Chitwan/Jhapa, May 13

Normal life was partly hit after bombs went off in different parts of the country today.

Security officials suspect that Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal might have planted the improvised explosive devices in different places in a bid to make the today’s bandh effective by spreading fear among people.

A bomb went off in Bhatbhateni Super Market in Bharatpur early this morning. Police said that the outer glasses of the super market received minor cracks due to the explosion.

According to DSP Prabhu Prasad Dhakal at District Police Office, Chitwan, a socket bomb exploded outside the super market. DSP Dhakal said that the glasses of the Hotel Royal Century were also cracked in the explosion. Police suspect NCP cadres’ involvement in the incident.

Similarly, a bomb disposal squad of the Nepali Army defused a bomb planted at gate-1 of Pokhara airport today. DSP Khagda Bahadur Karki at District Police Office, Kaski, said a petrol bomb was found near the airport gate after the home minister and chiefs of security department reached the programme venue.

DSP Karki added that the home minister and other officials were on their way to attend a security workshop organised by Province 4 in Pokhara. The NA technical team defused the petrol bomb.

Likewise, a bomb disposal team from the Nepali Army defused a pressure cooker bomb that was found at Madi Bridge of Byas Municipality in Tanahun today. The team deployed from Shree No 3 Bahini Khairanitar defused the bomb at around 9:00am today.

DSP Sunil Malla at District Police Office, Tanahun, said that 33 detonators and some white powder was kept inside the pressure cooker.

Police said that the news of bomb at a bridge  along the Prithivi Highway sent the passengers into panic. The passengers started running helter-skelter due to fear, said police. The NA team defused the bomb.