NUWAKOT, Nov 17: Amid continuing attacks on election candidates in districts, one of the vehicles used by the election campaign of senior Nepali Congress leader and former finance minister Nepali Congress leader Ram Sharan Mahat was ambushed in Nuwakot district on Friday. While Mahat escaped unhurt, five of his supporters who were in the ambushed vehicle were injured. The vehicle was destroyed in the attack. Mahat was visiting various villages as part of his election campaign.
NC leader Mahat, who is contesting for parliament from Nuwakot constituency 1, and NC-led alliance candidate Ramesh Kumar Mahat, who is contesting for provincial assembly from the district's 1(b) were travelling in another vehicle which was behind the ambushed vehicle.
The vehicle was ambushed near Kaulethana in ward number 5 of Kakani Rural Municipality. Those injured in the attack have been identified as Upendra Mishra, Bhesh Kumar Tamang, Sabin Lamsal and Ramesh Rai. The identity of one of the injured has yet to be ascertained. The injured cadres have been rushed to Kathmandu for treatment, according to Ramesh Kumar Mahat.
Meanwhile, in another attack Friday, an unidentified group hurled bomb targeting a vehicle used by former speaker Onsari Gharti, Deputy Prime Minister [without portfolio] Krishna Bahadur Mahara, and former minister Barshaman pun among others who were heading for Liwang. No one was injured in the attack as the explosive device landed at a distance.
After attending a rally in Dang, the members of the left alliance were heading toward Rolpa's district headquarters, Liwang when the incident occurred. Some unidentified persons hurled improvised explosive devices at a bend in the Bhadaure forest, according to police.
Reacting to the incident, Deputy Prime Minister Mahara said, "The attackers had targeted us but luckily the bomb landed some 10 meters away from us. It is extremely serious as such incidents are taking place on right ahead of the elections."
As informed by Chief District officer Dijon Bhattarai, police have reached the site of the attack and are investigating the incident.
Ambush against two candidates raise question over poll security
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