At least 18 killed in Arghakhanchi clash: Reports

Latest reports say that at least 18 people including 12 security personnel have been killed in a fierce gun battle between the Unified Command troops and the Maoist insurgents at Khandaha area of the western Arghakhanchi district on Saturday.

Reports citing a statement of the Pokhara-based Western Pritana (divisional headquarters) of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Sunday said that 12 security personnel died in the close-range battle that lasted for hours.

Six bodies of the militants have been recovered from the clash scene so far but the Western Pritana claimed that the Maoists suffered heavy casualties in the battle, reports added.

The gun battle erupted as hundreds of armed Maoists attacked a security patrol at around 8:00 a.m. yesterday. Soon after, reinforcement troops were sent to Khandaha area, 5 km west of the district headquarters, Sandikharka.

Details of the incident are still awaited. nepalnews.com mbk June 26 05

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