A close associate of Nepalese Maoist leader Prachanda, has been arrested by security personnel in Kathmandu as the first consignment of India's logistic support to Nepal to fight the rebels arrived, media reports said on Monday. Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha, president of Leftist organization Rastriya Jana Andolan Sanyojan Samiti, was arrested at Tahachal in Kathmandu, they said.
Shrestha recently dissolved the organization in a bid to distance himself with the Maoist organization. The reports in Kathmandu suggest the arrival of first lot of India's logistical support, including some weapons and vehicles, to fight terrorism in the Himalayan kingdom. There was, however, no official confirmation of this. Nearly 60 suspected Maoists were arrested from different parts of the country in continued drive against the ultras. During the two-week anti-Maoist operations, hundreds have been arrested by security forces, thousands have abandoned the guerrilla outfit and trucks of arms and ammunitions have been seized from them. Bureau Report