Voluntarily retiring Maoist combatants have complained that their commanders have been forcing them to pay at least half of the amount from their retirement pay cheques in some cantonments.

Nepali Congress and UML leaders have also raised this issue during the three-party meeting in Singa Durbar on Sunday.

After the meeting Nepali Congress leader Ram Saran Mahat said that the Army Integration Special Committee has received complaints of seizure of cheques from the PLA fighters being discharged from the PLA cantonments in Nawalparasi and Surkhet.

Mahat also said that such incidents have been already reported to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and that the latter has promised see to the matter.

Similarly, the PLA leadership also pledged to investigate the alleged seizure of cheques by the commanders in some cantonment sites.

The Maoist leaders including PM Bhattarai, PLA chief Nanda Kishor Pun, Finance Minister Barshaman Pun and former deputy commander Janardan Sharma met Sunday evening to discuss the allegations.

Following the meeting, Nanda Kishor Pun said that seized cheuques, if any, will be retuned to the concerned combatants. nepalnews.com