The Nepal Army has taken action against six soldiers of the Rudra Dhoj Battalion, accusing them of fleeing during encounters with the Maoists in Kavre district.

Talking to Nepalnews on Monday, Major Ashok Gurung at the Directorate of Public Relation (DPR) of the Nepali Army said the No 9 Brigade of the Nepal Army at Bhakunde charged the six soldiers of cowardice. The security personnel had run away and remained out of contact until the following day after clashes with the Maoists in Kavre Bhanjyang on February 27.

The promotion of Captain Purussottam Aryal has been withheld for four years and payment increment of Bari Prasad Baral and five other soldiers has been withheld for two years. They were also given three months and 15 days of imprisonment. Indra Kumar Shrestha was demoted one position and also given prison sentence of three months and 15 days. They have been declared unfit for any kind of military jobs but fit for other government services.

The army had taken 13 security personnel into custody soon after they came into contact with the barrack.

The other soldiers facing charges are Suraj Neupane of Ratna Nagar-11 of Chitwan, Shambhu Thapa of Chyaling of Gorkha and Rajan Khadka of Jharuwarashi-2 of Lalitpur. The military court has handed six months of imprisonment and expelled from military service. Similarly, Manoj Bista of Bindabasini-44 of Dailekh and Jash Raj Rai of Durchim-4 of Khotang were expelled and given nine months of imprisonment.

The soldiers, who have already passed four months of custody, have been taken to Dhulikhel prison for remaining duration of imprisonment. A letter sent to District Administration Office states that the punishment was announced as per the Army Act 2016 by the Samari General military court led by chief of the Bhakunde Brigade Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana.

Three security personnel were killed when the Maoists attacked the patrolling security team from Dhulikhel barrack at Kavre Bhanjyang, three kms away from the barrack. Two civilians and one army man were injured in the incident. The army had said that it incurred more losses due to the Maoists using civilians as shields during the encounter.