Kathmandu, March 16 : Police head constable Man Bahadur Thapa and constable Ganesh Devkota  were killed an encounter which took place at the Bhigri Ilaka police office in  Pyuthan district at a round midnight last night when a terrorist group attacked the Ilaka police office, it is learnt from central police newsroom yesterday.

Eight policemen including a officer sustained injuries in the encounter between policemen and the terrorists.

Among the injured policemen, sub inspector Ram Prakash Paudel, assistant sub inspector Thakur Pant and head constable Chet Bahadur Pun have been brought to Kathmandu by helicopter for treatment.

Likewise, assistant sub inspector Dil Bahadur Chhetri and police constables Shyam G.C., Bodhi Lal Rana, Niranjan Shrestha and Kule Khatri are undergoing treatment in Nepalgunj.

The terrorists’ group also snatched away some weapons and communication equipment from the Ilaka police office.

According to the information received here, the same group of terrorists robbed cash and goods worth Rs 5.5 million from the Nepal Bank Limited branch office and set ablaze papers of the agricultural development office branch office.

About three hundred terrorists were involved in the incident. The terrorists fled after these incidents, it is learnt from the central police newsroom.

Meanwhile in Nepalgunj, inspector general of police Achyut Krishna Kharel paid tributes here Wednesday to two police personnel, Hawaldar Mana Bahadur Thapa and policeman Ganesh Prasad Devkota, who were killed in a Maoist attack at Bhigri Police office, Pyuthan district.

Senior superintendent Krishna Basnet, other police officers and personnel also paid their tributes to the deceased, while a police contingent presented a salute.

According to police, the two police personnel were killed and eight others injured in an exchange of fire between police and the maoist followeing the Maoist attack at the police post.

Talking to the press after the tribute-paying function, IGP Kharel said that police force was being mobilised according to necessity in Maoist-affected areas

“There is a provision to provide Rs 625,000 each to the families of police personnel killed while executing their duty and schooling upto S.L.C. to their children,” The IGP said.

Meanwhile in Charikot, Garjaundhanga secondary school is reported to have been closed indefinitely due to tension following a police action on suspicion of Maoist activities there.

Police patrol  is reported to have opened fire on Fagun 25 at suspected Maoists at the school and the ensuing tension led to the closure of the school, it is learnt.

The school teachers, parents and students who reached the district headquarters, charikot, to demand peace and security following the incident were too scared to resume classes, the school headmaster Ram Prasad Chimariya told a press meet.

Headmaster Chimariya said that a 30 member police team had entered the school and fired hundred of rounds of ammunition.

Earlier, two armed men who called themselves Maoists  had stayed there for five minutes and taken to their heels, shouting “Police, Police,” the headmaster said.

In that connection, deputy superintendent of the district police office Rajendra Man Shrestha said that when the armed men were sighted police asked them to come out, but as they resorted to firing at police, leading to exchange of fire.

Similarly in Dhanagadhi, a group of so-called Maoist raided the house of Rovinda Shrestha at Dhanasepur VDC, Kailali district recently and destroyed a motor-cycle and a television set, according to police.

The group that raided the house during Shrestha’s absence also took away with them a vcr deck.