Nepal Maoists kill 19 soldiers

At least 19 security personnel and six Maoists were killed in a fierce gunbattle in mid-western Nepal Wednesday, state media said quoting security sources.

Maoists ambushed a joint patrol at Sipkhola area in Mathura Danda village of Arghakachi district, 450 km west of Kathmandu, state-run Nepal Television reported.

The firefight started at 8

am and continued for several hours.

At least six Maoists rebels died when the security forces retaliated, and reinforcements have been rushed to the area for a cordon and search operation.

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