Maoists combatant detain on charge of theft

Kathmandu, Sept 11 (UNI) Maoists combatant living in UN monitored camp in western Nepal has been arrested on the charge of theft, local media reports said here today.

Locals on Wednesday arrested Maoist combatant Binod Kumar Gaud on charge of theft, kantipur said quoting local security officials as saying.

"The locals nabbed him while Gaud was burgling the house of Ganga Pashi, his neighbour, in Jogada VDC of Rupandehi district", it said.

The accused, who was later handed over to police, admitted the crime during the interrogation.

He further confessed that he was involved in thefts in the past as well.

The document he possessed showed that he was on a five-day home leave from the Maoist cantonment at Sainamaina.

There are about 20,000 such Maoist combatants living in various camps under the monitor of the UN. Maoists want to integrate them into the Nepal army. However, the army and Nepali Congress have said only the competent suitable for the army can be recruited on individual basis.

UNI XC SY KN1249