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| RAN-37, the army helicopter that crashed in Malangwa on Wednesday night photographed in 2004 in Myagdi. |
An RNA MI-17 helicopter with ten soldiers on board that had flown out from Kathmandu to repel a Maoist attack on the Sarlahi capital of Malangwa on Wednesday night has crash-landed in school compound.
An army press release said the helicopter was on a tactical mission and had crashed at Kholachaur, 2 km east of Malangwa and added the cause of the crash was being investigated.
But eye-witnesses confirmed the helicopter with call sign RAN-37 was down, and ten people on board were killed. A local Maoist told reporters it had been brought down with anti-aircraft fire. If true, this would be the first time in the ten year war that a chopper has been shot down even though helicopters have in the past been damaged by ground fire.
The Maoist began their attack at 9PM on Wednesday night and simultaneously attacked the district police office and the army base. The attacks were repulsed, but the Maoists set fire to several government offices including the tax department and district development office. The CDO of Sarlahi has reportedly been captured and several dozen prisoners at the district jail freed.
But eye-witnesses confirmed the helicopter with call sign RAN-37 was down, and ten people on board were killed. A local Maoist told reporters it had been brought down with anti-aircraft fire. If true, this would be the first time in the ten year war that a chopper has been shot down even though helicopters have in the past been damaged by ground fire.
The Maoist began their attack at 9PM on Wednesday night and simultaneously attacked the district police office and the army base. The attacks were repulsed, but the Maoists set fire to several government offices including the tax department and district development office. The CDO of Sarlahi has reportedly been captured and several dozen prisoners at the district jail freed.
Meanwhile, police in Sarlahi have confirmed that at least 10 persons have died in the overnight Maoist attack and the resistance by security personnel. Of the 10 dead, five are policemen, three rebels and two civilians. Several government offices have been destroyed during the attack.
The rebels have intensified violent activities in other parts of the country while they have announced temporary ceasefire in Kathmandu valley. The truce is aimed at facilitating anti-king protests by opposition parties who have
called a four-day shut down strike across the country beginning Thursday. Normal life has been crippled by the strike and scores of demonstrators have already been arrested by the police on Thursday morning.
