KATHMANDU, Aug 11: Hindu extremist underground armed group Nepal Defense Army (NDA) set off a bomb at the Nepali Congress central office at Sanepa Tuesday. The explosion of the pressure-cooker bomb at a meeting hall of the under-construction building caused no casualty. [break]
The explosion occurred at 3.08 p.m. after the bomb was placed in a first floor room of the east facade. An eye witness suspects a man of around 22 who slipped in and out on a bicycle. Some furniture and window glass were broken in the blast that also scarred the ceiling.
The same outfit had set off an explosion one and a half months ago at the Assumption Church at Bhanimandal, Lalitpur, killing three persons. Ex-Maoist Ram Prasad Mainaili´s group, which has been demanding a Hindu kingdom, has so far carried out its fifth blast in the capital and also owned responsibility for a score of explosions outside.
Some leaflets in which the NDA claimed responsibility were found at the incident spot. IGP Ramesh Chandra Thakuri, who visited the site, said the Modus Operandi of the perpetrators is same as at the church blast.
NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel, arriving at the office shortly after the incident, condemned it as the work of an extremist group opposed to democracy and peace. NDA´s blasts in the capital seem to target political parties following the abolition of monarchy and proclamation of secularism.
According to a local leader from Chitwan who was visiting the NC office, the suspect youth was seen rummaging his bag right in front of the meeting hall. "I did not suspect anything then," she said, "But just as we came out of the office, there was a sound like thunder. We saw smoke coming from the room."
The youth seemingly of Tarai origin was in jeans and with a bag and he retreated on his bicycle after 20 minutes. "I saw him up close at the entrance and even thought of taking hold of him but I could not muster the courage," said a witness in a wheelchair, adding that the suspect escaped after a considerable time while all those present just stood there frightened. Police investigation is under way. Police have arrested three suspects.
Meanwhile, police Tuesday evening diffused another bomb placed by the NDA at the office of the Transportation Management Department at Ekantakuna, Lalitpur. The bomb was in an tin box wrapped in wire and with a timer. NDA leaflets were also found there.
Mainali´s NDA
Ram Prasad Mainali, the NDA chief, is no stranger to the state. He was arrested with a pistol and ammunition one and half years ago and held for three months. Police filed two separate cases at the District Administration Office and Kathmandu District Court. But they released him on bail.
Mainali, 40, lobbied openly for a Hindu kingdom in the initial period of the peace process while secretly carrying out other activities. He was associated with the Maoists from 1996 to 2001.
Condemnation
Nepali Congress has condemned the bomb blast. Issuing a press release Tuesday evening it termed the incident a ´cowardly act´ against democracy and peace. The Home Ministry in a statement also condemned the explosion.
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