RAUTAHAT, June 9: Police have arrested two persons including a journalist in Rautahat district in possession of explosive materials. 

They have been identified as Dilip Thapa and Tara Thapa of Dharmapur-6 of the district. Dilip had a press pass issued by the Department of Information for Rato Khabar weekly. The two were arrested from Sudarshan Guest House of Chandrapur Municipality after a tip-off, informed the District Police Office (DPO), Rautahat. They had arrived at the guest house on Wednesday evening. 

Police suspect both of them might be cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led Maoist party. Police also suspect that they were working as per their plan to disrupt the upcoming second phase of the elections scheduled for June 28.

"They were in possession of 30 sticks of gelignite, 22 sets of detonator and four feet of fuse wire," said Superintendent of Police (SP) Yagya Binod Pokharel, chief of the DPO.

Along with the explosive materials, police also confiscated a Yamaha motorcycle (Ga Pa 3911). The DPO informed that investigation is under way. 

"With the arrest of the two in possession of explosives, security during the second phase of the polls will become a bigger issue," said SP Pokharel.

Deputy Inspector of Police (DSP) Nabin Krishna Bhandari, who is also the spokesperson for the DPO, said they are preparing to beef up the security in the district not only in view of the upcoming elections, but also for other reasons.

 
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• two persons
 
• journalist
 
• arrested
 
• explosives
 
• rautahat