13 soldiers, a Maoist killed in Kavre clashes (news update)

March 20, 2006
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Officials say a total of fourteen people, including thirteen soldiers, were killed during early morning clashes with Maoist rebels at Dapcha area in Kavre district on Monday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said clashes took place after a security patrol was caught in an ambush laid by the rebels. The security patrol was on its way to open up a drinking water supply canal in the Dapcha area, which was blocked by the rebels for the last two days.

The ministry said body of a Maoist guerrilla has been recovered so far and a search operation is underway. The Ministry quoted local eyewitnesses as saying that Maoists took away a number of dead or injured comrades along with them.

The rebels have claimed that the casualty on the part of the army is much higher. They said they have also seized arms and ammunition after the clashes.

The latest clashes took place just a day after the Maoists called off their six-day-long blockade of the capital, Kathmandu, and other district headquarters across the country.