Maoists have an “involvement” in the ongoing protests of students, who, of late, have been pressing for a “republican” set-up, the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) claimed in a press meet on Thursday.

“It’s true that the Maoists are also involved in the protests,” RNA spokesperson Col. Deepak Gurung told journalists during the regular press meet organised at the RNA headquarters.

The RNA spokesman, however, refused to give more details of the “information”, which he said, his department has.

Fielding a query as to why protesters, if they were really Maoists, are released after short custodies, Gurung said, “The civil administration can give better answer to it.”

“Our role comes at last as far as controlling the ongoing protests are concerned,” Gurung said. “First of all, it’s the duty of civil administration, civil police and armed police to control the protests.” nepalnews.com mr Jan 15