Bodies of 23 security personnel killed in a Maoist attack near Puwakhola on the Mechi Highway in the eastern district of Ilam Wednesday have been found by Thursday evening while 22 security men are still out of contact. The area is 10 km northeast of the district headquarters, Ilam Bazaar.
Latest media reports said that 23 dead bodies -17 army men and six policemen - were found at the incident site while five injured security men have been undergoing treatment in Dharan. 22 security men who had gone missing after the incident arrived at the District Police Office this morning.
Army Captain Upendra Ranabhat is one of the killed. There were altogether 72 security men fighting with hundreds of rebels for nearly three hours.
Quoting a Maoist brigade commissar, Parwana, reports said no security men were in Maoist captivity.
Six Maoists have been confirmed dead in the clash. Quoting eyewitnesses, reports said that the rebels took away at least four bodies with them while two bodies were found buried nearby the incident site. However, the actual casualty on the Maoist side is not known.
Human rights activists who visited the area this afternoon said they saw dozens of socket bombs and bullets strewn around the site, reports said. Following the clash, schools have been closed down while fear-stricken villagers have not dared to come out of their homes.
The Maoists had launched a sudden attack on security forces en route to Puwakhoka to clear the barriers laid (by the rebels) on the highway since last three days.
Search operation continues in and around Puwakhola. nepalnews.com mbk Jan 20 05
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Tuesday, January 25, 2005
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