In a serious escalation of violence overnight, a UML candidate has been killed in Surkhet and seven Maoists have been killed by the APF in Dang.

UML candidate from Surkhet constituency number one, Rishi Prasad Sharma, was killed while he was travelling from eastern Surkhet towards Chhinchu at 8pm on Tuesday night after a run in with NC supporters. He died on the way to hospital.

After the murder, UML cadre went on a rampage in Surkhet attacking government buildings and vandalizing ambulances. An overnight curfew is still inforce in Surkhet.

Dang\'s Satbaria had been tense all day Tuesday because of the presence there of former NC home minister, Khum Bahadur Khadga. Police told local radio that APF retaliated when Khadga\'s convoy came under fire from Maoists near Satbaria.

Both Surkhet and Dang were areas heavily affected by the conflict. An APF base was attacked by the Maoists in 2003 and 32 policemen killed. These are also districts where incumbent NC governments in the past have been involved in excesses in past elections.