Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 23:

Three civilians, one Maoist and a security personnel were killed in separate incidents in different parts of the country in the last 24 hours, reports said.

According to a report from Biratnagar, the Maoists shot dead Chetan Raj Bantawa, chairman of the Maoist Resistant Group of Chulachuli in Ilam district. Two motorcyclists shot Bantawa around 4 pm at Damak Municipality-4 in Jhapa. Maoists also looted one Chinese pistol and a mobile set. The RNA had distributed weapons to locals three months ago. The Maoists took responsibility for Bantawa murder.

A report from Phidim said Raj Kumar Rai, a resident of Aamchwok in Ilam, was killed by the Maoists. Rai was killed for his alleged involvement in a rape case. The Maoists have warned Chechen Bantwa of Chulachuli, Ram Kumar Rai of Imang, Bishal Rai of Lumde, Trilochan Regmi of Phuyetpa and Manswar Rai of Aamchwok VDCs to apologise in front of the locals. The Maoists have accused them of defaming them.

In Rupandehi, a group of Maoists shot dead Giriraj Aryal of Dudhraskha VDC-5 this morning. The deceased was the driver of a microbus (Na 2 Kha 7252), the Western Nepal Bus Entrepreneurs Association said. He was accused of spying for security forces against them at Seruwa and Bansgadi.

Our Dhangadhi correspondent said an RNA soldier of the joint patrol team was killed and four critically injured in an ambush at Hasuliya area of Kailali yesterday. The deceased has been identified as Buddhi Krishna Bada. Four injured in the ambush were police head constables Manoj Yadav and Prem Malla and armed police constables Keshar Bahadur Khatri and Laxmi Chaudhary, the security sources informed. They were taken to Seti Zonal Hospital after additional security forces reached the site late night.

A report from Chitwan said one Maoist was killed in security operation at Jutpani VDC this morning. According to the First Rifle Company, Bharatpur, Birendra Chhetri of Madhi Baghauda-4 was killed while he was trying to hurl a bomb at the security forces at Khairahani, Chitwan.