Kathmandu, April 10: Maoists admitted that six of their comrades were killed along with the 28 policemen when they attacked the police post Namaule village in Dailekh district Friday night. In a statement released by Comrade Sonam the rebels said five Maoists died instantly while the sixth succumbed to injuries. Government sources had earlier estimated that about 20 rebels had been killed in the fighting.

An attack in Nanglabhir village in Kathmandu district police post some 20 km east of the capital ended with no casualties in either side. Police beat off the first gun attack by insurgents on the outpost in Kathmandu district Monday night. In another incident at least a dozen people were injured in Sanischare, Morang district Monday in a stampede following police firings and lobbing of tear gas shells to disrupt a public meeting of the All Nepal National Peasant’s Association– a peasant wing of the underground rebel group, local officials said. Nearly 30 police abandoned a post in Ghurkot in Gulmi district west Nepal Sunday fearing an attack by 300 rebels, published reports said.

Meanwhile an expected announcement extending the ordinances forming an armed police force and devolving powers to five regional administrators did not come after Monday night’s meeting between the king and the prime minister. The ordinances lapsed after the Parliament failed to approve the legislation by Sunday.