KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Interim Election Council today has directed the former rebel leaders to submit their weapons to the government authorities by May-mid. Leaders of Nepal’s hardliner communist party CPN-Maoist have been keeping a total of 32 weapons citing their insecurity.

A meeting of the cabinet held this morning gave some six weeks time to the Maoist leaders to return the weapons kept for their security. The weapons would be declared illegal if the former rebel leaders continue possessing them, the government officials said.

After the meeting, Minister for Communication Madhav Prasad Paudel said that the meeting has also decided to constitute a secretary-level committee for the management of the ex PLA combatants’ camps.

Gaur: A squad deputed from Area Police Office, Kopawa Pipariya under the command of police constable Sujit Kumar Singh nabbed two persons along with illegal weapons at 6.45 am today.

The police team apprehended them from Sadarmuwa VDC-1, Rajaiyasadak of Rautahat district

Those arrested are Chhote Lal Saha, 22, of Basanpatti-5 and Jagannath Sahanuniya, 25, of Tejapakad-3.

Police recovered a home-made gun and its five bullets and sent them to District Police Office, Gaur for necessary action, said Deputy Superintendant of Police (DSP) at Area Police Office, Pipariya, Nawal Kumar Singh. RSS