Protesters engaged in large-scale violence and arson at Asadhi village under Tajpur police station, fighting pitched battles with police. They set afire eight police vehicles and also attempted to put on fire the police station, Superintendent of Police, Samastipur Deepak Ranjan said.
"The police personnel had to resort to firing in the air after they could not disperse the crowd with batons," he said.
"In the melee, some police personnel perhaps could not aim their guns properly as a result of which two of the demonstrators suffered bullet injuries," Ranjan said.
A chemist was shot dead by unidentified assailants two days ago and the locals were angry over it.
More From This Section
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered an official inquiry into the incident.
Calling the incident "sad", Kumar directed Tirhut Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Inspector General concerned to visit the scene and submit a report, an official release said in Patna.
Additional police contingents have been deployed at the village where the situation was tense but under control, the SP said.