Kathmandu  - Nepalese authorities imposed an indefinite curfew on a town in western Nepal after three people were shot dead by police after a crowd of villagers stormed a district police office, officials said Wednesday.

"Police opened fire in self-defence after the crowd stormed the police station and assaulted officers," said the district police office in Dhangadhi, about 500 kilometres west of Kathmandu.

The violence erupted over an assault of a local journalist by Maoist supporters. The villagers had gone to the police station to protest the incident, but violence erupted.

Police said another six people were injured, but calm was restored after the curfew was imposed. (dpa)