres of the Chand-led party fired three rounds targeting the police officers, the latter also fired two rounds in retaliation,” Superintendent of Police Dilliraj Pant told Republica Online. However, no human casualties have been reported so far. The cadres of the NCP fled the scene following the incident.

Police personnel have intensified search operation to nab the cadres of the Chand-led party, according to Pant.

The incident comes two weeks after the Chand-led party abducted and released Dhir Bahadur Shahi, the chairman of Thatikandh rural municipality in Dailekh district.

Earlier on Tuesday, cadres of the Chand-led party had planted improvised explosive devices at Ncell towers at various locations in Surkhet. They also set fire on Ncell tower in Bheriganga municipality. Likewise, a team of Nepal Army defused an IED planted at Ncell tower, Pipira.