Kathmandu: At least 13 Maoists were killed in separate encounters with security forces in Nepal, where the rebels continued their attacks killing five persons, including three police officers, Defence Ministry sources said on September 23.

Nine rebels were gunned down in a fierce fighting between the Maoists and the security forces in Kamalabari- Kalikhola area of Udayapur district in eastern Nepal, sate-run Radio Nepal reported quoting the sources.

Two rebels were killed in Morang district and one Maoist each killed in Nuwakot and Banke districts, the radio said quoting Defence Ministry sources.

Stepping up their attacks on security forces, suspected rebels on September 23 shot dead an assistant sub-inspector of police Hari Kumar Tamang as he was cleaning his motorbike in the heart of the city, a senior police official said.

Maoists also shot dead one policeman each in Deukhuri area of Dang district and Bhutanese refugees camp area at Khudunabari of Jhapa district.

The rebels also killed a Nepali Congress activist Nabav Rajbanshi in Biratnagar of Morang district and another Congress supporter Purushottam Mandal at Govindapur village of Dhanusha district.

In a separate incident, the rebels killed three civilians in Deukhuri area of Dang district.

PTI