Former Nepalese soldiers, police, and victims of Maoist guerillas have joined together to form the self-styled Nepal Defence Army to attack Communists, Muslims, and Christians with the aim of establishing a Hindu state.  The band of some 1200 fighters is headed by a former policeman and Communist who has turned against his old comrades.

The ex-cop, who today calls himself 'Parivartan' (change), claims his band has nearly 1,200 trained soldiers who possess arms and have the expertise to manufacture explosives.

Earlier this year, the Nepal Defence Army made its debut with a couple of blasts, including at the well-guarded office of the Maoists in Kathmandu.

On Wednesday, a Nepali tabloid carried an extensive interview with the shadowy leader, saying he had walked into the tabloid's city office to talk about his organisation.

"Nepal Defence Army has been founded to fight for Hinduism," Parivartan told Nepali weekly Ghanata R Bichar. "Hindus worldwide support us, including the families of top Maoist leaders. Our soldiers are being trained across the border in India and we get the ingredients for manufacturing explosives from India."

Parivartan alleges that, “like al-Qaeda”, his army includes five trained suicide bombers able to strike at the heart of Nepal’s government.

h/t: Persecution Update India

Previous related post: Hindu radicals bomb Christian orphanage in Nepal