KATHMANDU: The Nepal Communist Party led by Netra Bikram Chand alias ‘Biplav’ has claimed that police opened fire targeting leaders and cadres of the party while they were sheltering for a peaceful program in Sankhuwasabha.

Issuing a statement on Monday, party’s Spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma ‘Prakanda’ condemned the government’s act of deploying police to ‘suppress its cadres and leaders’ and warned that it would retaliate if such activities don’t stop.

A joint long-range patrol comprising Nepal Police and Armed Police Force had exchanged fire with a team of Biplav outfit for about 20 minutes at Silinchong Rural Municipality-1 of Sankhuwasabha district today.