Kathmandu: In intensified violence following breakdown of peace talks between the Nepalese government and the Maoists, the rebels set on fire the ancestral house of Finance Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani in Nuwakot district.

The rebels chased away the security personnel guarding the house in Thansing village on August 28 midnight, hurled bombs at the 150-year-old building and set it afire, causing millions of Rupees worth of damage, Home Ministry sources said.

However, no one was injured in the incident, the sources said.

Three days ago, the Maoist guerrillas had exploded bombs at the house of former minister Asarfi Shah at Dhanusha district, destroying it completely.

In another incident, the rebels looted Rs 25 lakh from the branch office of a commercial bank in Chitawan district on August 29, Radio Nepal reported.

In Saptari district, two rebels were killed in a crossfire between the Maoists and security forces on August 28 night, official sources said.

On August 28, the rebels shot at two Army colonels in Kathmandu, killing one of them.

Meanwhile, the Maoists on August 29 announced a three-day nationwide general strike from September 18 to 20 to press their demands.

A statement by Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai said the strike was to press the government to create a national army by scrapping the Royal Nepal Army.

PTI