The task of handing over account payee cheques equivalent to Rs 1.97 billion to former Maoist combatants choosing voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) concluded on Saturday.

According to the Special Committee for the supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the former Maoist fighters, of the 7,365 former combatants opting for VRS, 7,200 have received the cheques in all the seven camps and satellite camps.

Committee coordinator Balananda Sharma said the task of handing over cheques to retiring combatants in all the PLA camps has completed. He said those fighters who were left out during the first phase of cheque distribution have been asked to contact the Secretariat in Kathmandu for their cheques.

It must be noted here that amid reports that pay cheques are being snatched from the retiring combatants by the commanders of the Maoist army to force the former to share money with the party, the Committee directed government banks to make payments of the account payee cheques given to Maoist combatants opting for VRS only if they appear in person with their identity cards

The process of discharging 7,365 Maoist combatants who opted for VRS during the recent regrouping process began on February 2.

Each former rebel choosing VRS is to receive up to Rs 900,000 including additional travel expenses.

However, initially retiring combatants only got half the amount they are entitled to get under the scheme. The ex-rebels will get the remaining amount in the next fiscal year.

With the cheque distribution completed, the former rebels will now have to leave the cantonments by February 12. nepalnews.com