10 killed, over 1000 abducted by Maoists

At least 10 people were killed and 1,000 villagers were abducted in western Nepal in clashes between Maoist and security forces.

At least 10 people were killed and four were injured in a clash between Maoist rebels and security forces in Nepal Thursday as media reports said the guerrillas had abducted over 1,000 villagers in the western part of the kingdom.

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Eight Maoist rebels and two security personnel were killed in the clash in Pahalmanpur area of Kailali district Thursday morning, officials said. Four security personnel were injured in the skirmish.

The fighting continued till Thursday evening, state-run Radio Nepal quoted security officials as saying.

The clash broke out after Maoists attacked security forces patrolling the area. The death toll among the Maoists could be higher, the officials said. The security forces also used helicopters to attack the rebels and additional forces were being sent.

Meanwhile, media reports said Maoists had abducted over 1,000 members of various village development committees in Kailali district in the far western region Wednesday.

An armed group of Maoists took the villagers, a majority of them youths, to an unknown destination, Kantipur Radio reported, quoting local officials.

Security forces have intensified their campaign against the rebels since the breakdown of a ceasefire and peace talks in August last year.

The rebels have been waging a violent campaign to establish a Communist republic in the kingdom since 1996. The insurgency has claimed over 9,500 lives.