NEPAL: MAOISTS KILL 12 POLICE, 1 CIVILIAN NEAR

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001260 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SA/INS LONDON FOR POL-GURNEY NSC FOR MILLARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS KILL 12 POLICE, 1 CIVILIAN NEAR BIRGUNJ REFERENCE: A) Kathmandu 1095 ¶1. According to Nepal Police sources, at about 3:30 am local time on July 5, Maoist insurgents detonated a landmine along Padam Road, 10 km west of Birgunj in Parsa district. The explosion was timed to damage a pick-up truck carrying 12 Nepal police personnel and a civilian. All 13 were killed by the impact of the explosion. According to local newspapers, the 12 policemen were part of a regional police unit and the civilian was a police informant. The group was allegedly traveling together as part of an unrelated criminal investigation. According to media reporting on the attack, a local Maoist district secretary identified only as "Jamin" claimed responsibility for the attack. ¶2. COMMENT: Landmine attacks on army and police patrols are becoming more and more commonplace, and appear to constitute a preferred method of engagement for the Maoists. Thus far in the insurgency, more than 1,300 police have been killed in Maoist-directed violence. END COMMENT. MORIARTY