The investigation committee formed by the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) to probe the Rauteli Bichawa VDC incident in Kanchanpur district, where RNA personnel beaten over 150 villagers, recommended to the military court to take action against 13 soldiers, including a captain on Sunday.

A press statement issued by the far western divisional headquarter of RNA said the probe committee has recommended action against the soldiers of the Simhapur Post, who were responsible for the incident.

According to the RNA, these soldiers were deployed for the security of the Royal Shuklaphata Wildlife Reserve.

The soldiers recommended for punishment include a captain, a team head second lieutenant, 10 others including a Jamadar.

The recommendation was made after 72 hours of investigation by the probe committee headed by assistant brigade commander of the RNA’s number 25 Brigade in Mahendranagar, Ram Krishna Adhikari.

The statement further said the RNA provided additional relief materials to the 148 families who were manhandled by the RNA personnel.

Some amount spent on the relief assistance will be recovered from the culprits, the statement adds.

Two week ago, security personnel had summoned some 150 villagers to the army post after the Maoist rebels killed one of their men while on leave in the village.

The security men beaten up villagers accusing them of giving shelter to the rebels.

However the RNA statement said they were not beaten up seriously as publicized but manhandled after the villagers did not give information about the death of the soldier killed by the Maoists. nepalnews.com ia Apr 03 06