Nepalese, Indian Maoists join forces? - Nepal Maoists could hijack Indian plane

Kathmandu, Nepal's rebels may be teaming up with Maoist guerrillas in the Indian state of Bihar for joint attacks on security forces.

The People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) says it is a joint force comprising Maoists from Nepal and the outlawed Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) of Bihar.

The outfit was reportedly behind the attack on an Indian police post Tuesday night.

Around 250 to 300 people attacked the Simraini police picket in Bagaha district, about 8-10 metres from the India-Nepal border, around midnight, heavily outnumbering the 13 policemen posted there at that time.

The attackers, using loudspeakers, described themselves as members of the PLGA, and raised slogans like "MCC Zindabad", "Nepal Maobadi zindabad", Indian security sources told IANS.

The sources, quoting the police superintendent of Bagaha, said the attackers included a large number of women.

The women had Mongoloid features and spoke with a strong Nepalese accent. The raiders looted seven self-loading rifles, five 303 rifles, two carbines, one wireless set, and a large quantity of ammunition and dynamited the post before leaving.

"It is definitely a matter of concern for both India and Nepal," the source said.

Though Nepal's Maoists are known to have received arms training from the MCC and another outlawed Indian militant group, the People's War of southern Andhra Pradesh state, on Indian as well as Nepalese soil, the Simraini attack seems the first reported instance of a joint operation by the outlaws of both countries.

This week, in an interview on the state-run Nepal Television channel, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shyam Saran had said the Maoists were a security threat to India as well as Nepal.

Nepal Maoists could hijack Indian plane

Kathmandu, A Nepal daily has raised the fear that Maoist guerrillas might try to hijack Indian Airlines aircraft to secure the release of their leaders in India.

The Himalayan Times daily, quoting "security sources", Friday said the Maoists had deployed about 450 guerrillas to carry out combat activities as well as to monitor the movements of senior security personnel.

The Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, according to a "threat analysis" by the Nepalese Army, was "vulnerable" to Maoist attacks, the report said.

These could take the form of suicide car bomb blasts within the airport or attempts to hijack international aircraft.

Keeping in mind the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in 1999, the report said security officials "assume" that the insurgents could follow suit to try to free their leaders arrested in India.

Nirbhik Narang, head of Indian Airlines' Kathmandu office, said the airline was taking all possible safety measures to prevent untoward incidents.

"We have been in touch with the Indian embassy, police and airport authorities," Narang told IANS.

"All anti-sabotage and anti-hijack measures are being taken."

The news report came at a time when three Indian airlines are offering flights to Kathmandu.

Besides national carrier Indian Airlines, private operator Jet Airways launched its Kathmandu flights in May and another private player, Air Sahara, is expected to begin operations from September.

Facing stiff competition at home, Indian Airlines announced a new scheme of discounted fares starting Friday. The promotional scheme, valid till Jan 15, 2005, is meant for flights connecting Kathmandu to 19 Indian metros via New Delhi and Kolkata.

Open to citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan, the scheme also offers a stopover facility.

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