KATHMANDU: As many as 13 people, who are allegedly affiliated with an underground armed outfit named Mangol Mulbasi Rastriya Force, were arrested along with lethal weapons, explosives and several documents, the Nepal Police said.

The suspects include the least heard of armed group's chieftain Upendra Gharti Magar, who is also the western region in-charge, Prithivi Narayan Limbu the eastern region in-charge and Temdi Sherpa the central region in-charge.

Police identified the arrestees as Upendra Gharti Magar, who uses sever aliases including Uttam Magar, Karna Bahdur Budha, Juntara Budha Magar and Upendra Magar Jang, of Rukum; Prithvi Narayan Limbu of Taplejung; Temdi Sherpa aka Dawa aka Nima Chhiri Sherpa of Ramechhap; Sachin Palungwa Limbu aka Shashi Limbu of Panchthar; Subas Rai aka Subas Chandra Kiranti of Khotang; Rabin Shrestha of Sindhupalchok; Ban Bahadur Syanbo of Sindhupalchok;l Ajaya Tamang of Sindhupalchok; Ram Bahadur Budha Magar of Rolpa; Lok Bahadur Budha Magar of Rolpa; Chandra Bir Gharti Magar of Rolpa; Dujman Gharti Magar of Rolpa; and Jog Bahadur Gharti Magar of Ropla.

The suspects were paraded by the Metropolitan Police Office at its office in Ranipokhari today. The MPO said it swung into action after receiving a tip-off that the outfit was active in the Kathmandu Valley and arrested seven of them from Bhaktapur on different dates this week.

Police discovered several forged documents including citizenship issued in two of his aliases and a driving license besides the outfit's documents from its chieftain's possession.

Rabin Shrestha was arrested from Sindhupalchok, while Ram Bahadur Budha Magar, Lok Bahadur Budha Magar, Chandra Bir Budha Magar, Dujman Budha Magar and Jog Bahadur Budha Magar from Rolpa.

According to the MPO, several people affiliated with underground extremist groups, including Mangol National Force, Mangol Mulbasi Force (Kirant) and Sanyukta Jateeya Mukti Morcha had ganged up to form the Force last year, apparently with an objective to "overthrow the current state and structure".

The outfit, however, was indulged in criminal activities. Their modus operandi included attacking police stations to seize arms, and robbing as well as intimidating banks, financial institutions and individual entrepreneurs to collect funds. They planned to rob yarshagumba collectors and traders in Rukum also, and had made futile attempts to rob passenger buses twice in the past.

Rukum District Court had convicted the chieftain Magar of treason six years ago as per the Crime Against State and Punishment Act 1989 after it was found out that he was making arrangements for military logistics. A six-month sentence was slapped against him but he was on the run, the MPO said.

Likewise, Prithvi Narayan Limbu was arrested on charge of carrying out explosion and forceful donation collection in Jhapa last year, the MPO said.

Temdi Sherpa was affiliated with Sanyukta Jateeya Morcha that carried out fatal explosions outside the Nepal Oil Corporation's office in Babarmahal six years ago, according to the MPO. He was arrested in possession of explosives three years ago and convicted by the court.