HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Over 100 security personnel killed in Maoist attacks

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 17: More than 100 security personnel died overnight in separate encounters with the Maoist terrorists at Mangalsen of Achham and Lalbandi of Sarlahi districts.

Altogether 49 policemen died in the encounter at Mangalsen. Ten injured police personnel have been brought to Kathmandu for treatment.

The terrorists also killed Mohan Singh Khatri, the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Achham district, Lok Raj Upreti, an officer of the National Investigation Department, and his wife, one employee of the post office and a local resident of the district, the Home Ministry said today.

Three dead bodies of the terrorists were found on the spot. The terrorists also looted some arms and ammunition from the District Police Office. Reinforcement has been sent to the area.

Likewise, 48 army men were killed when a group of terrorists attacked them in Mangalsen. One army man was injured in the incident, the Defence Ministry said.

Quoting eyewitnesses, the Ministry stated that hundreds of terrorists had also died in the encounters. According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists took away the dead bodies of their comrades.

The Ministry said that the army personnel had bravely fought till the last minute against the dastardly terrorists, who are learnt to have used the weapons looted from Dang in November last year. The terrorists also set fire to different establishments in the district headquarters before attacking the security forces.

The Ministry said additional security forces have been mobilised, and the area has been cordoned off to carry out necessary search operations. The Ministry has also wished eternal peace to the departed souls and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families at such a sad hour.

Meanwhile, according to our Sarlahi-based correspondent, five policemen were killed last night when a group of terrorists attacked the police post at Lalbandi of Sarlahi district. Officiating CDO of Siraha Binod Khanal informed that the police and the terrorists fought for hours. The terrorists damaged the police post with bombs.

Those killed in the incident included Min Bahadur G.C. (Parbat), Nawaraj Lama (Rautahat), Lal Bahadur Thapa (Chitwan), Rati Lal Danuwar (Morang) and Pramod Kurmi (Parsa).

Sub-inspector Madan Jha, sergeant Muktinath Bishwakarma and policeman Sushil Shrestha and one non-combatant employee were brought to Kathmandu by helicopter for treatment today.

Meanwhile, a group of terrorists killed Govind Khadka, resident of Bethan VDC of Ramechhap district yesterday.

The Home Ministry said three persons in Ilam and two in Nuwakot surrendered before the administration, renouncing their affiliation to the terrorist organisation today.

It also said that the police nabbed six suspects from Tulsipur Municipality of Dang district yesterday.

Security forces killed four terrorists, injured one and arrested two others in their ongoing search operations conducted in different parts of the country Sunday, said a Defence Ministry statement.

The statement said that three armed terrorists—Bal Krishna Bhandari (Jatil), Dan Bahadur Nepali (Himalaya) and Datta Bahadur Mahatar (Ananda)—were killed in army action in Dhaulapur area of Jumla district on Sunday. The forces also arrested one terrorist and recovered a cache of arms, explosives and socket bombs belonging to the terrorists from the site.

In Kailali, the security personnel shot dead one terrorist and seized weapons in Labuli area of the district, according to the Ministry.

Meanwhile, the security forces have nabbed three terrorists and recovered nine guns, bullets of .303 weapons, explosives and six socket bombs from the site of the event.

The forces recovered 38 socket bombs, seven pressure cooker bombs and a drill machine hidden in a den of Kiregud Bhir in Dubekama area of Khotang and one gun in Saurpani of Gorkha on Saturday.

Similarly, the forces recovered jewellery of three tolas of gold and Rs 2,900 Indian currency in Attariya bazaar of Kailali on Saturday.

Meanwhile, five suspects were taken into custody in Kawa Chaupari of Parbat, three in Dhangadhi Municipality of Kailali, two in Pokhara sub-metropolitan city of Kaski and one each from Silung Deurali of Gorkha and Besisahar of Lamjung, said the press release of the Ministry.

A bomb disposal unit defused banner bombs laid at Chun Devi of Arniko Highway in Bhaktapur, Saikal chok and premises of a school in Katuwachaupari area of Parbat and Khareni bazaar of Kerapani area of Rupandehi.

Local people from different places of Dang collected 13 guns and handed them over to the security forces on Saturday, the press release said.

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