The army shot dead five Maoists in operations in Dandeldhura, Dang and Kailali Sunday, the Defence Ministry said Monday.

Jwala and Akash were killed in an operation in Dandeldhura. The army recovered arms, explosives socket bombs and also food grains which was distributed to the needy in Parsa Sunday.

Thirty-three rebels surrendered to security forces in Sindhupalchowk Sunday. The army found a corpse of Maoist suspect Ram Gopal Bakunche in Bhaktapur Sunday night after three colleagues murdered him, the Ministry said.

Police said they are on the lookout for the trio suspected of trying to murder a senior Nepali Congress leader in the district Sunday night. He is recovering and is out of danger after doctors removed two

bullets from his hand and neck following surgery Monday at Bir Hospital Monday, doctors said.

Rebels attacked and destroyed a health post at Nala and a village district development committee building in Kavre Sunday, local officials said.

Maoists for the second time in several months torched and stoned five vehicles of the Small Haven Secondary School at Kalayanpur in Chitwan Monday morning causing Rs.2 million in damage, school authorities said.