“The process has almost completed in the Third Division and just a few combatants, including commanders, are left. We will complete categorization by Sunday,” Sharma stated.[break] “Categorization process has been affected in the western districts for the past few days and it would take another couple of days to complete the task there,” he added.
Under-secretary Madhu Bilash Pandit, who has been deputed for the process, said categorization of 13,036 combatants, including 1,161 in the First Division in Ilam, 1,274 in the Second in Sindhuli, 3,288 in the Third at Shaktikhor, 2,327 in the Fourth in Nuwakot, 1,509 in the Fifth in Rolpa, 1,869 in the Sixth in Surkhet and 1,608 in the Seventh in Kailali, has been completed till Saturday. Pandit said categorization of 443 was done at Shaktikhor on Saturday.
Cantonment Office said categorization of around 600 combatants is yet to be done at Shaktikhor. “Those above brigade vice-commander have not been categorized. The injured, sick and those on leave and deputed to Kathmandu are also gradually returning,” spokesperson Janak Bista said.
Coordinator of Categorization Team in Nawalparasi Sanananda Kurmi said 318 were categorized there on Saturday. Of them 240 chose voluntary retirement and the rest opted for integration.
There are 1,930 combatants in the first division, 1,658 in the second, 3,972 in the third, 3,039 in the fourth, 2,428 in the fifth, 3,088 in the sixth and 3,310 in the seventh.
Brigade commanders opt for integration
According to our Surkhet correspondent Kalendra Sejuwal, commanders of two brigades in the sixth division, where categorization process has been completed, have opted for integration in the national army.
Ganga Bahadur Gharti, commander of Purna-Jharana Memorial Brigade, and Ratna Bahadur Shahi, commander of Jeet Memorial Brigade, have expressed their interest in joining the national army.
“I want to serve my country and people by joining the national army,” said brigade commander Gharti. A sub-commander from Purna-Jharana brigade, Damodar Adhikari, has also decided to join the army. But, another sub-commander, Thammar Bahadur Bishta, has opted for voluntary retirement.
Similarly, another brigade commander Shahi said, “It is insignificant for me to hold a certain post and draw regular salaries by joining the army. I want to contribute to national security.” Of the two sub-commanders from the Jeet brigade, Bishnu Baral has decided to join the army but Prem Prakash Woli has stood for voluntary retirement.
Related story
NRB turns stern on categorization of risk and loan loss provisi...
