A vigilante group attacked some Maoists at a village in Parsa district as security forces Sunday tried to restore peace in a tense area, a Home Ministry spokesman said.

“A red alert has been issued. The situation is tense. Armed police have been deployed. We may have to call in the army if the situation worsens,” the Home Ministry source said.

The vigilante group attacked rebels who tried to collect donations from aschool at Biruwa village and torched some houses where insurgents were hiding, the source said. There have been no casualties although some published reports Sunday said two persons died in clashes Saturday, the source said.

Traffic along Pathalaiya-Birgunj was re-opened Sunday after roadblocks were removed, the Home Ministry source said. Government has accused the rebels of misusing  a month long truce to

collect donations and spread terror.

Government and opposition in parliament have asked Maoists to called off a public meeting in the capital on September 21 fearing violence.