Wednesday, July 6 2005 15:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: India has delivered a consignment of "non-lethal" military aid to Nepal for the first time after the February one royal takeover, Defence and Indian embassy sources said in Kathmandu today (July 6, 2005).

The goods, which include Mahendra jeeps, bullet-proof vests, bunker protection devices and concertina security wires have been delivered to Nepal as per India's announcement that military aid will be partially resumed, the sources said.

India and Britain, the major countries providing military assistance to Nepal, had suspended their aid after King Gyanendra grabbed absolute power, suspended democratic rights and imposed press censorship on February 1.

However, after Nepal lifted emergency India announced that it would partially resume supply of military aid.

These equipments were already in pipeline but India had halted their delivery after the take over, sources said.

However, India has not yet released some of the equipments previously in the pipeline including night vision equipments, highly placed sources said.

Royal Nepalese Army Headquarters did not give any detail about the equipments received. When contacted, Royal Nepalese Army Spokesman Brig Gen Deepak Gurung refused to comment on the issue.

The news grabbed headlines in a number of leading Nepalese dailies including The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times today.