Kathmandu, Dec 12 : In a sensational turn of events, Nepal's military police Saturday arrested an army major expelled last week by the UN for the tortured death of a school girl.

Major Niranjan Basnet, expelled from the UN Peacekeeping Forces in the central African republic of Chad after being exposed as facing criminal charges for the killing of
15-year-old Maina Sunuwar five years ago, was arrested at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu Saturday after he returned in disgrace from Chad.

The military police said the major was being taken into custody for investigations.

Basnet was among four Nepal Army personnel charged with torturing to death Maina Sunuwar inside an army barracks, burying her body and denying having arrested her.

Though a case was filed at the Kavre district court after great effort by Maina's mother, Devi Sunuwar, Basnet and the other three - Col. Bobby Khatri, Captain Sunil Prasad Adhikari and Captain Amit Pun - were protected by the army that refused to hand them over for arrest.

Instead, the government deputed Basnet to a UN peacekeeping mission in Chad, a lucrative posting for Nepal Army officers. Under severe criticism for failing to detect Basnet's presence despite his much-publicised record, the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) last week expelled him. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called for Basnet's arrest.

This is the first time an army officer has been arrested following a public outcry at home and abroad. It remains to be seen if Basnet will be punished.(IANS)