KATMANDU, Nepal, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Nepali forces killed at least 23 Maoist rebels in a second day of fierce fighting Thursday, after rebels attacked an army patrol and a communications tower.
At least 17 rebels were killed in a retaliatory attack by security forces at Naumule village in the Dailekh district, some 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Katmandu, following the deaths of 20 soldiers in a rebel attack Wednesday.
Acting on a tip that central rebel leaders were holding a meeting in the village, security forces raided the area Wednesday afternoon, coming under attack from over 300 rebels armed with sophisticated weapons, the Katmandu-based Kantipur Online said.
The soldiers, backed by helicopter attacks, overpowered the rebels Thursday afternoon. Five women were among the rebel dead, the report said. A huge cache of explosives was found at the site. Two soldiers were injured.
In another incident, at least six Maoist rebels were killed after attacking a communications tower in the Lamjung district, 150 kilometers (90 miles) west of Katmandu. Four soldiers were seriously injured.
