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Nepalese police release superiors

Other News Materials 14 July 2008 11:27 (UTC +04:00)

A group of 200 officers surrendered at a police camp in western Nepal early Monday after holding seven of their superiors hostage for about 36 hours, authorities said.

The seven hostages were in good condition, senior police officer Govinda Pariyar told CNN in a phone interview from Nepalganj, where the camp is located.

The junior officers had demanded better treatment and food in the barracks, Nepalese officials said.

The officers took control of the camp, about 248 miles (400 kilometers) from the capital, Kathmandu, at about noon (0615 GMT) on Saturday.

By Sunday, authorities called in other policemen who cordoned off the area while negotiations continued.

"Those involved will be charged as per law," said Pariyar.

Officials who convened at an emergency cabinet meeting Sunday evening decided against speaking with the hostage takers, who had presented a 20-point demand. Instead the police officials supported disciplinary action against the junior officers.

This is the third time in the last few months that junior police officers had taken control of a police barrack in western Nepal. The other two standoffs also ended peacefully.

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