The death toll is rising. According to the human rights organisation INSEC 2,883 Nepalis have died in clashes between security forces and the Maoists during the country's six-month emergency. INSEC says 2,305 Maoist leaders and cadres have been killed by the security forces while 578 other Nepalis have been killed by the Maoists. The breakdown reads like this: 106 soldiers, 291 policemen, 54 political activists, 15 teachers, six students, six civil servants, and 100 civilians. The Maoists read the numbers a little differently. They claim that the government has killed 2,210 Maoists, four students, three teachers, five civil servants, and 83 members of the general public.

In the past six months the insurgents have destroyed Rs 14 billion worth of public property, including 670 VDC offices, 240 post offices, both small and big hydro-power projects, telephone stations, universities and schools. Since the imposition of the emergency, 70 districts have been affected by murder and violence, and 7,000 people have been taken into custody. Following investigations, 5,500 people have been released. Of the journalists arrested, 94 have been released, and 22 remain in custody.