Security personnel repulse Maoist attack, Two bodies recovered (News update)

Reports from far-western district of Kanchanpur say security forces have repulsed a major Maoist attack at the security base of the Armed Police Force (APF) at Gadda Chowki and a customs post near Nepal-India border in the far-western region on Monday.

According to reports, hundreds of Maoist insurgents arrived at the APF security base at around 7:30 p. m. on tractors and opened fire from three or four positions simultaneously. The insurgents left after nearly three-hour long gun battle.

A Mahendranagar-based journalist, who visited the site of clashes Tuesday morning, told Nepalnews over phone that bodies of a security personnel and a Maoist rebel have been recovered from the site of the encounter. He said empty bullet covers were scattered around the area and people were still terrified.

Gadda Chowki is a bordering custom point, four km west from Mahendranagar—a major business center in the far-western region. SSB security personnel from India were deployed only a km away from Gadda Chowki in the Indian territory and were on alert, reports said.

The rebels had erected barriers along the Mahendra highway before staging attack at the security base. Security sources said there have been heavy casualty on the part of the rebels and that they took away bodies of at least half a dozen their fallen comrades along with them.

Security sources said the rebels had gathered at Jimuwa, the northern part of Kanchanpur district, near Churia forest, before traveling to the south.

Senior Security officials in Kathmandu confirmed the clashes at Gadda Chowki but said they were still awaiting for details. nepalnews.com by May 31 05

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