Maoists rebels have exploded a bomb at a ministers residence in Chitwan, 100 km from Kathmandu, the state run radio Nepal quoting officials said on Thursday.
Minister of state for water resources Narayan Sharma Paudyal's house at Gunjanagar, Chitwan was totally destroyed in the explosion which occurred at around 10 pm on Wednesday night, the radio said.

Details about the incident and the loss of life and property were not immediately known. After the mobilisation of the army since the declaration of the emergency on November 26, the Maoists have targeted the Nepali Congress leaders and workers.

The Maoists had also attacked the vehicle of a Nepali Congress leader Lila Koirala in Janakpur but no one was hurt in that incident. The rebels have also killed two Nepali Congress supporters, including a teacher in Gorkha district this week. Five Maoists were killed since Sunday in various parts of the country in counter insurgency operations.
About 500 Maoists and 80 security personnel have been killed since the Maoists resorted to violence, breaking the four-month-long ceasefire and negotiations with the government, on November 23. Around 3,000 Maoists have surrendered and a large number of rebels have been arrested since the mobilisation of the army. More than 2,000 people have been killed in the Himalayan Kingdom since the Maoists insurgency began in 1996.

Bureau Report