 There has been a major battle between government troops and Maoist rebels in western Nepal. The army now says that 46 rebels, including two women, were known to have died in the bloodiest confrontation in Nepal for several weeks. Bloodshed in Nepal has continued, despite King Gyanendra's takeover of direct power a month ago, which he said would help contain violence. Four members of the security forces were also killed in the latest clash. The battle took place in the south-western district of Bardiya, a Maoist stronghold with extensive jungle cover. Local people told the BBC it happened on Monday evening when Maoists ambushed security forces who were removing a road blockade on a highway. They in turn were attacked by the army from both directions, resulting in heavy casualties. | Sounds like the army was expecting the attack and pulled a counter-ambush. |
Reporters at the scene saw 46 bodies. The army in the main western city of Nepal Ganj told the BBC that all the dead were Maoist rebels. The army source said the incident took place during a routine army patrol. He said there had also been several dozen wounded, as well as a number of security force casualties. He dismissed earlier reports by the army in Kathmandu that as many as 70 rebels had died. Asked why so many more rebels than government troops had been killed, he said it was because of army professionalism. Military headquarters said four more rebels and a policeman had died in a separate clash further west. The Maoists called off a road blockade at the weekend. However, reports of barricades still standing and of rebel burning of vehicles suggest that lower-level Maoists are not aware of the rebel leader's announcement last Saturday that the blockade was being lifted. |