Map of Nawalparasi (File photo)
Latest reports from Nawalparasi say at least 20 persons, including 15 security personnel and four Maoist rebels, were killed during fierce clashes at Rambhapur of Nawalparasi district along the Mahendra highway on Thursday.

Reports quoted Siddhi Charan Bhattarai, president of NGO Federation of Nepal Nawalparasi district unit, who led a group of rights activists that inspected the site of clashes as saying that at least 18 security personnel were killed and one dozen others were injured during the clashes that ensued after heavily armed rebels attacked security personnel who were trying to clear the highway blocked by the rebels.

At least four rebels were killed during clashes.

Asmita Chapagain, a 21-year-old young woman from nearby district of Rupanedhi, when she fell victim to landmine explosion laid down by the rebels. Three other civilians were also injured in the explosion.

The rebels have said they have taken one dozen security personnel into custody after the clashes. They said they have set on fire vehicles used by the security personnel and seized weapons from them.

Traffic is yet to resume along the highway and local people are terrified, according to reports. Local people said the bodies of security personnel were lying scattered near the site of clashes till this afternoon. They said security personnel were yet to secure the area.

Reports said the RNA has launched an aerial raid in the bordering area of Palpa suspecting that the rebels are using the nearby forest as hideouts.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Defense said Friday evening that three rebels and two security personnel were killed in the encounter. It did not provide details.

Traffic is yet to regime along a number of highways in the eastern and western Nepal even after the withdrawal of ‘Nepal bandh’ (the nationwide shutdown strike) by the Maoists effective from Thursday.

They had called a week-long strike beginning last Sunday to disrupt the municipal polls.