M A I N   N E W S

Maoists kill 34 cops

The Nepalese police inspects an area of a bomb explosion in Kathmandu on Friday. Maoist guerrillas launched a string of attacks across Nepal, killing 37 persons after a state of emergency was extended, officials said on Friday. — Reuters photo

Kathmandu, February 22
Barely hours after the Nepal Parliament extended the state of emergency, Maoists unleashed a fresh wave of violence in Nepal, killing 44 persons, including 34 policemen, while losing eight of its men at the hands of the security forces.

Meanwhile, 27 suspected terrorists, including 12 from the capital, were arrested today during search operations even as a two-day strike called by the rebels evoked a mixed response.

Just hours after the emergency was extended, the rebels last night attacked a police post at Sitalpati, 260 km west of Kathmandu, killing 32 policemen and injuring seven, two of whom later succumbed to their injuries.

The policemen retaliated and the encounter continued till early morning, official sources said.

The Minister of State for Home, Mr Devendra Raj Kandel, said four Maoists were also killed in the attack. PTI