M A I N   N E W S

60 Maoists killed in Nepal

Kathmandu, December 9
In a major setback to Maoist rebels, at least 60 of them have been killed and scores of others injured in an encounter with the security forces in Rolpa district, 500 km West of here.

Four armymen were also killed and eight injured in a seven-hour long encounter last night in Ratmate of Rolpa district, Defence spokesman Bhola Silwal said today.

This is the first major incident after the Salleri encounter when the rebels suffered heavy casualties.

The Army deployed in the area successfully encountered a large group of Maoists, who tried to destroy Repeater station of Nepal Telecommunication Corporation in Ratmate, Rolpa, the spokesman said.

During the attack, the Maoists used latest weapons looted from Dang army barrack two weeks ago. The army recovered three light machineguns and some other weapons.

In another encounter in Chaughada of Nuwakot district, the army personnel killed two Maoist rebels and arrested 25.

“After last night’s encounter in Rolpa, some 50-60 dead bodies were found scattered in the area... the Maoists took away the bodies of some of their dead and injured comrades, which made the counting of exact number of deaths impossible”, Mr Silwal said.

The wounded armymen were flown to the capital for treatment.

The army patrolling team also defended the attack launched by a group of terrorists in Chaughada of Nuwakot district yesterday. During the encounter, two terrorists were killed and 25 arrested.

The security personnel yesterday arrested another 19 suspected rebels from different places, including Panchmane in Kathmandu.

The rebels exploded two bombs in two different houses belonging to the army personnel in Nuwakot district killing two persons.

According to a government source, the joint army and police search team yesterday launched massive strikes in Rolpa, Kailali, Baglung and Nuwakot districts destroying training centres of the rebels.

Meanwhile, 28 army personnel were injured when a truck carrying them for patrolling Jiri in Dolakha district met with an accident yesterday. PTI