S E C R E T KATHMANDU 000735

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC PHUM PINR NP
SUBJECT: INDIA TURNS OVER EIGHT MAOISTS TO NEPAL

REF: KATHMANDU 731

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5(b),(d)

PM Confirms India Turned Over Maoists
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1. (S) India turned over eight suspected Maoists to Nepal
April 10, Prime Minister Deuba confirmed to Ambassador April
12 (Reftel). The PM claimed that the suspects - who he
described as "low-level" - had been apprehended based on
intelligence provided by the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA). RNA
Chief of Army Staff Rana made the same claim April 11.

Leaked, Planted or Both
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2. (SBU) The turn-over was reported in the Indian media and
international wire services. These reports state that the
eight Maoists - including one woman - were picked up at
clinics and nursing facilities in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
where they were being treated for combat-related injuries.
Authorities were searching for accomplices believed to have
brought the wounded to India for treatment, and were also
attempting to track the source of the funds used for the
medical care, press reports mentioned. Local media in Nepal
have yet to run the story.

Comment
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3. (S) This is a good start to the promise of Nepal-India
cooperation against the Maoist insurgency. As noted Reftel,
it may have been the result of recent U.S., U.K. and Nepalese
visits to New Delhi. That India apparently fed the details
to the press to get the message out may bode well for future
operations of this kind.
MALINOWSKI