- Title: NEPAL: FIVE POLICEMEN KILLED AFTER MAOIST REBELS ATTACK A POLICE POST IN SANKHU
- Date: 18th December 2004
- Summary: (EU) SANKHU, NEPAL (DECEMBER 18, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIIDE VIEW OF THE HOUSE 0.04 2. SECURITY OFFICER HOLDING GUN 0.06 3. VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN IN TRUCKS (2 SHOTS) 0.11 4. VARIOUS OF POLICE MEN WALKING THE AREA, CARRYING KITBAGS (2 SHOTS) 0.21 5. SCU: BLOODSTAINS AT THE SITE 0.23 6. MEN SITTING IN ROOM 0.26 7.
- Embargoed: 2nd January 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SANKHU, NEPAL
- Country: Nepal
- Reuters ID: LVA26LE08ENX8O0WCHNZ7BQJGEJB
- Story Text: Five policemen killed in Nepal rebel attack.
Maoist rebels attacked a police post near Nepal's
capital with crude bombs and automatic weapons on Saturday
(December 18), killing five policemen, police said.
"The gunfighting lasted for a short period killing four
policemen and one inspector," said senior superintendent
Narayan Bastakoti.
The attack at Sankhu village, 20 km from Kathmandu,
was the biggest assault by rebels so close to the capital
since they launched a revolt in 1996 aiming to topple the
constitutional monarchy.
At least 55 people have been killed in Nepal in the
last week in fighting between government troops and
insurgents who want to establish communist rule in one of
the world's poorest countries.
Residents of the ancient village said rebels told
people to shut shops and close their windows before they
stormed the police post.
Security forces said reinforcements had been sent to
the area and a search was under way for the attackers who
fled into nearby jungles after the attack.
"They were large in number," said Senior
Superintendent of police Narayan Bastakoti.
"We have sent the wounded to the hospital and we
arrived here walking from Kathmandu," he added.
Violence has increased in Nepal in the run-up to a
January 13 deadline set by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur
Deuba for rebels to join peace talks on ending the revolt
that has killed more than 10,000 people. The rebels
rejected the deadline.
The rebellion has wrecked Nepal's economy, which
depends on tourism and aid, and has triggered a political
crisis and forced thousands of villagers to flee their
homes.
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