KATHMANDUl:Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong today held fourth round of talks with four armed outfits active in the Tarai. The meeting reviewed the progress made from both the sides as per previous understandings.

As per earlier understanding, Minister Chemjong informed that the government would not arrest cadres of the respective groups and the groups would also abide by the rule of the land. The government had also agreed to release the cadres, who were arrested earlier. Chemjong informed that the law and order in the Tarai had improved after the government sat for talks with the groups.

The four include Liberation Tigers of Tarai Elam, Madhesi Virus Killers, Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha/Tarai Samyukta Janatantrik Party and Madhesi Liberation Tigers. All the four groups have demanded that the entire Madhes should be declared a single state with right to self determination.

Ram Lochan Thakur 'Swami', coordinator LTTE, however, accused the minister of attending the meeting without preparations. He said that over 300 cadres of the four groups had been arrested but none were set free yet. Meanwhile, Chemjong informed that next round of talks would be held after mutual consultations. He said that the next round of talks would dwell on political and arms management issues.

Asked whether the government was considering holding talks with the Jwala Singh and Jaya Krishna Goit groups as well, Chemjong ruled out immediate talks with them. He clarified that the government would not hold talks with them as they had been challenging against the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.