Phidim, October 5:

Political parties and civil society in the district have denounced the misbehaviour by personnel of the Batuk Dal Battalion on Bijaya Dashami and Ekadashi in Phidim-7, Samdin, wherein they misbehaved with local girls and also assaulted them.

Party leaders and prominent members of society have flayed the armymen for flouting discipline.

The parties have also demanded a probe into the incident.

District chairman of the Nepali Congress, Purna Kumar Serma, said the army men’s behaviour has showed that they have not changed their ways and that they are still behaving high-handedly even after the reinstatement of democracy. Serma called for stern action against the army men involved in the incident.

CPN (ML) member Pahangbir Kerung and Nepali Congress (D) member Laxmi Tawa pointed out that misbehaving with local girls and thrashing an army hawaldar on home leave was against the army code of conduct. They urged the government to ensure that such acts are not repeated.

Representative of civil society Lila Niraula said the action of the army men was regrettable at a time when the nation was in the transitional phase. She called for strong action against the wrongdoers.

Meanwhile, acting commander of the Batuk Dal Battalion Rajendra Sunuwar said a probe has been launched into the incident. Twenty-five army men who misbehaved with local girls and thrashed villagers on Bijaya Dashami and eight other army men who beat up army hawaldar Shiv Narayan Dhungana have been interrogated.

The case of all 33 has been forwarded to the higher authorities for action, he informed. According to commandant Sunuwar, action was initiated after the regional headquarters ordered a probe following news reports and the visit of General Thakur Subba to Panchthar.