Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 22, 2004
Over 500 guerrillas killed in western Nepal
More than 500 anti-government guerrillas were killed and over 200 wounded early Sunday morning in western Nepal, spokesman of the Royal Nepal Army said here Sunday evening.
More than 500 anti-government guerrillas were killed and over 200 wounded early Sunday morning in western Nepal, spokesman of the Royal Nepal Army said here Sunday evening.
"According to our preliminary information, at least 500 rebels were killed and 200 wounded in the joint action of the security forces when the insurgents tried to capture Beni, the district headquarters of Myagdi last night," spokesman Colonel Dipak Gurungtold reporters.
The fighting erupted at around 10:00 p.m. local time (1615 GMT)Saturday when the guerrillas attacked the district police office, army barrack, prison, district administration office and other offices in Beni of Myagdi district, 300 km west of Kathmandu, Gurung said.
The fierce fighting ended at 7:30 a.m. local time Sunday after the army sent night- vision helicopters from the capital to attackthe guerrillas, he said.
Meanwhile, 18 security personnel, including 11 soldiers and seven policemen were killed in the fighting, he noted, adding thatthe death toll on the guerrillas' side could be more.
"Now the situation of the district is normal and under the control of the security forces," he added.
This is the largest casualties suffered by the guerrillas in a single fighting since the anti-government insurgency broke out in the Himalayan kingdom in early 1996, which has claimed nearly 10,000 Nepalese people's lives so far.