Kathmandu, Sept 14: Eight Maoist rebels, three members of the security forces and three civilians have been killed in clashes in Nepal in the past 48 hours, a security source said today. "Five rebels were killed at Kalinjor in the southern Sarlahi district and another one at Helauchha in (eastern) Bhojpur district following an exchange of fire between the rebels and the security personnel Saturday," the source said.
Two other guerrillas were killed in Haraicha village in eastern Dhanakuta district's Maleha village in the southeastern Saptari area yesterday afternoon, the source added.
The rebels had gunned down three civilians and a police constable, Lal Bahadur Tamang, at Sijuwa police post in Saptari in the last 48 hours, the source said.
Two soldiers were also killed in an ambush laid by an armed group of rebels at Gurje Bhanjyang in Kathmandu district on Friday, the Defence Ministry said.
Meanwhile the Nepali-language "Kantipur" daily said the Maoists had threatened to kill seven members of a family in Kohalpur village in the western Banke district.
The rebels yesterday hung posters in and around the village saying they would kill Basant Shrestha, who they accused of spying, his two wives, three daughters and a son if they failed to leave their village by today.
Due to an increase in Maoist violence since the rebels abandoned a seven-month ceasefire on August 27, the Valley Security Command Team (VSCT) has advised all government ministers to avoid attending functions outside Kathmandu city, officials said. The VSCT includes the Nepal police, armed police and the Royal Nepal Army.
Bureau Report