Kathmandu, November 29
In their first attack in the capital since Monday’s declaration of countrywide emergency, the Maoist rebels today bombed a Coca Cola factory at Balaju even as the army killed at least 11 insurgents at Baragachhi in the western Dang district.The Maoists exploded two bombs at the factory in the Balaju locality of Kathmandu early this morning. While the first blast occurred at 0510 (local time), the second occurred four minutes later.
Though there was no loss of life, the roof and windows of the plant were blown off and the wall damaged.
The plant had since been cordoned off and six persons detained for questioning, the police said. Six masked men, armed with pistols and a rifle, forcibly entered the factory premises and fled after planting the two bombs.
Meanwhile, at least 11 Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with the army, a Defence Ministry spokesman said. The rebels had opened fire on the soldiers while they were providing security to the local people.
Similarly, the army also recovered some explosives and documents buried near a house in Karma Singh village in Gorkha district of western Nepal. The army personnel also foiled an attempt by the Maoists to attack the telecommunications station at Basantpur village in Tehrathum district of eastern Nepal.
There was no army casualty, the spokesman added.
Elsewhere, about 50 Maoist student supporters were arrested yesterday during a raid at a campus in Pokhara, the police said. During the raid, the police also recovered weapons and some materials used to make explosives. Some of the students had later been
released.
KISHANGANJ (Bihar): Meanwhile, all police stations along the Bihar-Nepal border in this district have been put on ‘maximum alert’ following the promulgation of emergency in strife-torn Nepal after Maoist attacks.
Mr S.K. Singhal, SP, Kishanganj, on Thursday said the district administration had been asked by the Home Secretary to beef up surveillance along the long and porous border.
UNI, PTI
