Himalayan News Service

Bara, April 30:

The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, in a press release issued today, has requested national and international human rights organisations to probe into the security forces action at Bhalu Khola, Bara, in which five unarmed Maoist cadres were shot and killed last night.

The Maoists have identified those killed as Ram Bahadur Syangtan Lama, Bir Bahadur Ghalan, Urmila Adhikary, Tika Nepal and Shanti Poudel.

While the Maoists said the slain cadres were not engaged in clash, security forces claimed today that the cadres were killed in an encounter. Meanwhile, a team of journalists and rights activists visited the spot today. According to INSEC representative Rudra Prasad Dhital, the bodies of the Maoists were covered with stones. He added that Maoists were blindfolded and shot. Some top-notch district-level Maoist leaders managed to flee, Dhital, quoting district member of the Tamang Liberation Front, Pashang, said.