Kathmandu - At least one person was killed and nine injured Friday when police opened fire on industrial workers whose demonstrations in southern Nepal had turned violent, media reports said Friday.

The clashes erupted in the Bara district, about 90 kilometres south of Kathmandu, when police moved in to break up demonstrators who were forcibly shutting down factories and markets, the independent Radio Kantipur said.

Thousands of industrial workers were protesting the police beating of their colleagues during a demonstration Thursday, and the situation turned violent, the radio station said.

Police first fired several rounds of tear gas before firing live ammunition, it said.

Most of the injured were reported to be in serious condition.

After the clashes, more than 200 factories producing such goods as cigarettes, edible oil, furniture and cement in Bara and neighbouring districts shut down.

Labour leaders said they had called for an indefinite strike of the industries to protest the police action.

The demonstrations initially were sparked by the sacking of a factory worker this week.

Labour disputes have often flared up into violence in recent months in Nepal. The situation has been made worse by political parties openly backing trade unions.

Industrialists previously warned the government that continuing labour disputes that force the closures of factories was threatening the country's economy. (dpa)