The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said at least 17 Maoist rebels and six security personnel were killed during an overnight clash at Faparbari area of Makawanpur district in central Nepal on Saturday. The Maoists admitted that they have lost 22 of thir comrades in the clashes.

(Illustrator : annapurnapost.com)
A MoD statement issued on Sunday said 17 dead bodies of the Maoists were recovered from the clash site during a search conducted this morning.

The death toll on the rebel side could be much higher, according to the ministry. Those killed on the security side included five soldiers and a policeman.

The gun-battle had ensued at Faparbari after heavily-armed Maoists attacked the security forces on regular patrol in the area at around 6:45 p.m.

Quoting local residents, the MoD statement said scores of dead bodies were dragged by the Maoists themselves as the gun-battle went on. One INSAS rifle, four 3-0-3 rifles, socket bombs, ammunitions and Maoist documents were recovered from the incident site, the ministry said.

The Maoists, on their part, have claimed that casualty on the side of the security personnel has been much higher.

Analysts say it is usually next to impossible to verify the claims and counter-claims made by the warring parties in the conflict that usually takes place in difficult Nepali terrains.

Over 12,000 Nepalis have lost their lives in the ten year old insurgency.