At least 500 Maoist rebels were killed and 200 injured in western Nepal in what would be the bloodiest single clash since the revolt against the country’s constitutional monarchy began in 1996. The rebels attacked a district headquarters, freed some prisoners from a jail and looted a bank, the Army said today.Eleven soldiers and seven policemen also lost their lives in the gunfight that took place in Myagdi district, 450 km west of Kathmandu, Royal Nepal Army spokesman Col Deepak Gurung said at a press conference. ‘‘On the basis of what our people and witnesses saw, we believe 500 Maoists were killed and 200 others injured,’’ he said, adding the encounter lasted for 12 hours.This was the highest causality suffered by the Maoists in a single incident since the Army was mobilised in November 2001, Gurung claimed.Launching aerial attacks, the joint teams of security forces foiled an attempt by the Maoists to capture Benibazaar, the district headquarters of Myagdi district.The Maoists also carried away the bodies of their dead comrades while the fighting continued, Gurung said.The fighting started when the Maoists simultaneously attacked Kalidas Battalion post of the Army responsible for constructing roads in the district, Myagdi district administration office, district development committee and district police office last night, he said.Two soldiers and 16 policemen were also seriously injured. The whereabouts of chief district officer was not known and some policemen were also missing. The situation is fully under control, Gurung said. The telephone contact of the district was lost with the capital two hours after the fighting started. —(PTI)
