December 31, 2001

KATHMANDU: Eleven more Maoists were killed in encounters with security forces overnight nation-wide and a large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from them, the Defence Ministry said Monday.

Nine rebels were killed at a village in Banke and guns and bombs recovered from them in the biggest
encounter, an official announcement said.

Local commander of Gorkha Mahendra Marhatta was killed in another shootout while another insurgent was killed in Kailali, the Defence Ministry said.
Army recovered a pistol and bullets from Marhatta.

Altogether 18 Maoists and suspects were arrested Sunday, an official announcement said. Casualty figures on the security side were not available.

Army recovered 12 guns from Rolpa and two bags of hidden bombs in Solokhumbu besides equipment stolen from police, the Defence Ministry said.