HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

46 policemen killed in terrorist attacks in Dang

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 12: Forty-six policemen, including a District Superintendent of Police and four Inspectors, were killed when Maoist terrorists in the thousands attacked the police force stationed at Lamahi and Satbariya in Dang last night. Fourteen policemen were seriously injured, while five are reported missing.

This is the biggest casualty of the police force since more than 100 security personnel, including 49 policemen, died in mid-February when the terrorists raided an army barrack and police post at Mangalsen in Accham.

And a few days later, 32 policemen had died fighting the Maoists at Shitalpati in Salyan district.

According to the Defence Ministry, there was heavy exchange of fire when the Maoists in the thousands attacked the security personnel based in Ghorahi, Tulsipur, Lamahi, Satbariya and Bhaluwang in Dang around 10.30 pm Thursday.

The army had foiled the attacks on the Ghorahi and Tulsipur barracks. The terrorists had simultaneously attacked the area police office at Lamahi, the armed police training centre at Bhaluwang and the armed police force base camp at Satbariya around the same time.

Upon hearing of the attacks on the police force, reinforcement was immediately sent from Nepalgunj and Dang. However, the security forces were able to reach the sites only in the morning, when the terrorists had already fled, due to the many roadblocks the terrorists had placed on the Ghorahi-Lamahi and Kohalpur-Lamahi sections.

The Ministry said that the terrorists had brutally killed the DSP, inspectors and some policemen after capturing them.

The terrorists also took under control 21 passenger buses and trucks. A bus driver, Mahendra Shrestha, was killed when he refused to stop and tried to turn the bus an head back. At least five passengers were seriously injured in the incident.

This is not the first time the Maoist terrorists have victimised bus passengers. In a similar incident on February 22, the Maoists burnt five passengers, including a girl child, of a bus alive in Chitwan during a bandh called by them.

The terrorists also looted Rastriya Banijya Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank and set the offices on fire. They have also destroyed the sub-station of Nepal Electricity Authority, throwing Dang into a blanket of darkness.

The injured policemen, and ordinary people are undergoing treatment in Kathmandu, Butwal and Nepalgunj.

According to eye-witnesses, the terrorists took away their injured and dead ones in two trucks, implying that the casualties on their side could be high.

Security forces have cordoned off the areas and launched a massive search for the terrorists.

The National Defence Council today met and reviewed the security situation following the incidents. Chairman of the Council, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, directed the authorities to effectively mobilise the forces to restore peace and order by immediately identifying the areas where reforms are needed and learning a lesson from the incidents.

Since the Maoist insurgency began seven years ago, more than 2,500 people have died on both sides of the fence, including ordinary citizens.

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry says eight terrorists were killed in encounters elsewhere. Security forces gunned down four terrorists in Murari Dobhan in Palpa, two in Chhapra in Humla and one each in Chandragiri of Kathmandu and Dilkharka of Ramechhap. Weapons and explosives have been recovered from these places.

Other Stories