January 30, 2002
Kathmandu: Security forces Tuesday seized a large number of explosives, electric wires for setting electric ambush and combat dresses from various parts of the country in their on-going search operations against the Maoist terrorists, the Ministry of Defence said here today. They also arrested 13 terrorist suspects from various parts of the country.
The forces seized 42 bombs, two cable electric wires, dozens of combat dresses, 17 large bags, batteries, binoculars and a large number of detonators hidden by the Maoist terrorists near Sankranti area and Fedighat cave at Chhatedhunga of Terhathum district.
On Tuesday, the forces arrested three suspects each from Balkumari of Lalitpur, Harre of Bardia and Lekh of Surkhet, while two suspects have also been arrested from Jajarkot along with arms, explosives and terrorist documents. One active terrorist supporter from Jayanagar of Bardia has also been arrested.
The Ministry press statement issued here today also stated that a local woman at Sankranti Bazaar, who was injured during the crossfire between the security troops and the Maoist terrorists on January 27, was airlifted to Dhankuta for further treatment.
A bomb disposal team of the army has, meanwhile, foiled a terrorist attempt to explode 16 kg of explosives planted at a house of a local resident near Thankot, Kathmandu.
The people across the country have been wholeheartedly supporting the government’s move against terrorism by not only informing about the terrorists but also submitting the arms to the security personnel. Local people at Kailali yesterday handed over two guns to security personnel.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry today said that Maoist terrorists Tuesday killed Khagendra Kadayat, a local resident at Bagphanta of Mahendranagar Municipality, Kanchanpur. Maniraj Joshi, the other local resident, has been injured and is now undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Injured from the attack by the Maoist terrorists, the headmaster of Subodhini Sanskrit High School, Taplejung, has been brought to Kathmandu for treatment. Likewise, Assistant Sub-inspector Bir Bahadur Budha has also been brought to Kathmandu for treatment after he was injured by the terrorists while on duty at Bhuri village of Bardia. A local woman known as Nirmala Thapa was also injured and she is receiving treatment at Nepalgunj Hospital.
The police has been heavily mobilised to search the terrorists, the Home Ministry said.
The Ministry also stated that 35 Maoists on Tuesday surrendered themselves before the local administrative bodies. Those who quit the Maoist terrorist activities and surrendered before the government included 16 in Dadeldhura, four in Nuwakot, three each in Taplejung and Udaypur, two in Arghakhanchi and one in Rautahat.