Kathmandu, Oct 12: The death toll from a fierce clash between Maoist rebels and security forces in Nepal has risen to 69, a police source said today. "Sixty-five rebels including a rebel company commissar identified as Aavash were killed in the clashes between the Maoists and armed police force at Khas-Kusum in the western Banke district, Saturday morning," the source said.
Some of the dead men and women were wearing combat uniform, he added.
He said four policemen were also killed in the incident. The police yesterday had said seven security personnel and 50 rebels had died.
The death toll in the remote area could not be independently verified.
The rebels often accuse the security forces of exaggerating death tolls and Maoist sources said just six rebels had died in the clashes while nine others were injured.
Police said at least 600 rebels attacked a police post late Friday.
The incident was the biggest clash since August 27 when the guerrillas announced they were pulling out of peace talks with the government and a ceasefire which had held since January.
The Maoists, who want to abolish the monarchy and make the Hindu kingdom a secular republic, had called a temporary eight-day truce which ended Thursday to mark the Hindu kingdom's biggest festival Dasain. Bureau Report