E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, NOV 30 -

Ahead of the completion of the regrouping of ex-Maoist combatants, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, along with UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, visited Seventh Division of the Maoist army located in Kailali on Wednesday.

The delegation observed the regrouping process and monitored the work being carried out by the Special Committee Secretariat, according to Prime Minister’s personal aide Bishwodeep Pandey. Of the seven divisions, regrouping process completed in other six divisions on Tuesday.

The prime minister’s delegation includes CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Chairman Jay Prakash Prasad Gupta and Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire. “They have also informed me that they could visit another cantonment while returning from Kailali,” said coordinator of the Special Committee Secretariat Balananda Sharma.

Of the 3,321 combatants verified in Kailali, surveyors have completed regrouping of 2,588 combatants. According to team leader Gopal Singh Bohara, 1,361 combatants have shown interest in integration, 1,224 in voluntary retirement and three in rehabilitation package in the Talbanda-based cantonment.

“We will continue surveying the combatants’ interests till Thursday,” said Bohara. The Secretariat on Tuesday extended three more days for Seventh Division to complete the regrouping process.

Meanwhile, surveyors conducted regrouping of additional 235 combatants before wrapping up the process in Sixth Division located in Dashrathpur, Surkhet. Of the 2,934 combatants who attended the regrouping in Surkhet, 1,384 opted for voluntary retirement, while 1,550 chose integration, according to surveyor Abhaya Raj Joshi.

Sixth Division had earlier said it completed regrouping process on Monday but was yet to distribute identity cards to the combatants. “We carried out surveying today after the Maoist commanders presented additional 200 combatants for regrouping today,” said Deepak Prakash Bhatta, Secretariat member and leader of the survey team.

Surveyors in Rolpa, Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Surkhet are busy in printing identity cards, which they expect to end by Wednesday night. Those deployed in Ilam and Sindhuli are preparing to return on Wednesday.

“The government officials have torn down toilets and cut off power supply. We are living our last night in dark tents inside the First Division,” complained surveyor Milan Karki from Chulachuli over telephone. Leader of the surveying team Sambhu Ram Simkhada was not available to comment on it.

 

Posted on: 2011-11-30 09:20

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