Maoist cantonments, arms come under Nepal Army control

In a major step in the ongoing peace process in Nepal, the cantonments and arms of former Maoist combatants came under control of Nepal Army from today. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Apr 10, 2012, 18:57:30 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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In a major step in the ongoing peace process in Nepal, the cantonments and arms of former Maoist combatants came under control of Nepal Army from Tuesday.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the Special Committee for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the former Peoples’ Liberation Army personnel.

Leaders of the three main parties Maoists, Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and Madhesi-parties in government decided to hand over all 15 cantonments to NA.

According to SC coordinator Balananda Sharma, NA officials are on the way to the cantonments to take charge of the around 3000 arms and Maoist combatants residing there.

The decision was taken following controversies regarding the integration move that led to skirmishes in some cantonments on Monday.

An earlier deal among the major parties had stipulated that 6,500 PLA personnel would be integrated into NA. But problem arose after over 9700 opted to join the army.

Now NA will undertake fresh survey among the remaining PLA personnel and give them another choice to either opt for voluntary retirement or rehabilitation based on eligibility.

Following the peace deal in 2006, over 19,000 PLA combatants had been staying in 28 cantonments across Nepal where their arms were also kept first under UN supervision and later under control of the SC.

In November last year, following a deal among parties, the process to regroup them started. Those who opted for retirement and rehabilitation were given monetary benefits and made to leave.

Those who opted for integration in the army stayed back. The number of cantonments was also brought down to 15 from the earlier 28.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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