NA arrests armed Maoist MP, platoon commander in Bardiya National park Kantipur Report BARDIA, March 18 - Nepal Army (NA) Sunday held five Maoists, including a Maoist parliamentarian and a platoon commander, under custody for two hours for entering the Bardiya National Park (BNP) without permission while carrying illegal arms. The NA's Ranasher Gulma deployed for park security arrested Maoist MP Narayan Prasad Sharma, platoon commander Shiv Raj Simkhada and section commander Kamal Karki and two others at 9:15 this morning for carrying a submachine gun (SMG) and a 9mm boundary pistol while they were entering the park in a Toyota jeep bearing a number plate that read "Seti-Mahakali Swayatta Ganatantra Sarkar 024". According to NA officer Sameer Singh, the Maoists had been arrested by the book, since the law forbids individuals from entering into protected national parks while bearing arms. All five were released earlier today after two hours in army custody. According to NA, the Maoists were released in co-ordination with the home ministry.