Kathmandu: Continuing their offensive against the Maoists, Nepalese security forces killed around 50 rebels in an aerial raid in the country's West, security sources said today (March 24, 2004).

Joint teams of security forces last night carried out the helicopter raids on Maoists in Galkot, Burtiwang and Bohra villages of Baglung after a tip-off that rebels surviving last weekend's encounter in Beni Bazaar of Myagdi district were in the region.

Though only 25 bodies have been found so far, the sources said the toll would climb to 50 as all the bodies are yet to be traced.

In Myagdi, the Army had claimed that they killed 500 rebels. However, the rebels said that they had lost 40 men.

The Government has stepped up security in the district headquarters of Baglung district fearing attack on the pattern of that launched in Myagdi district.