Kathmandu: Maoist rebels shot dead a member of King Gyanendra's advisory body and two policemen in Nepal, where security forces killed seven rebels in separate encounters.

A group of rebels killed Ganga Prasad Subedi, a member of the Rajparishad, an advisory body of the King, at his house at Harbura village development committee in Surkhet district on September 20, according to Radio Nepal.

The rebels also bombed the Mahendra Park at Taksar village development committee in Bhojpur district destroying the statue of late King Mahendra, father of King Gyanendra.

Continuing their attack on security forces, the rebels also shot dead two policemen at Chandrauta village in Kapilvastu district on September 20.

In a separate incident, villagers of Sarlahi district foiled an attempt by the Maoists to abduct a local resident, 'The Rising Nepal' daily.

Armed with guns and spears, hundreds of villagers cordoned off the rebels in a sugarcane field and the two sides exchanged fire.

A Maoist involved in the incident was later killed after the security forces were mobilised to hunt the rebels, the report said adding another rebel was killed at Rautahat district as his boat capsized while he was trying to escape.

Four Maoist militants were killed in an operation launched by security forces in the jungles between the Rumba and Kurumba VDCs of Panchthar district in far-east Nepal, the 'Rising Nepal' said.

Locals also handed over three Maoists involved in extortion to security forces at Gaidakot in Nawalparasi district.

PTI