Kathmandu, Aug 25: Former Nepalese premier Sher Bahadur Deuba today survived a bid on his life when Maoist rebels fired at his motorcade in Kailali district. A group of armed rebels fired at his vehicle at 4.30 pm (local time) in Phalmanpur village when he was returning from a party workers training camp in the district, Information and Communication Minister Kamal Thapa told newspersons over phone.

The rebels fired two rounds of bullets at his vehicle and those carrying security personnel escorting him but neither he nor his guards were injured.

Security forces fired back at the rebels. However, the rebels managed to escape.

Deuba was later brought to Nepalgunj, a nearby town for safety reasons.
Former minister and Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Prakash Man Singh and other party workers were also present during the attack.

Deuba came to power in 2001 and entered into a cesasefire with the Maoists.

However, the truce only lasted four months after which the rebels launched a series of attacks against security forces. Dejected by the Maoist rejection of talks, Deuba had mounted a major crackdown against them.
Bureau Report