Thursday, February 10 2005 16:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: In the first major strike by Maoists after the royal takeover, the rebels attacked a prison in western Nepal, killing five security personnel and taking away 166 inmates, including some of their cadres.

The armed Maoists attacked the district jail in Kailali, 600 km west of Kathmandu late last night (Feb 9, 2005) and took away 166 prisoners, including some of their own cadres, State-run Nepal Television said.

Five security personnel were killed and four injured in the two-hour exchange of fire that took place during the attack, it said, adding the body of one rebel was also recovered from the site.

However, the Kailali District Administration Office was quoted as saying that the rebels might also have suffered heavy loss.

A large number of security forces were mobilised to search for the culprits after the incident.