December 30, 2001
KATHMANDU: Seven more Maoists were killed in separate encounters overnight and large caches of arms, ammunitions, explosives, communication equipment looted from the police were recovered from them, the Defence Ministry said Sunday.
One Maoist died on the spot and another succumbed to injuries while being rushed to hospital in a shootout at Thakuri village Kavre district, an official announcement said. The military commander of the area was among the killed, the announcement said.
Two died in another encounter at a village in Kailali district and another in Solokhumbu, the Defence Ministry said. One died in an ambush laid by security forces at another place in Solokhumbu and a rebel died in a firing while trying to escape, the Defence Ministry said.
Security forces recovered 62 guns in Kailali and another 53 in Darchula districts alone, the Defence Ministry said. Security forces arrested at least 23 Maoists and suspects for questioning.