At least one security person and a Maoist cadre were killed in separate clashes between the security forces and the rebels in Palpa and Nuwakot districts on Tuesday.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a security person was killed in a gunbattle with armed Maoist rebels at Panena area of Palpa district this afternoon. Over a dozen Maoists are known to have been killed in the heavy fighting that lasted for hours, a MoD statement said.
Security forces have been deployed in the area in search of the Maoists, it added.
Similarly a Maoist area in-charge was killed during a security operation at Betani area of Nuwakot district this afternoon. Parwati Poudel, an area in-charge, died on the spot in the security action, according to the ministry.
Meanwhile, security forces seized huge quantity of explosives and materials used in detonating bombs near Sunauli, a bordering town in Rupandehi district, on Tuesday.
2500-kg gelatine, 450-kg Emulsion Explosives Class-2, 7500-meter safety fuse, 29,500 detonators (No. 27) and 10,200 (No. 33) electric detonators, which were being brought to Nepal in a Tata truck with Indian number plate Kh 11 A 9822, were seized by the security forces, the MoD statement said.
Today’s haul was one of the biggest in recent times.