Govt forms team to probe King's car stone-pelting incident

Kathmandu, Feb 18 (UNI) The Nepal Home Ministry has formed a three-member team, headed by a Joint Secretary to probe the incident of stone-pelting at King Gyanendra's motorcade on the day of Mahashivaratri.

The team comprises Joint Secretary at the Home Ministry Pratap Kumar Pathak, Deputy Inspector General of Police Rabi Shrestha and Senior Superintendent at National Investigation Department Basanta Kumar Rai.

Some people pelted stones at the motorcade of the King while he was on his way to Pashupatinath temple on the occasion of Mahashivaratri on Friday. However, no one was injured in the incident.

King Gyanendra is stripped of all power in the new interim Constitution.

The ministry said the incident was ''unfortunate and could affect religious harmony.'' The team will submit its report within seven days.

The management committe of the Mahashivaratri festival has accused security agencies of responsibility for the incident.

The incident occured when the people, queued up for hours, were stopped from performing prayers for hours when the King went to the temple, the committe said.

UNI