Army found infiltrating in demonstration

Kathmandu, Apr 11 (UNI) A day after Home Minister Kamal Thapa claimed to have found evidence of rebel infiltration in the parties' protests, Office of United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) officials have found army infiltration in seven-party demonstration in Kohalpur and Banke, media reports today said.

A team led by OHCHR-Nepalgunj chief Andrew Mc Gregor found a soldier with a grenade at a rally.

''The team saw dozens of plainclothes soldiers with explosives from nearby RNA base infiltrating the mass demonstration'' Kathmandu Post quoted Mr Gregor as saying.

When demonstrators informed the OHCHR team about this and identified the soldiers they suspected, the team asked for a search of their pockets and bags. A soldier immediately showed a grenade which he concealed in his pocket. Later however the soldier drifted away and mingled with the security personnel, Mr Gregor added.

Royal government on the other hand claimed that the Maoists infiltrated the political parties demonstration programme.

People of all walks of life have come to the streets defying the curfew for the last six days. Four persons have been shot dead by the army, dozens injured and more than 1000 have been arrested, according to the latest reports.

UNI XC ARB RS1446