BOZG
12th April 2002, 11:35
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2002Apr12.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36380-2002Apr12.html)
Rebels Kill 54 Policemen, Civilians
By Binaj Gurubacharya
Associated Press Writer
Friday, April 12, 2002; 4:10 AM
KATMANDU, Nepal –– Rebels fighting to abolish Nepal's monarchy staged two attacks, killing at least 54 policemen and civilians, including dozens of officers guarding the house of a government minister, officials said Friday.
Army reinforcements have been sent to Dang district, about 190 miles west of Katmandu, where the attacks took place Thursday night, said Devendra Raj Kadel, the junior internal security minister.
The fiercest attack took place in Satbariya village where 35 policemen guarding the house of Interior Security Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka were killed.
"Khadka was in Katmandu last night but he has gone to the area now, and so has (national) police chief Pradeep Sumshere Rana," Kadel said.
The police and the rebels exchanged gunfire for several hours but it is not known if any of the guerrillas were killed, officials at the police headquarters in Katmandu said on condition of anonymity.
Kadel said that in the nearby town of Lamahi the rebels raided a police station, killing 13 policemen and injuring 15. Almost simultaneously the guerrillas waylaid a bus on a highway and killed six civilians on board, Kadel said.
Police officials said the death toll from the attacks could be much higher.
A state of emergency was imposed on Nov. 26 by King Gyanendra after the rebels withdrew from peace talks, and the army was mobilized to help the police fight the guerrillas.
The rebels have fighting since 1996 to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist state. They draw their inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Tse-tung. More than 3,000 people have been killed in the insurgency.
© 2002 The Associated Press
Rebels Kill 54 Policemen, Civilians
By Binaj Gurubacharya
Associated Press Writer
Friday, April 12, 2002; 4:10 AM
KATMANDU, Nepal –– Rebels fighting to abolish Nepal's monarchy staged two attacks, killing at least 54 policemen and civilians, including dozens of officers guarding the house of a government minister, officials said Friday.
Army reinforcements have been sent to Dang district, about 190 miles west of Katmandu, where the attacks took place Thursday night, said Devendra Raj Kadel, the junior internal security minister.
The fiercest attack took place in Satbariya village where 35 policemen guarding the house of Interior Security Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka were killed.
"Khadka was in Katmandu last night but he has gone to the area now, and so has (national) police chief Pradeep Sumshere Rana," Kadel said.
The police and the rebels exchanged gunfire for several hours but it is not known if any of the guerrillas were killed, officials at the police headquarters in Katmandu said on condition of anonymity.
Kadel said that in the nearby town of Lamahi the rebels raided a police station, killing 13 policemen and injuring 15. Almost simultaneously the guerrillas waylaid a bus on a highway and killed six civilians on board, Kadel said.
Police officials said the death toll from the attacks could be much higher.
A state of emergency was imposed on Nov. 26 by King Gyanendra after the rebels withdrew from peace talks, and the army was mobilized to help the police fight the guerrillas.
The rebels have fighting since 1996 to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist state. They draw their inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Tse-tung. More than 3,000 people have been killed in the insurgency.
© 2002 The Associated Press