DIPAYAL: Regular official works at the Office of Peace Committee in Doti has come to a halt after its former secretary Rajendra Singh locked the office demanding extension of his job contract.

Singh, who was appointed at the time of Maoist-led government, had locked the office from September 20. He has accused the authorities of dismissing him instead of extending the job contract.

The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, however, had published an advertisement for appointing staffers for all peace committees of nine districts in the Far-Western Region.

Meanwhile, Dev Bahadur Khadka, president of the committee, stated that the job contract of Singh could not be extended due to his poor performance. He further accused the Maoists of supporting Singh's unlawful acts.