Syangja, February 7:

A group of Maoists detonated a bomb at the house of Mahesh Kafle, the newly elected (unopposed) mayor of Waling municipality of Syangja district, last night.

His two-storied building was completely destroyed in the explosion.

The Maoists forced the family members out of the house before detonating the bomb. Kafle has been staying at the district headquarters under security control.

Meanwhile, the Maoists set off a powerful bomb at the security checkpoint on the Kalu Pande road in Dhadingbesi last night.

The blast completely destroyed the checkpoint while two nearby houses owned by Hari Shrestha and Ganga Kumar Shrestha were partially damaged. The forces this morning barred journalists and civilians from going to the spot citing security reasons. No casualties were reported.

Our Dhading correspondent said security forces and the Maoists exchanged bullets at Phachimtar of Jogimara last night.

The Maoists detonated a bomb at Thanto of Nalang VDC in mid-Dhading.