Eight killed in Maoist attacks in Nepal
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Jan 27, IRNA
Nepal-Maoist-Attack
At least eight people, including three security personnel, were killed at Nepalgunj, in mid-western Nepal, in clashes between security forces and the Maoists, after the rebels launched a series of attacks at security installations and government buildings Thursday night.
Eight security personnel were injured in the nearly
three-hour-long encounter between the security forces and the Maoists in Nepalgunj, a major town of mid-western Nepal, media reports quoted security sources as saying.
The insurgents targeted ward, district and zonal police offices, police training center, district administration office, and army posts with bombs and modern weapons at around 20:15 hrs local time.
Some bomb explosions were also heard, according to local reporters.
Maoists have intensified their activities since the
four-month-long unilateral cease-fire ended on Jan 2.
The rebels said they would expand their decade-old anti-monarchy revolt to city centers and stop the Feb 8 municipal elections called by King Gyanendra, who seized power early last year after dismissing the government.
The royalist government has vowed not to delay the vote and the Election Commission has asked candidates to file nomination papers Saturday. But political parties have called for a nationwide shutdown on that day.
Activists pelted dozens of riot policemen with stones. Police responded by firing tear gas shells and beating protesters with canes.
There were no serious injuries, the report added.
Nepal has been rocked since last week by street protests demanding the restoration of democracy and against the civic polls, the first step in the king's "roadmap" to return democracy by 2008.
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