37 Maoists killed as fresh violence rocks Nepal
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, May 11, IRNA
Nepal-Maoists
At least 37 Maoists along with four security personnel were killed and 30 civilians injured in fierce fighting which erupted after rebels, using human shields, launched simultaneous attacks on three police posts Tuesday in Nepal's Sirha district, officials at the Army Headquarters told Press Trust of India.
Hundreds of rebels attacked police posts in Bandipur, Mirchaiya, and Choharwa areas in the district, 350 km southeast of Kathmandu bordering India, overnight.
More than 30 civilians were also injured in the cross firing as the Maoists used human shields during their attacks at the police posts, the army said.
Three policemen and a soldier were killed during the cross firing in Bandipur, where security forces recovered the bodies of five more rebels.
Earlier, they said 26 militants were gunned down by troops in Bandipur. Five Maoists were killed in Mirchaiya and one in Choharwa, the army added.
The fresh bloodletting coincided with the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca, the first high-level visit from the country after the Feb 1 power grab.
Answering questions on India's policy to resume supply of arms to Nepal on his return from Moscow, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "India's cooperation with the Nepalese king to fight the Maoist menace will continue."
Lifting of emergency has not led to the improvement of the law and order situation in the Himalayan kingdom. Lifting of emergency only has not helped the scenario of fundamental rights in the country and since the lifting of the draconian rule on formal clarifications has been passed to restore the people's fundamental rights.
To add to the irony of Nepal, even after the end of emergency, the Royal government issued orders extending the detention of incarcerated political leaders.
It is the common people, who are held hostage to the wrangling between the absolutist monarch and his Maoist opponents.
2160/2325/1432
::IRNA No.012 11/05/2005 10:01 --End
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