December 21, 2001

KATHMANDU: Five Maoists were killed in two different incidents in Gorkha district overnight, the  Defence Ministry said Friday. Three rebels died on the spot whey they attempted to break a security cordon at Bhirkot, an official announcement said.

Soldiers shot dead two Maoists whey they tried to escape after arrest at Sathobato, an announcement said. Army launched an aerial and ground search in the district after two soldiers died and another was injured earlier this week in a rebel ambush.

Security forces recovered 13 guns, explosives and communications equipment at a village in Rolpa Thursday, the Defence Ministry said. Maoists blasted a revenue office at Nepalgunj Friday morning injuring two guards, police said.

A senior Maoist leader of Jhapa died in hospital of injuries sustained in a beating by an irate mob at Dharampur, local reports said.