Kathmandu, September 4, 2007

Police today claimed to have got a ‘lead’ in the case of the multiple explosions that took place at Sundhara, Tripureshwor and Balaju on Sunday. “We have got a lead into the investigations,” Joint-commissioner SSP Upendra Kanta Aryal at the Metropolitan Police Crime Division, said. He, however, declined to specify the lead. Aryal, who is a member of the special investigation team, also denied to disclose evidence on the basis of which the team got the lead. He hinted at having identified the culprits, but didn’t say that categorically. “We need to verify before making it public,” Aryal told this daily. “The preliminary report is expected by tomorrow evening.” He said that police raided a number of places, guest houses and rounded up around two dozen persons during primary investigation. The special investigation team also comprises Deputy Inspector Generals of Police Ramesh Shrestha and KB Rana, and SP Devendra Subedi. The police official said that security has been tightened in the capital after Sunday’s incident. “We have mobilised maximum human resources and directed all police offices to intensify checking in every major point of the capital,” the police official added. SP Sarbendra Khanal at the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, said that special security measurers have been adopted at all the transit points of Valley. “Security personnel are letting vehicles going out and coming in only after thoroughly checking them,” he said, adding: “These measures have been taken with the objective not to give any chance to the culprits to go out of the Valley.” Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has condemned the blasts.

PM to clarify on republican agenda soon, say Maoist commanders

Kathmandu, September 4, 2007

Maoist commanders today said that their combatants in the cantonments should be given ‘role’ in election campaign.

The commanders also quoted Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to have said today that he would clarify on the agenda of republic within four days. “The PM has promised that he would clarify on the agenda of republic within four days,” said Janardan Sharma (Prabhakar), who is also a lawmaker. Koirala talked to the Maoist commanders for about “15 minutes” at Baluwatar today.

The Maoist commanders had been to Baluwatar to submit a memorandum to Koirala to warn him that the PLA will go for struggle if their demands were not met.

A copy of the memorandum has also been submitted to the UNMIN.“As the peace agreement has secured rights of PLA and Nepali Army to cast votes, we have demanded that the PLA be allowed to conduct political activities and also play a role in order to make an environment for CA election,” said Nanda Kishor Pun (Pasang).