KATHMANDU: As violence continued to ravage south Nepal five days after the catalytic murder of a local don by unidentified assailants, Nepal's Maoists on Friday strongly denied any involvement in the ensuing arson, looting and killings, and said that most of the nearly 30 people killed were their supporters or cadre.

Though curfew remained clamped in sensitive villages in Kapilavastu district, the epicentre of the violence, and in neighbouring Dang and Rupandehi where the arson and looting spread, at least three more people died on Thursday after the rally in which they were taking part was attacked.

In its preliminary report on the Kapilavastu violence, that assumed the nature of riots targeting mosques, Nepal's National Human Rights Commission said it had verified the death of 21 people while the local media put the toll at 31.

Though the needle of suspicion first pointed towards the Maoists, their chief Prachanda issued a statement, saying his party had no hand in the riots. "Nearly two dozen of our supporters and dozens of innocent citizens were killed, the homes of hundreds were torched and thousands displaced in a premeditated terror attack," Prachanda said. "We take serious note of the attempt being made by some regressive elements to drag us into it directly or indirectly."