KATHMANDU, March 6: Hundreds of Maoist rebels raided a town in eastern Nepal, bombing government buildings and freeing dozens of prisoners from a local jail, officials said on Monday.

At least eight people — three Maoists, two civilians, two policemen and a soldier — were killed in the overnight attack in Ilam, a tea-growing area bordering India, about 600km east of Kathmandu, they said.

The guerillas, who specialise in hit-and-run attacks, drove into Ilam in buses and trucks, attacking government buildings and shooting at security posts, residents said.

“The Maoists also stormed the local jail and freed more than 100 prisoners including some Maoists,” a police officer said.

—Reuters