Nepal, Feb. 9 -- Violence against security forces and vandalism intensified in Parsa on Monday, with two separate incidents in Birgunj highlighting growing law and order concerns ahead of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections.

On Monday, a clash erupted between the Armed Police Force (APF) and a smuggling group after officers raided a warehouse at the residence of Madan Prasad Gupta in Adarshanagar, Birgunj. A joint team from APF Nepal No. 13 Battalion Parsa, the Birgunj Border Security Unit and the Birgunj Customs Office was deployed to seize illegally stored garments worth over Rs 700,000.

Following the seizure, the smugglers attacked the officers, pelting stones and damaging an APF van and another vehicle. Three APF personnel...