Ahead of Sunday’s voting, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in various parts of the country on Friday.
Explosives went off in Dhankuta and Siraha districts while some were defused by security personnel elsewhere in the country.
In Dhankuta, an IED was detonated targeting Industry Minister and federal parliamentary election candidate Sunil Bahadur Thapa in Saptingtar. The “bucket bomb” exploded on a road near the Fangsuwa stream at Khalsa Chintang Sahid Bhumi Rural Municipality in the district at around 7:30am. Though the perpetrators targeted the minister’s vehicle, it was 500 metres away from the site, said police. A pedestrian, Tej Bahadur Paudel, sustained minor injuries in the blast.
An IED went off at the election contact office of the CPN (Maoist Centre) in Mirchaiya-5, Siraha. Police said the explosive-laden pressure cooker exploded at around 3:45pm at the building where the Maoist Centre had opened an office for its campaign. No damage has been reported in the explosion, said police. The incident site lies some 200 metres west of Mirchaiya Police Office. Pamphlets belonging to the Jaya Krishna Goit-led Akhil Tarai Mukti Morcha were recovered nearby, police said.
In East Nawalparasi, a bomb disposal team of the Nepal Army defused an IED planted at Dumkauli, targeting the Nepali Congress election publicity office. In Dhading, two IEDs were found at Ghatbesi and Maheshdhovan of Galchhi along the Prithvi Highway. An Army team defused the IEDs. On Thursday, an IED was found at Simle on the highway. The incidents triggered panic among the locals and passengers.
In Gorkha, an Army team defused explosives that were found in Shreenathkot, Siranchok Rural Municipality.
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