A clash erupted between youths associated with the Nepal Tarun Dal, the youth wing of Nepali Congress, and security personnel on Friday when Congress cadres took to the streets demanding suspension of Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu for allegedly misbehaving with a provincial assembly member.

Police opened fire into the air to disperse the protesters picketing Taplejung District Police Office after the demonstrators pelted stones at the police office.

Congress leaders and cadres have taken to the streets enforcing a strike in the locality since early Friday morning, accusing the police personnel of misbehaving with provincial assembly member Khagen Singh Hangam.

Police and a group led by the lawmaker were engaged in a heated debate on Thursday evening. Bishwa Raj Nyalbo, a member of Hangam’s secretariat, claimed the dispute ensued after the police beat up a Congress cadre Pema Lama from Lalitpur.

The police, however, said that the dispute broke out after the group led by the provincial assembly tried to snatch weapons of security personnel.

The demonstrators have demanded the suspension of police personnel involved in the incident.