Former Maoist fighter caught with SLR bullets

23rd-04-2012

DHANGADHI/MAHENDRANAGAR: Three days after the Armed Police Force seized bullets and magazines used for modern weapons from Sugarkhal VDC in Kailali, APF team on Saturday night arrested Binod Nepali, a Maoist fighter heading home following his voluntary retirement, with six rounds of bullets of SLR from Krishnapur VDC in Kanchanpur.

Nepali was reined in while he was disturbing peace at a local shop under the influence. Kanchanpur SP Dilip Chaudhary said that bullets concealed in a bag were recovered. Later he was handed over to the District Police Office Kanchanpur. Nepali was a Maoist fighter stationed at Kailali’s Talband-based PLA Seventh Division. “During preliminary investigation, Nepali told police that he brought the bullets with the consent of his commander,” SP Chaudhary said. Kanchanpur police said that it had already begun an investigation into Nepali’s incident as it might have connection with Thursday’s incident.

SP Chaudhary said that it was not clear which commander gave Nepali the permission to take the bullets. Police suspect Binod might have brought the bullets with ulterior motive of indulging in some criminal activity.

Reacting to Nepali’s arrest, CPN-UML Seti zonal secretary Maheswor Pathak said that it had been proved that Maoists had recruited bogus fighters into their army. Those fighters choosing must have concealed the bullets and ammunitions, Pathak added. He correlated the recent incidents to Maoist hardliner Mohan Baidhya’s statement of “going for people’s revolt”.

Meanwhile Hari Gyawali, Maoist leader loyal to Baidhya, suspected that party chairman Prachanda might have asked the retiring fighters to hide bullets and weapons. “Maoist chairman should take responsibility for the seizure of huge cache of weapons and bullets,” Gyawali added. He, however, refuted the allegation that his faction had been concealing and collecting the weapons.

Nepali Congress Kailali former district president Govindaraj Joshi said that some criminal groups might have hidden the ammunitions. He said that such incidents may jeopardise the peace and constitution-making processes. Himal..