'Disqualified' former combatants on warpath

A group of former Maoist combatants, who were discharged after being verified as 'disqualified' by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), has warned of agitation.

Organising a press conference in the capital Saturday, the disqualified former combatants demanded that the government removed the tag of 'disqualified' and immediately release their colleges who were arrested during protests in the past.

Lenin Bista, the coordinator of the former combatants, said they would launch indefinite general strike if the government did not meet the demands within two weeks.

4008 disqualified former combatants - most of them minors, were discharged from the cantonments in February 2010. While getting discharged, they were provided only the travel fares. nepalnews.com