The police seized the sticks at a security checkpoint at Khawa village along the Araniko Highway while being transported to Kathmandu on a Tata Mobile Van. The vehicle, owned by one Madan Bahadur Shrestha, otherwise used to transport milk from the Kavre-based Himalayan Dairy to Kathmandu every day.
In his statement to police, vehicle driver Santosh Timilsina conceded that the sticks were being taken to Kathmandu, via Tinpiple of Panchkhal.
According to a police source, the sticks were prepared at a community forest in Patlekhet village. The community forest users have complained that the sticks were made in the forest without the user group´s approval.
The group´s chairman Pushparaj Chaulagain, secretary Man Bahadur Tamang and member Nawaraj Humagain permitted the Maoists to make the sticks, according to other members of the group.
The sticks were made on Saturday and sent to Kathmandu Sunday evening. The government has strictly ordered the police to keep vigilance on vehicles carrying sticks and other such materials to Kathmandu from the surrounding districts in light of the Maoists´ May 1 demonstration.
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