Himalayan News Service

Lahan, February 3

Altogether nine people — including an ex-lawmaker and two security personnel — were killed in separate incidents across the country in the past 24 hours, reports said.

Maoists shot former lawmaker of Siraha district, Hem Narayan Yadav, while he was heading towards the Dhangadhi market on his motorcycle to attend a meeting today. His body was found in Porta VDC of Dhanusha district. According to the police, he was shot in the forehead.

Issuing a press release today, the CPN-UML has condemned the killing of Yadav and called for strong action against the guilty.

Security forces shot and killed four Maoists in the districts of Dhanusha and Bardiya, reports reaching here said.

According to security sources, the forces shot two Maoists in Balapur and Rajapur VDCs of Bardiya yesterday.

The forces have recovered arms, ammunition and cash from the spot in Balapur. According to security sources, the forces shot two Maoists in Sonigama VDC-9 of Dhanusha.

In Nepalgunj, Maoists shot two security personnel -- Tularaj Hamal and Govinda Bahadur Rokaya -- in the Tribhuvan Chowk today. While Hamal died on the spot, Rokaya succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Bheri hospital.

The forces, upon being attacked by the Maoists, shot and killed two women Maoists, a report from Pokhara said.

The clash occurred in Gumba VDC-7, a security source said. The forces have recovered Maoist documents and explosives from the spot.