'India to blame for Maoist attacks in Nepal'

KATHMANDU: A former chief of Nepal's army and advisor of King Gyanendra has blamed Indian opposition parties for the recent Maoist attacks in Kathmandu resulting in the death of 12 policemen.

Gen Sachit Shumshere JB Rana, who was chief of the Royal Nepalese Army from 1988 to 1991, said Saturday's attacks on two police posts in Kathmandu were due to the understanding reached between the militants and the opposition parties in New Delhi.

In October last year, the Maoists and leaders of opposition parties reportedly met in New Delhi to decide a joint strategy to counter the king.

Rana said the security situation in Nepal had improved after King Gyanendra seized power with the help of the army last year.

"The attacks could take place because of the Dilli daur (run to Delhi)," Rana said in Kathmandu on Tuesday, defending the indefinite curfew and ban on demonstrations imposed by the government on Monday night.

Asked if this was the opinion of the king too, the 74-year-old said it was his personal opinion...

Rana, who has been saying the Indian government practises double standards by cracking down on Indian Maoists but nurturing Nepal's militants, is also a senior member of the Raj Parishad.

The Raj Parishad, akin to the Privy Council of Britain, used to be a largely ceremonial body.

However, it became active from 2003, holding regional conferences where it extolled the king's role in solving Nepal's political instability.

Nepal on alert after 12 police die - January 15, 2006 - On Saturday, heavily-armed guerrillas stormed a police post at Thankot, 10 km (6 miles) from Kathmandu, tossed a bomb and sprayed bullets from automatic rifles, killing 11 policemen. In the second attack near the temple town of Bhaktapur, also close to Kathmandu, one policeman was killed and at least eight wounded. Other blasts around the city caused no injuries.

Nepal Maoists bought arms from India during truce - 12/24/2005 - Defence experts agree communist guerrillas could be buying arms and ammunition either from criminal gangs in the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, with whom Nepal shares an open border, as well as insurgent groups in India.

India should re-think its arms embargo on Nepal: Gen. Mehta - 11/10/2005 - Gen. Mehta argues that indefinitely blocking military equipment would be a breach of the 1965 memorandum of understanding on acquisition of military supplies by Nepal, an agreement whose goal posts have been shifted in the past. Overall, it would result in India losing its marked influence over Nepal, a situation created by the Maoists. "It is also possible that withholding military supplies may embolden Maoists into launching their much delayed strategic offensive, with unpredictable consequences," he says.

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