Policemen missing after rebels raid town in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12 Kyodo

At least seven policemen have gone missing following an attack by Maoist rebels on a town in western Nepal, reports said Thursday.

The guerrillas carried out simultaneous attacks Wednesday evening on a number of government offices and security positions at Dhanagadhi, the reports said.

Government forces in the town fought back, with the firefight coming to an end by 10 p.m., according to the reports.

Following the rebel attack, as many as 20 policemen stationed at the local police ward were missing, said one report, which could not be independently confirmed.

The rebels also opened fire on a local army barrack, which was also repulsed, the reports said.

The Maoist guerrillas are fighting government security forces in a bid to topple Nepal's constitutional monarchy and set up a one-party communist republic.

The rebels ended their four-month unilateral cease-fire early this month.

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