cullinane
7th December 2001, 19:58
KATHMANDU -- A Maoist rebel commander responsible for three Nepalese
provinces, Govardhan Gauli, was arrested by security personnel Tuesday,
a defence ministry statement said.
"Gauli, Maoist area army commander for three western districts, was
arrested by army security forces Tuesday," the statement said.
The statement also confirmed the deaths of at least 200 Maoist rebels in
clashes with army and the police at Salleri in Nepal's northeast last
week.
"Bodies of rebels without heads were recovered from different areas and
villages at Salleri," the statement said.
Two Maoists were killed Tuesday as Nepal's army continued its crackdown
on the rebel insurgency, the defence ministry earlier said.
One activist, identified as Vabadutta Pokhrel, was killed when the army
cordoned off an area in the western Gorkha district and found him.
The ministry said Pokhrel was a "terrorist" who was responsible for the
slaying of the chairman of Choprak village.
Another Maoist died after a clash with the army in the eastern
Sindhupalchok district.
The army was last week deployed for the first time against the Maoist
rebels, who broke a four-month ceasefire on November 24 by launching a
string of attacks on the army and police. Officials have said more than
430 people, most of them rebels, have since been killed.
provinces, Govardhan Gauli, was arrested by security personnel Tuesday,
a defence ministry statement said.
"Gauli, Maoist area army commander for three western districts, was
arrested by army security forces Tuesday," the statement said.
The statement also confirmed the deaths of at least 200 Maoist rebels in
clashes with army and the police at Salleri in Nepal's northeast last
week.
"Bodies of rebels without heads were recovered from different areas and
villages at Salleri," the statement said.
Two Maoists were killed Tuesday as Nepal's army continued its crackdown
on the rebel insurgency, the defence ministry earlier said.
One activist, identified as Vabadutta Pokhrel, was killed when the army
cordoned off an area in the western Gorkha district and found him.
The ministry said Pokhrel was a "terrorist" who was responsible for the
slaying of the chairman of Choprak village.
Another Maoist died after a clash with the army in the eastern
Sindhupalchok district.
The army was last week deployed for the first time against the Maoist
rebels, who broke a four-month ceasefire on November 24 by launching a
string of attacks on the army and police. Officials have said more than
430 people, most of them rebels, have since been killed.