Army chief summoned again


The High Level Probe Commission Monday summoned army chief Pyar Jung Thapa for the second time for interrogation over his alleged role as head of the then Unified Command in suppressing the people's movement in April. Thapa has been asked to be present before the commission on Thursday.

Earlier, the commission had planned to interrogate Thapa on Sunday but Thapa did not turn up before the commission saying he had to go Pokhara for a "pre-planned" program. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General of Nepal Army Rukmangat Katuwal and retired general Dipak Bikram Rana also did not present themselves before the commission on Monday, as summoned by the commission. A letter sent to the commission by the Defense Ministry said the other army officers summoned for interrogation would not submit their statements until their chief is questioned.

According to a commission source, if Thapa misses the second summon, the commission would write to the government to "make Thapa available" before the commission for interrogation.