A soldier and two civilians were killed near Salleri barrack in Dhankuta when explosives planted by the suspected Maoists inside a bus went off early in the Friday morning, radio reports said.
The soldier has been identified as Narendra Katwal, a resident of Sunsari. The two civilians killed in the explosion were Jiban Rai and Gopal Bhandari.
Four more civilians have been reported wounded in the incident. They are undergoing treatment at a Dharan hospital, the reports said.
The incident occurred when the security forces entered a passenger bus plated Pu 1 Kha 1391 for checking and tried to untie a stranded bag, which was full of explosives.
Likewise, Maoist rebels have shot a police constable Lalit Kunwar in Tikapur VDC, Kailali on Thursday. Kunwar was rushed to Nepalgunj for treatment.
Reports from Udaypur said security forces Thursday gunned down a Maoist in Rupatar VDC, Udaypur. The dead Maoist was a woman, named Rita Shrestha. Half a dozen Maoists were arrested in the same encounter, the reports added. nepalnews.com pd/rs Jan 16