Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02KATHMANDU529
2002-03-13 11:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
MAOISTS AMBUSH VIP SECURITY DETAIL ON MAJOR
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000529
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC PHUM PREL PINR NP
SUBJECT: MAOISTS AMBUSH VIP SECURITY DETAIL ON MAJOR
HIGHWAY
REF: KATHMANDU 509
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000529
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC PHUM PREL PINR NEPAL'>NP
SUBJECT: MAOISTS AMBUSH VIP SECURITY DETAIL ON MAJOR
HIGHWAY
REF: KATHMANDU 509
1. (SBU) Maoists ambushed a police security team in
Sindupalchowk district March 13, killing six officers and
seriously injuring six others, police sources confirmed.
Press reports state that the insurgents electronically
detonated explosives laid in the road. The attack
occurred on the Arniko Highway - the main route to the
Tibet border - about 55 kilometers east of Kathmandu. The
22-member police team was on its way to meet and escort
Parliament Speaker Taranath Ranabhat and State Minister
for Health Mohan Basnet, who were to travel from the
capital to a program at a high school in Bahrabise. The
two cancelled their trip on learning of the ambush.
2. (SBU) This is the second attack in four days on police
detailed to guard high-ranking NEPALese officials. The
detail attacked March 9 (Reftel) had just completed a VIP
security assignment.
3. (SBU) Comment: The insurgents' recent guerrilla
actions are becoming both more frequent and more daring.
Both the March 9 and 13 ambushes took place in broad
daylight. In each case, however, the police appear to
have been targets of opportunity; the VIPs were not in the
area at the time. Maoists have attacked high-level
government figures in the past; a February 3, 2001 attack
on the Chief Justice's convoy killed six. End Comment.
MALINOWSKI
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER ASEC PHUM PREL PINR NEPAL'>NP
SUBJECT: MAOISTS AMBUSH VIP SECURITY DETAIL ON MAJOR
HIGHWAY
REF: KATHMANDU 509
1. (SBU) Maoists ambushed a police security team in
Sindupalchowk district March 13, killing six officers and
seriously injuring six others, police sources confirmed.
Press reports state that the insurgents electronically
detonated explosives laid in the road. The attack
occurred on the Arniko Highway - the main route to the
Tibet border - about 55 kilometers east of Kathmandu. The
22-member police team was on its way to meet and escort
Parliament Speaker Taranath Ranabhat and State Minister
for Health Mohan Basnet, who were to travel from the
capital to a program at a high school in Bahrabise. The
two cancelled their trip on learning of the ambush.
2. (SBU) This is the second attack in four days on police
detailed to guard high-ranking NEPALese officials. The
detail attacked March 9 (Reftel) had just completed a VIP
security assignment.
3. (SBU) Comment: The insurgents' recent guerrilla
actions are becoming both more frequent and more daring.
Both the March 9 and 13 ambushes took place in broad
daylight. In each case, however, the police appear to
have been targets of opportunity; the VIPs were not in the
area at the time. Maoists have attacked high-level
government figures in the past; a February 3, 2001 attack
on the Chief Justice's convoy killed six. End Comment.
MALINOWSKI