At least 5 security personnel were killed and two others were injured in a landmine explosion in western terai district of Kapilvastu Friday.

According to the Royal Nepalese Army, Maoists insurgents caused the explosions targeting a vehicle carrying security personnel at Khairanpur area in the district, this morning.

The army said several Maoists cadres could have been killed during the clashes that followed ‘after the explosion of the improvised explosive device’.

The explosion took place during the district-wide shutdown strike called by the Maoist insurgents.