Four Maoists were killed overnight and Wednesday in two encounters with the army, the Defence Ministry said. Rebels Wednesday morning destroyed a parked vehicle and damaged the home of a government official of the Forest MiInistry at Thankot in a bomb attack, police said.

Three rebels died in an exchange of gunfire with the military after laying an ambush at Wednesday in Syangjha, the Defence Ministry said. Min Bahadur Paudel, a rebel village leader of Dharmapani in Parbat died in an exchange of gunfire with security forces overnight, the Defence Ministry said.

Some insurgents are feared dead in an exchange of gunfire with security forces in Baglung Tuesday, the Defence Ministry said. Forty-one suspects were arrested Tuesday for questioning, the Defence Ministry said.

Security forces continue to recover hidden guns, pistols, explosives in a nation-wide search. Thirty rebels surrendered to district administration in three districts Wednesday, the Home Ministry said.