December 05, 2002

KATHMANDU: At least four Maoists have been killed in encounters following a rebel raid on Lahan 150 kms southeast of the capital Wednesday night at 11 PM, official sources said.

Bodies of two rebels have been recovered so far around the town while the army shot dead two insurgents in an encounter, the source said. It was not known how much money the Maoists robbed from the the Rashtriya Banijya Bank and the Nepal Bank Ltd.

The army is pursuing the insurgents in the nearby Chure forest. The rebels attacked Jumla in their last major offensive in November.