21 Maoists, 10 police killed in Nepal
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 22, IRNA
Nepal-Maoists-Violence
At least 21 Maoist rebels and 10 police were killed as violence escalated across Nepal following the end of a rebel-led road blockade.
Thirteen soldiers and one rebel were killed on Monday in a gunbattle east of the capital, Kathmandu, a day after rebels ended a six-day blockade that had choked supplies and disrupted transport across the mountainous nation, media reports said here Tuesday.
Maoists had stepped up their attacks on security bases, towns and cities since January, when they ended a unilateral ceasefire after th government refused to reciprocate.
More than 13,000 people have died since the conflict began in 1996.
The Maoist rebels are fighting to topple Nepal's Hindu monarchy and set up a communist republic.
The army said its soldiers had killed at least 20 rebels at Darechowk in Dhading district today. The town is a Maoist stronghold 80 kilometers west of Kathmandu.
"The operation was launched after receiving a tip-off that the rebels had gathered at a place there," an army officer said.
The Maoists have made no comment on the claim.
The army sustained no losses but police said they had lost 10 of their men in two attacks by the rebels in the east.
In a separate incident, officials said hundreds of Maoist rebels stormed a police post in eastern Nepal and killed nine police, while one rebel also died in the clash.
A police officer said more than 300 rebels, known for hit-and-run attacks on poorly equipped security bases, arrived in buses and trucks and stormed the post at Birtamod, a bustling town in a tea-producing region 600 kilometes east of the capital.
"At least 20 policemen have been wounded and rushed to a hospital," he said.
A senior local government official, Bhola Shiwakoti, said more troops had been rushed to the site.
Police said rebels had also gunned down a police officer in the nearby town of Dharan.
2160/2321/1414
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
