The minister for forestry and soil conservation, Matrika Prasad Yadav has padlocked the house of his Nepal Army security guards which is attached to his ministerial quarters. However, the lock was broken by the army soon after under the orders of their headquarters.

Eleven army men have been deployed for the protection of the minister. Four days ago the minister asked five of them to accompany him to Janakpur, but they denied they had not received any official orders. The minister then ordered them out of his quarters and left for Janakpur without any security. When he returned to find the army still there, he locked the house.

Talking to Naya Patrika, Yadav said, "if the army is supposed to be for my protection, shouldn't they follow my orders? They refuse to go along with me where there is no security. Why should I keep them in my quarters if they don't protect me?"

The minister said that the Nepal Army was conspiring against him, and he would no longer accept security from the army. "I have been informed that the army has broken the lock. I will lock the house again. If they don't leave the quarters, I will leave."

He also said that he would keep PLA soldiers for his security. "I have talked to Ian Martin and the party chairman about this. If they don't agree I will stay under the security of the people, but I will not have the army protecting me," he said.