Five hurt in blast targeting Ram Sharan Mahat of Congress

Nuwakot/Dang, November 17

Five persons were hurt when an improvised explosive device went off targeting vehicles carrying former minister and Nepali Congress leader Ram Sharan Mahat and his supporters at Dandagaun of Kakani Rural Municipality in Nuwakot today.

Mahat, NC parliamentary candidate from Nuwakot Constituency No 1, was on his way to Kakani to address an election rally when the IED exploded. Mahat’s vehicle was 500 metres away when a pressure cooker bomb exploded.

A Scorpio vehicle carrying five NC cadres — Upendra Mishra, Sabin Lama, Esh Kumar Tamang, Lila Gharti Magar and Ramesh Rai — was badly damaged in the blast.

All those travelling in the vehicle were hurt in the incident, said Nuwakot CDO Jagadishraj Baral.

They were airlifted to Kathmandu and are being treated at Grande International Hospital.

The vehicles carrying Dr Mahat and NC candidate for provincial assembly Ramesh Kumar Mahat were not damaged in the blast.

No one has taken responsibility for the blast. Police said a manhunt to nab those involved in the explosion was on.

Meanwhile, an improvised explosive device was hurled at vehicles carrying CPN-Maoist Centre leaders — former speaker Onsari Gharti Magar, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Barshaman Pun — near Satdobato in Rolpa Municipality today. The bombs were hurled while left alliance leaders were on their way to address an election rally at district headquarters Liwang.

Provincial assembly candidates Kul Prasad KC (Sonam) and Dipnedra Pun and candidates under the proportional representation system were also travelling in the vehicles.

Mahara is the left alliance’s parliamentary polls candidate from Dang Constituency No 2, while Barshaman Pun is the left alliance parliamentary polls candidate from Rolpa.

No one was hurt in the incident though the grenade had exploded near the vehicle. Security personnel deployed for leaders’ security returned two rounds of fire in exchange. Police suspect that Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal cadres were behind the explosion.

(UPDATED)

Blasts target NC leader Mahat, Speaker Gharti; 5 hurt

KATHMANDU: Former minister and Nepali Congress leader Ram Saran Mahat escaped unhurt when an improvised explosive device exploded targeting the vehicles carrying him and his party cadres in Nuwakot district on Friday morning.

According to police, five NC cadres were injured in the incident. The IED was exploded at Kauletha while Mahat along with his supporters was on his way to Kakani area to address an election rally, police added. “One of the jeeps has been partly damaged in the blast.”

NC leader Ramesh Mahat who witnessed the scene said that the injured will be airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment at the earliest. “Investigation into the incident is underway,” said District Police Office, Nuwakot.

Meanwhile, in the district, Ranipauwa is tensed after clashes broke out between the cadres of NC and left alliance.

Likewise, two bombs were also hurled targeting Speaker Onsari Gharti and the candidates of provincial and parliamentary polls from Rolpa district.

According to police, bombs were hurled at a vehicle carrying Speaker Gharti and leftist alliance candidates including former ministers Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Barshaman Pun at Bhadaure area when the team of leaders was heading to Liwang to address an election rally. “However, no one was hurt in the blast,” police said.

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