The outfit had formed a ragtag band of youths six months ago and named it “army.” Since then it has been openly recruiting Tharu youths.

According to the Council´s Army chief Birendra Chaudhary, the gathering will take a decision on the numerical strength of the army and military strategies for the achievement of their goals. He said the council has now set up four brigades which will be active in the Tharu-dominated districts. The Brigades have been named after the youths killed in the Tharu agitation last year.
The Council has also started extorting businessmen to collect funds for the gathering. Dang district president of the Council Prakash Tharu, however, said the army was not equipped with weapons. The Council is led by Laxman Tharu who deserted the Unified CPN (Maoist) after the party joined the peace process.
UML to hold district convention on January 7