Excerpt from

30 September 2002

All rights reserved to The Himalayan Times
Another airport tower goes down in blaze
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, September 29,
The Phaplu airport tower in Solukhumbu district was set ablaze by Maoists last evening.
Bal Bahadur KC, minister of culture, tourism and civil aviation, who visited the airport today, said about 10 ultras set on fire the communication equipment of the airport, destroying property worth around Rs 2.5 millon.
"They had grenades and weapons.They had apparently bought 20 litre of kerosene from Phaplu Bazar, which they poured on and destroyed communication equipment," the minister said.
According to him, the attack took place well after the airport had closed for the day and security personnel had left. An airport official had a VHF set that was being used to maintain communications.
The airport has been without telephone after the clash between the ultras and security forces on November 26, in which over 200 people were killed. The area has been without any permanent security arrangement since then.
In spite of the attack, the airstrip remained functional today. Regular flights operated throughout the day. "I myself flew by a regular flight," the minister said.
The airport is about half an hour's walk from Salleri, the district headquarters.
Meanwhile, security forces shot dead nine Maoists in different encounters, according to a defence ministry statement.
They shot dead Bhim Bahadur Bista alias ACM Bhukampa, Dhan Bahadur Rokaya alias Kshitij, Prem Lohar alias Bikal and Raja Bahadur Dadal alias Rajesh in the Martadi area in Bajura, the statement said.
Three terrorists including
Ram Sharan Shrestha alias Sharan were killed in the Kintanbeshi area of Dhading district and
two in the forest area between Hattikhola and Gerubari in Surkhet district.