At least 11 security personnel have been killed in Tansen, the district headquarters of Palpa, during overnight clashes between security forces and Maoist rebels Tuesday.

Map of Tansen. (File photo)

Map of Tansen.
According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) four armymen and seven policemen were killed during the incident.

“A group of around 4,000 terrorists tried to make a consorted attack on security bases in the district headquarters at 11.00 p.m. on Tuesday. Following the attempted attacks on the bases, the security forces put up a strong resistance in the clashes which continued until 6:00 this morning and was successfully foiled by the security forces in the area,” the statement adds.

According to MoD, four bodies of Maoists were recovered from the incident site. It suspects heavy causalities in the rebels’ side during the fierce overnight battle. “After having examined the nature of the clashes and based on accounts of eyewitnesses, it appears that the casualty figures on the terrorist’s side could have been very extensive,” the statement adds.

According to security sources, some security personnel are still out of contact after the rebels’ raid. Earlier reports said 143 police personnel were out of contact.. The camp had 230 policemen. Most of these policemen were sent to Tansen as part of security arrangement for polls and were without weapons, according to officials.

According to the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of Royal Nepalese Army, the Chief District Officer and an Inspector of National Department of Investigation were also out of contact since the attack.

Injured security personnel have been taken to Pokhara for treatment.

The rebels had cut off electricity supply and telephone lines in the area before launching their attack. They had blocked the Siddhartha Highway for the past one week.

Meanwhile, issuing a press statement on Wednesday, Maoists accepted the responsibility of the Tansen attack.

A press statement issued by Maoist supremo Prachanda said the Chief District Officer and some security personnel, who were abducted following the attack, are safe in their custody.

However, the Maoists did not mention about the causality in their side in the statement.