KATHMANDU, July 26

Police have initiated legal action against 15 leaders and cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist for their involvement in arson and vandalism in Kathmandu during the daylong general strike enforced by the party on Friday.

SP Bishwa Raj Pokharel, spokesperson at Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, informed that they were charged under Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act, 1970 after preliminary investigation.

Those facing the charge are Rabin KC, Kiran Chand, Kiran Budhathoki, Nabin Paudel, Khadga Bahadur KC, Pushpa Raj Neupane, Kuber Ghimire, Yadav Prasad Timalsina, Kumar Khadka, Ishwar Budhathoki, Bijay Lama, Suresh Tamang, Santosh Bogati, Sagar Timalsina and Buddhi Dhamala. The are being kept in the custody of MPR and its other units in Kathmandu.

The bandh called by their party was marred by violence throughout the country, including inside the Valley as the strike enforcers resorted to vandalism and arson.

Police said bandh enforcers had vandalised or torched seven vehicles, including one belonging to Dairy Development Corporation which was carrying milk, in Kathmandu.

They torched a taxi with a cabbie behind the wheel in Naya Bazaar. However, he managed to escape unhurt. The culprits are at large. Similarly, four vehicles were targeted in Lalitpur.

Police held as many as 247 suspects, including five women across the country for investigation. Around 100 were detained in Kathmandu. Officials said 85 suspects were released after scanning and profiling.