Nepal Army, which has been deployed to aid the civil authorities in riot-hit areas at the request of local administration, is set to return to barracks. The Army was called in to assist district authorities, following a decision of the Central Security Committee meeting led by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam on August 24.

The Army is supporting the civilian authority in a few districts as per the provision of Clause 6 of the Local Administration Act-1971 which authorises the local authority to seek its help when any region is declared a riot-affected zone. But its deployment under the Chief District Officer (CDO) has invited sharp criticism from various quarters.

President Ram Baran Yadav, who is the supreme commander of Nepal Army, had expressed his displeasure at the deployment of Army to contain violence. According to a highly-placed Army source, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rajendra Chettri had started consultations with concerned stakeholders while he was still an acting chief. He started the process to recall the troops soon after assuming the office of CoAS on Thursday.

In order to avoid being seen as defying the government orders, the Army brass has however taken a middle path by asking commanders in the field to discuss a plan with Chief District Officers to recall the soldiers.

“Our commanders from the respective districts have conveyed the message to CDO through District Security Committee,” said a source at the Army headquarters. “However, no decision has yet been taken to this effect.”

The military leadership feels that a prolonged deployment of Army in the field to aid civilian authorities is posing a public relations problem for the institution—drawing it into controversies.

Recalling the Army to barracks from the districts has been a key precondition of the agitating parties for talks. The National Human Rights Commission had also urged a recall of the Army on Friday.