Despite incidents of blast and attack on candidates leading up to the polls, the first phase of elections were held peacefully on Sunday, but two days later, anti-poll activities were reported on Tuesday, with explosions in various parts of the country, including the Valley.
Despite incidents of blast and attack on candidates leading up to the polls, the first phase of elections were held peacefully on Sunday, but two days later, anti-poll activities were reported on Tuesday, with explosions in various parts of the country, including the Valley.
In Tulsipur of Dang, nine persons were injured when an improvised explosive device was detonated targeting Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s election rally. Condition of the four of the injured is said to be critical. The blast took place 500 metres from the Araniko ground where PM Deuba was to address the NC’s election gathering. Deuba was on his way to the programme venue after landing at the Tulsipur airport.
Police have identified the injured as temporary cop Binod Chaudhary, Jeni DC, Bomraj Sunar, Himlal Ramjali, Nep Bahadur Khatri, Sunita Chaudhary, Devi DC and Narabhumi Budhathoki.
The NC programme, however, continued and PM Deuba delivered a short speech before leaving Tulsipur.
Search is on to nab the culprits involved in the blast, said SP Durga Singh, adding that security has been stepped up. Similarly in Jhapa, an IED went off near the house of NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula in Chandragadhi on Tuesday. According to police, the blast took place at around 12:45am. Police have arrested Rajesh Karki of Birtamod-4 for investigation. Likewise, an IED was found near the house of Kankai Municipality mayor on Tuesday. A team of Nepal Army defused the IED.
In Morang, a bomb was detonated at around 9am targeting a vehicle carrying Lal Babu Pandit in Budhiganga Municipality-5. Pandit was heading towards Budhiganga from Biratnagar. The bomb exploded 10 metres from Pandit’s vehicle.
Meanwhile, an IED targeting NC’s central member Narayan Khadka exploded at Triyuga Municipality-10, Udaypur. Khadka was on his way to Beldobhan to participate in a poll rally. The bomb exploded after Khadka’s vehicle had moved past, said police. In Sunsari, an IED was detonated at the house of Himal Karki, former district president of the NC, at Bhantabari, Triyuga Municipality.
There was an explosion in the Capital as well on Tuesday. An IED was detonated in Lagankhel, Lalitpur when CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli was addressing the left alliance’s election campaign. There was no human casualty in any of the blast incidents.
18.12°C Kathmandu
