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