December 23, 2001

KATHMANDU: Maoists shot dead police constable Dip Narayan Chaudhary at Maunapokhari in Bardia Friday, police said. Chaudhary died en route to hospital for treatment. An injured rebel also died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Tikapur hospital last week, police said.

Insurgents hacked to death with a khukri an activist of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party at Phaktakila village in Sindhuli district Friday night, locals said. Maoists broke a four month truce to broker a peace with the government on November 23 and resumed hostilities.

Security  forces immediately launched a nation-wide search and cordon operation to quell the violence as a national  emergency was declared.