Kathmandu, September 3, 2007 The government today condemned the triple bomb blasts that rocked the capital yesterday. An emergency meeting of the Cabinet discussed the explosions, possible elements behind them and the situation they have created. Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the involvement of “royalist elements” cannot be ruled out. The almost simultaneous blasts at Sundhara, Tripureshwor and Balaju killed two persons and left several other commuters and bystanders injured. An appeal issued by the government, meanwhile, urged the people to remain alert. The government termed the blasts “barbaric and inhuman.” It also said that the people must be united and that security will be stepped up. Today’s emergency meeting was held at the official residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at Baluwatar in the afternoon. “The blasts are condemnable and an act of cowardice. The assessment of the government is that they were carried out with a view to scuttling the constituent assembly election,” Mahara said. The cabinet announced that those injured in the blasts would be entitled to free medical treatment. However, the government has not decided on whether to compensate the next of kin of those killed in the explosions. However, it is learnt that a regular meeting of the cabinet might announce the compensation. Understanding Kathmanduites stay cool Kathmandu, September 3, 2007 Two years ago, when TV grabs of an Iraqi terrorist outfit brutally killing 12 Nepalis were shown, riots erupted in Nepal. But a day after three blasts in the heart of Kathmandu, the city is quiet and subdued. At the Viswa Niketan school, whose one student was killed and several others injured, the grounds were quiet and deserted. This composure is partly because of the political understanding of Kathmanduites, which is like that of senior politicians who have linked the blasts to the Constituent Assembly elections. “I think the blasts were intended to foil the polls,” Jenny Khadka, a grade 12 commerce student, said. “The All Nepal National Independent Students Union — Revolutionary asked us to take part in a rally to protest the blasts,” Deepak Rayamajhi, a grade 12 student, said, adding: “We refused. We are not interested in politicising the issue.” “We are in a state of mourning for three days,” principal Naresh Man Shrestha said. The students were also calm and composed. When she read in the media that the Madhesi groups were involved, “her feelings towards the Madhesi people got a little negative,” Jenny said. “Whoever has planted the bomb should have thought that his or her relatives could also be killed.” Madhesi groups have taken the bombings seriously.