The govt must take bold steps to curb the violent acts resorted to by the outlawed CPN and maintain peace in the country

The bomb blasts at three places of the capital left four cadres of the outlawed Netra Bikram Chandled Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) dead and seven others injured on Sunday. One person was killed on the spot at Gattekulo and three others breathed their last when a pressure cooker bomb went off at a barber’s shop at Sukedhara. According to police, the persons who were killed in the bomb explosions were CPN cadres, who were making time bombs to detonate them at public places. Had the bombs gone off at public places where a large number of people usually gather, they would have caused huge human casualties and physical destruction. A special bomb-disposal squad of the Nepali Army defused pressure cooker bombs at Koteshwor, Gwarko and Gattekulo, where one CPN cadre, identified as Prajwal Shahi, was killed inside a rented room, where he and his accomplice were making improvised explosive devices using a LPG cylinder. One CPN cadre, namely Surendra Maharjan, who was allegedly involved in placing a bomb at Ncell’s office at Nakkhu on March 12, was also injured. The leaflets recovered from the scenes indicate that the CPN cadres were preparing to inflict huge human casualties at public places on the eve of their Nepal bandh.

All of the persons, who were killed or injured in the bomb blasts, including the one at Nagdhunga, are cidental explosions, security personnel, including the Nepali Army, swung into action, cordoning off the houses and the barber’s shop. Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa also held an emergency meeting with the security officials and instructed them to remain on high alert to foil similar acts across the country. He also briefed both the Houses of the Federal Parliament about the incident on Monday. What is frustrating to note is that the Home Ministry was totally clueless about the preparations being made by the CPN cadres in the heart of the capital. It shows utter weaknesses on the part of the intelligence agency.

The violence that the CPN has resorted to makes little sense when the country has already achieved federalism, inclusive democracy and secularism, which were the major demands of the second Jana Andolan. No political party or group needs to raise arms or resort to violence when the country has adopted an inclusive constitution, which has also guaranteed the rights of all citizens. The Chand-led CPN has no political or ideological ground to raise arms as whatever grievances it may have can be raised through peaceful means and by taking part in the periodic elections. Keeping in view Sunday’s blasts, the government must act strongly and swiftly to punish the miscreants severely so that anyone will think twice before embarking on a similar mission in the future. The impunity enjoyed by the strong, especially the political forces, for too long has led to a breakdown of law and order in the country. The government should show no mercy this time and nip the destructive elements in the bud. If the government fails to maintain law and order, it will not be able to attract foreign investment in the country. There must be no room for any kind of violence in the country.

Control stray dogs

The Agriculture and Livestock Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) claims that it has successfully managed stray dogs in the capital.

However, the fact is just the opposite when one pays a visit to the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku. Hospital data shows that around 150 patients come there every day for anti-rabies vaccines.

Records show that 40 per cent of the patients were bitten by stray dogs while the rest were bitten by their own pets. The figure is alarming and should not be taken lightly. It means that the KMC has done very little to control the number of stray dogs.

The data provided by the hospital excludes those patients visiting private clinics. Children are most likely to be bitten by dogs as they love to play with dogs and poke them for fun. Parents should alert their kids to be careful even with their pets. Pet dogs should also be vaccinated regularly, and mass awareness should be launched about the danger of rabies, which becomes fatal if the vaccine is not administered shortly after being bitten by a rabid dog. According to the KMC, there are around 82,000 stray dogs in the capital, and only a fraction of them have been given anti-rabies vaccine.