MAHENDRANAGAR, Jan 29: Maoists´ People´s Liberation Army (PLA) has expelled one of its commanders involved in smuggling rhino horns, the PLA´s Seventh Division said.
Rhino horn found inside Chitwan National Park
PLA´s Talband-based Seventh Division Chief Mahendra Bahadur Shahi in a press release said company commander, Rabindra Eidi, who was arrested with rhino horns in Kanchanpur, was dismissed from the PLA.
Shahi said PLA was ready to provide all assistance to the police in taking action against Eidi. He, however, said there was no involvement of Deputy Commander of the Division HQ, Birendra Budha in the smuggling. He did not mention about another Maoist cadre, Man Bahadur Kunwar, who was also arrested with Eidi.
"There is no institutional involvement of the PLA in such criminal activities like smuggling,"Shahi said. He added the commander accused of smuggling of the illegal rhino horns was on home leave.
Darchula District Forest Officer Ramesh Chand´s team had arrested the Maoist activists duo from a guest house in Kanchanpur. Within 20 minutes of their arrest, Kanchanpur police Chief Madhav Nepal had ordered the arrest of Chand.
