US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1260

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, Maoist Insurgency 
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