Nepal Govt says not moving to stop Maoist protests

The Govt said the deployment was not intended to check Maoist demonstration but to control crime and ensure peace and security.

The Nepal government has said it is not mobilising security forces in the capital city to thwart street protests by Maoists demanding to know the whereabouts of missing detainees and against pressure on them to lay down arms.

HT Image

Following the threats by the Maoists to launch massive agitation, the government had recently stepped up security arrangements in the capital by deploying riot police and paramilitary forces.

But Home Minister Krishna Sitoula said the deployment was not intended to check Maoist demonstration but to control crime and ensure peace and security.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said the Maoists should not hinder the ongoing peace process by putting forward new terms and conditions before forming an interim government and going for constituent assembly polls.

"At a time when the nation has to go ahead by forming an interim government and forge mutual understanding, Maoists are trying to derail the peace process by raising the issues of disappeared people and arms management," Nepal said while addressing party leaders and cadres on Tuesday.

The Maoist combatants should be ready to stay inside cantonments after verifying and registration process under UN supervision as per the past agreements, he said.