At least 32 Maoist insurgents and four security personnel were killed in clashes that followed Maoist attacks late Monday night in south-central Nepal, sources in the Nepalese army said Tuesday. According to the sources, the Maoists in large numbers attacked a number of security bases in Siraha district, about 160 kilometres southeast of the capital, around 11 p.m. local time Monday night. The sources said the Maoists erected roadblocks at various places before launching the attacks to prevent reinforcements from reaching the site. However, helicopters fitted with night vision facilities were used to ferry troops to the affected areas. According to the army sources, the Maoists launched their attacks at three different locations to divert attention from the main attack at Bandipur of Siraha district. The sources said the bodies of 26 Maoists were recovered from the clash site at Bandipur. Five bodies were recovered from the Mirchaiya area and one from the Chorhawa area, the other two nearby places where the Maoists launched the attacks. According to the army sources, three policemen and a soldier were also killed in the Maoist attacks. As the search operations were still continuing, the Maoist death toll was expected to rise.
