Khotang, May 10:

The Nepali Army has begun defusing explosives, which were planted in the Sunapatal jungle of Suntale VDC during the 10-year conflict.

According to the NA, a team of 50 NA personnel from the Udaypur-based Nandabox battalion came to defuse the explosives in the presence of UNMIN officials Ian Brafton and Indra Bahadur Bhatt.

NA personnel had buried hundreds of explosives around a repeater tower of the Nepal Telecom. A local, Salikram Banjara, said the NA made the move after The Annapurna Post ran a report on injuries caused by frequent blasts in the jungle.

Earlier, Shanta Banjara, 38, Sita Bishwokarma, 30, Bir Bahadur Dahal, 10, and Krishna Bahadur Rai, 21, were handicapped due to blasts.