BIRATNAGAR: Home minister Bhim Rawal has warned political parties of action if they kept and mobilised armed outfits.

Speaking at a press conference organised by CPN-UML in Morang today, he said no party, except the government, has the right to keep an army. "If any party maintains an army, it will be taken legal action against," he added.

The minister said the Maoist PLA fighters were not authorised to leave their camps and be involved in any other activity. "There is only one army in the country," he said, adding that the parties would be punished for their criminal activities. Neither would anyone carrying out criminal activities under the garb of a political group be spared, he maintained. Rawal said the government would effectively implement the Local Administration Act to provide security to the people.

He said extra law could also be promulgated in case the LAA did not suffice. He added that the new security strategy to end bands, strikes, extortion and abductions had slightly improved the law and order situation in the country.

The home minister said the armed outfits operating in the Tarai would be brought under the purview of law.