December 10, 2001
KATHMANDU: More than 27 Maoist rebels, who have been declared terrorists by the government, were killed in search and cordon operations conducted by security personnel in different parts of the country, Defence and Home Ministries said.
The Defence Ministry press release said that eleven Maoist terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire in Kapurkot of Salyan district and five in Durgamandou of Baitadi district Sunday night and Monday morning. According to the Defence Ministry, a large number of Maoist rebels attacked army personnel stationed in Kapurkot protecting the Nepal Telecommunication repeater tower Sunday night. Security personnel fought for five hours and foiled the attacks of the terrorists.
In the fighting, many rebels might have been killed but their numbers could not be assessed as they took away dead and injured, the Defence Ministry said. In the fighting, two army personnel were also killed. Soldiers found some weapons and ammunition, which had been looted from the army barrack in Dang, the Ministry said.
In a search and cordon operation, the army surrounded a group of Maoist rebels in Durgamandou of Baitadi and asked them to surrender. But security personnel had to open fire as rebels tried to run away.
As a result, five rebels were killed. Security personnel also nabbed two rebels in Baitadi. Similarly, the army has seized weapons, ammunition, bombs, other explosives and arrested dozens of people in various places in Baglung, Salyan, Lamjung, Gorkha, Dolkha, Surkhet, Kailali and Rukum.
A large quantity of weapons and explosives were seized in Baglung and Khara of Rukum districts, according to the Defence Ministry. Home Ministry said that 11 people were killed in an operation conducted by armed police in Kailali.
The search and cordon operations of security personnel has continued in different parts of the country. Meanwhile, curfew has been clamped in some districts.
Several people affiliated with terrorist activities have surrendered denouncing violence and terrorism.