December 23, 2001

KATHMANDU: Exactly one month after Maoists resumed hostilities after failed peace talks on November 23, the army upgraded its action by launching search and destroy missions against rebel training camps and shelters in the hills and jungles nation-wide, the Defence Ministry said Sunday.

Army hit three such centers in Dolakha district, an official announcement said. Army previously conducted what it called search and cordon operations against rebels. One Maoist was killed and four policemen were injured in an exchange of gunfire with police after laying an ambush at Churjhari in Rukum overnight, police said.

Security forces arrested 32 suspects for questioning Saturday through the kingdom, the Defence Ministry said. Army recovered 16 hidden guns, explosives and equipment stolen from police in Darchula district Saturday, an official announcement said.

An army bomb disposal squad defused three bombs in Lalitpur overnight, officials said. Rebels Saturday night attacked the home of ruling party activist Laxmi Prasad Regmi at his home in Syangjha, torched a motorcycle and abducted his brother-in-law who managed to escape, local officials said.