HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

21 bodies of terrorists found in Achham
Home Minister informs House on incidents

Kathmandu, Feb. 20 (RSS): Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka said that over three dozens passengers of the bus (Na 2 Kha 4332) going from Kathmandu to Heele of Dhankuta district were killed when the bus fell about 200 metres below the No.1 bridge located three kilometers away from Mungling at a round 8:30 p.m. last night.

Home Minister Khadka gave this information while making a statement of public importance at the meeting of the House of Representatives today.

Mr Khadka said that two of the seven injured passengers are in serious condition. The injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Bharatpur Hospital, he added.

He said that the police security personnel have been mobilized to provide relief assistance to the passengers of the bus.

The Home Minister informed the House that the terrorists attacked the Jimuwa police post located along the Pokhara-Baglung Highway and killed one policeman and looted the communications set las night.

Stating that he along with members of the committee constituted by the state affairs committee made an on the spot inspection of Mangalsen and Sanfebagar of Achham district yesterday, Mr Khadka said that the situation at Mangalsen was very disheartening.

The Home Minister said that many Houses had been burnt and bombed at Mangalsen, the headquarters of Achham district.

Mr Khadka said that a large number of armed terrorists had attacked and hurled explosives at Mangalsen and Sanfebagar of Achham district on February 16. In the encounter between the security personnel and the terrorists, 51 policemen including two sub-inspectors were killed, he added.

Mr Khadka said that Chief District Officer Mohan Singh Khatri, Inspector of the National Investigation Department Lokraj Uprety and his wife, postal non-gazetted first class officer Nanda Singh Saud and local photographer Rup Dhungana were killed in the same attack.

The Home Minister said that a few security personnel are still believed to be burried in the ruins of the district administration office and jail buildings.

The terrorists also suffered a large number of casualties, he said, adding that three bodies of the terrorists were recovered from the site of the encounter while 10 other bodies were found near the district headquarters. A few bodies were carried away by the terrorists.

Stating that 21 bodies of terrorists were found till yesterday, the Home Minister said that 10 policemen were injured in the encounter.

Mr Khadka informed the House that one body was recovered from the district jail and two bodies from the land revenue office. One of the body has been identified as that of assistant inspector Nripa Khatri while the other two bodies have not been identified yet.

The Home Minister said that 25 rifles, two shot guns, five revolvers and pistols were looted by the terrorists from the district police office, 21 rifles and one pistol from the district jail and cash and jewelry amounting to Rs 20.4 million from the Rastriya Banijya Bank office.

Mr Khadka said that the offices of the district police, district administration district court, district NTC, livestock services, district development committee, district forest, postal survey and Rastriya Banijya Bank as well as a few private houses have been destroyed by the terrorists. The terrorists have also freed 16 prisoners from the district jail, he added.

A sub-machine gun used by the terrorists has been recovered from the site of the incident, the Home Minister said, adding that directives have been issued to promote the police personnels encountering the terrorists.

Informing that 55 Royal Nepalese Army personnel were killed by terrorists during the encounter at Mangalsen, Mr Khadka paid tributes to the RNA personnels and extended condolences to the bereaved family members.

Stating that an all party meeting had taken decisions on the immediate measures to be taken for carrying out official works and maintaining normalcy at Sanfebagar and Mangalsen after the tragic incidents, Mr Khadka informed the House that funds have already been provided for necessary materials for the police in the district.

He also informed the House that five police personnel were killed and seven others injured in an encounter with a large number of armed terrorists which took place at Lalbandhi of Sarlahi district on February 16. A few terrorists were also killed in the encounter and one body has been recovered from the site of the encounter, he added.

The terrorists looted three rifles, one shot gun, one magnum rifle, two pistols and a communication set from the police post, he added.

Mr Khadka said that the terrorists also looted Rs. 150,000 and jewelry from the Rastriya Banijya Bank located at Lalbandhi. One 12 bore shotgun used by the terrorists has been recovered from the site.

A search is being conducted for the terrorists and the situation is normal at Lalbandhi, he said.

The Home Minister said that His Majesty’s Government would remain alert to check such tragic incidents from taking place in future.

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