Kathmandu: A day after the Maoists unilaterally broke off the seven-month-old ceasefire with the government, the rebels shot dead a senior Army colonel and wounded another.

The rebels shot at the two at their respective residences, Defence officials said adding one of the officers was shot dead while he was cleaning his car at his residence in Purano Baneshwor in Kathmandu. His bodyguard was also injured.

"Colonel Krishna Basnet was washing his car when the incident occurred," they said.

In another incident, the rebels shot at and injured another Army colonel, Ramindra Chhetri, while he was driving near the British embassy.

Chhetri, who sustained a bullet injury in his hand, is being operated and his condition is out of danger, they said.

Army sources said Maoists were involved in the two separate incidents but no one has claimed responsibility so far for the shootouts.

Security has been beefed up in the capital following the incident.

PTI