Army chief directs regional heads to stay on high alert

Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal has issued circulars to heads of all six regional headquarters to stay on high alert in the wake of a complicated situation ensued by the recent political changes, Annapurna post daily reported.

The regional headquarters have been directed to keep special vigil of activities of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) cadres and the Maoist combatants staying in the cantonments, the report says quoting army sources. The regional headquarters will direct bodies under their jurisdiction accordingly.

The security situation of the country could become more challenging at a time when the Maoists have quit the government, mentions the circular.

Meanwhile, the army chief met with defense minister Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Sunday and urged her to take the proposals of promoting Major General Toran Jung Bahadur Singh to the post Lt General and Brigadier General BA Kumar Sharma to the post of Major General.

Minister Bhandari has put the promotion of Singh on hold, according to sources, while nothing has been learnt on the proposal to promote Sharma.

Major General Singh was accused of Human Rights violation when he was the chief of Bhairavnath battalion. nepalnews.com