The incident marks the first major bomb attack in the capital after a blast in 2009 carried out at the Assumption Church at Dhobighat, Lalitpur, by a little-known armed outfit called Nepal Defence Army claimed three lives and injured many others.[break]
Though a person identifying himself as the coordinator of underground United Ethnic Liberation Front Nepal (UELFN) claimed responsiblity for the blast on the phone, it has yet to be verified independently. Later during the day however, Muktidata, the purported general secretary of UELFN, in an emailed statement to the media denied any involvement of his group.
The blast occurred at 1:11 pm. The two persons who died in the spot have been identified as Krishna Bahadur Tamang, 34, and Man Bahadur Tamang, 70, of Baireni VDC, Dhading. Likewise, Bir Bahadur Lama, 65, of the same place breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital.
Eyewittnesses said one of the bodies was torn apart by the blast.
Those currently undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital include Som Tamang, 35, of Bara district; Lal Bahadur Tamang, 62, of Dhading; Bishnu Prasad Pulara, 40, of Dhading; Raghu Nath Khadka, 45, of Tathali, Bhaktapur; Man Bahadur Kunwar, 40, and Bhim Bahadur Kunwar, 21, of Achham; and Basu Shrestha, 20, of Lubhu, Lalitpur. The condition of Som Tamang is critical, according to the hospital. Khadka is a Radio Nepal staffer and Pulara works at NOC.
Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police Kuber Singh Rana, who heads Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Commissioner´s Office, said preliminary investigation has shown that it was an improvised explosive device (IED) operated with the help of a remote device. "We have found that GI plumbing sockets were used to magnify the effect of the blast. It is found that the bomb was put inside a plastic bag," he said.
Rana said this type of explosive devices were used mostly during the insurgency.
Shortly after the incident, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar visited the incident site and met the injured at Bir Hospital. "This incident is a challenge to the existing security arrangement of the government. I have already instructed police to beef up security," he told media.
A suspect being arrested from incident site.
Police have stepped up security in the capital with security checkpoints at various places. "We have beefed up the security at the main entry points shortly after the blast," said SSP Devendra Subedi, chief at Metropolitan Police Crime Division, Hanumandkhoka.
Locals listening to news updates.
A highly-placed security official said one person has been arrested so far from Ratnapark area in connection with the incident. The official, however, did not want to divulge further details.
Govt forms four-member probe panel
An emergency meeting of the Central Security Committee held at the Home Ministry has formed a four-member probe committee headed by DIG Upendra Kanta Aryal, who is the chief of Central Investigation Bureau at Nepal Police Headquarters.
Press meet at the Home Ministry.
According to Home Ministry Spokesperson Shankar Koirala, three other members of the probe committee are SSPs Devendra Subedi and Kedar Man Singh Bhandari, and SP Subodh Ghimire.
Speaking at a press conference organized at Home Ministry later in the afternoon, Spokesperson Koirala said the government denounces the "barbaric incident" and wishes speedy recovery of those injured in the incident. "The government will make necessary arrangement for treatment of those injured and provide appropriate compensation to the families of the deceased following investigation," he said.
UELFN denies involvement
Even as a person identifying himself as the coordinator of UELFN phoned some communications media and claimed responsibility, later in the afternoon, purported general secretary of UELFN who identified himself as Muktidata, issued a statement denying the group´s involvement in the blast.
In the statement UELFN strongly denounced the incident and also expressed sorrow over it. "We want to make it clear to all that UELF had neither issued any instructions nor had any plan concerning this incident," said the statement.
An eyewitness recounts the incident.
In an e-mailed statement undersigned by Pravas, coordinator of UELFN´s talks team with the government, and Muktidata, general secretary, the group has alleged that some ´Bramhan´ elements had carried out the blast to derail the group´s ongoing talks with the government. In the statement, the front said the group had held first round of talks with the government on August 11, 2011 and was in the process of holding second round of talks.
Parties slam govt over security situation
Two main opposition parties -- Nepali Congress and CPN-UML -- have slammed the government over poor security situation in Kathmandu Valley. Issuing a press statement, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said the bomb blast at the heart of the city in broad daylight exposed the government´s failure to maintain effective law and order situation in the country. Khanal also called on the government to bring the guilty to book and provide compensation to the victim families.
Government officials at Singhadurbar.
Likewise, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel criticized the government for failing to ensure safety of the citizens. “The explosion near Singha Durbar in broad daylight shows incompetence of the current government,” he said over telephone.
Paudel also asked the government take necessary measures to bolster security and ensure people´s rights to life. Meanwhile, Nepal Bar Association, while condemning the incident, has demanded that the government bring the guilty to justice.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar at Bir Hospital.
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