RAUTAHAT, Nov. 24 -- At least three protesters were injured after police opened fire and baton-charged infuriated locals protesting against the 'rape' and murder of a minor from Bardibas Municipality-14 in Mahottari district.

The injured have been identified as Sanjay Neupane and Shyam Karki, residents of Bardibas Municipality-1, and Aftab Alam, of Bardibas-14. Police opened fire after the protesters started to pelt stones at the house of the accused murderer.

Sanjay, who was critically injured in the incident, was airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment, according to Chief District Officer Krishna Bahadur Katwal. Sanjay received a bullet in his thigh.

As the situation was going out of control, police opened fire and baton-charged...