Wednesday, May 11 2005 09:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: At least 37 maoists along with 4 security personnel were killed and 30 civilians injured in fierce fighting which erupted after rebels, using human shields, launched simultaneous attacks on three police posts in Nepal's Sirha district, officials at the Army Headquarters said yesterday (May 10, 2005).

Hundreds of rebels attacked police posts in Bandipur, Mirchaiya and Choharwa areas in the district, 350 kms South-east of Kathmandu bordering India, overnight.

More than 30 civilians were also injured in the cross firing as the maoists used human shields during their attacks at the police posts, the Army said.

Three policemen and a soldier were killed during the cross firing in Bandipur where security forces recovered the bodies of five more rebels. Earlier, they said 26 militants were gunned down by troops in Bandipur.

Five maoists were killed in Mirchaiya and one in Chorhawa, the Army said.

The rebels attacked the police post at 11:30 hrs (local time) in Monday (May 9, 2005) night and the gun battle continued till 05:00 hrs (local time) yesterday morning.

Five policemen were reported missing after the attacks, according to police sources.

The Mirchaiya police office building was also damaged in the maoist attack. Reinforcement have arrived in the area.

Security forces recovered a large cache of weapons including 2 Insas rifles, 1 Self-loaded rifle, 12 303 guns and 2 Chinese pistols from the site.

The fresh bloodletting coincided with the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca, the first high level visit from the country after the February 1 power grab.