Palpa, August 4:

Security personnel removed obstructions on the Siddhartha Highway this afternoon, reopening

it for traffic after three days of closure. The Maoists had blocked the highway by placing logs and piling stones. Meanwhile, the RNA’s brigade number 22 in Butwal and a unified security team from the Ranabam company continued a search operation for the Maoists in the Basantapur area of Dobhan. People of Dobhan-5 and Dobhan-3 are holed up in their houses as the Maoists have prevented them from moving out. The sounds of gunfire continued, locals said.