The Home Ministry Sunday formed a four-member committee to investigate the Maoist storming of a jail in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur district on Saturday night in which at least 20 inmates including some Maoist detainees had escaped.

The rebels had carried out explosions at the jail last night, successfully freeing some of their detained comrades.

The investigation team headed by Narayan Gopal Malego, joint secretary at the Home Ministry has been given seven days to submit a report. Sources said the probe committee would mainly see if the jail officials assisted the Maoists in the jailbreak attempt. nepalnews.com mbk Sept 12 04