A day after attacking key security installations in the mid-western town of Nepalgunj, Maoist rebels have resumed attacks in the far-western town of Dhangadhi Wednesday evening.

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According to preliminary reports, the rebels opened fire at a number of security offices in Dhangadhi—the district headquarters of Kailali—from around 7:15 p. m.

“I can hear sounds of gun fire and explosions from various parts of the town. It seems heavy fighting is going on. It’s too early to assess the situation,” a Dhangadhi-based journalist, Dirgha Upadhyay, told Nepalnews over phone.

He said that there is load-shedding in Dhangadhi this evening.

A major administrative and business center of the far-western region, Dhangadhi houses district police, zonal police, regional police and army barrack, among others.

The authorities are yet to provide details about the latest offensive by the Maoists.

Meanwhile, reports from Nepalgunj say the rebels had again opened fire at the main town area in the city at around 6:45 p.m. today. The firing has now stopped, according to reports.

At least eight persons, including three security personnel, a civilian and four rebels, had been killed during clashes in Nepalgunj late Tuesday.

With just two weeks to go for the municipal polls, the rebels are intensifying their attacks against security personnel in the municipal areas.