Rupandehi, June 18 :

Chairman of the high-level commission formed to investigate the suppression of the April pro-democracy movement, Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, today said the panel’s work is going ahead smoothly.

“We will not tolerate any hurdle that may come our way,” Rayamajhi who arrived in Butwal today in course of the investigation told locals. He added that the panel would seek people’s help if needed.

The commission recorded statements from victims of the movement in the district.

Also speaking to locals along with Rayamajhi, the district secretary of the CPN-UML, Lila Giri, said the army played a major role in suppressing the movement.

“A list of army officers, police officials and civil servants who played roles in suppressing the agitation has been submitted to the commission”, Giri said. “They must be punished,” he said, adding that the Lumbi zonal administrator, Ram Krishna Pant, also played a key role in trying to suppress the movement.

Giri also said a sum of Rs 2 million of the development budget of the Rupandehi Municipality, the DDC and other government offices “misused” during the King’s visit to Butwal should be recovered.

Rayamajhi said he would look into the money spent during the King’s visit and the meeting of the Rajparishad.

Submitting a report, the president of the Forum of Social Awareness and Development, Tilak Acharya, said 221 people had been arrested and 133 were injured during the pro-democracy movement.

Representatives of civil society, Shyam Bahadur Pathak, Siddhi Charan Bhattarai and Ganesh Uchain, said the people have high hopes from the commission and demanded the government immediately implement the report to be submitted by the panel. The government had formed the panel on May 5.