Huge blast in Maoist's rented room in Palpa

PALPA, March 15: A powerful explosion on Thursday afternoon damaged a building in Kailashnagar, Tansen. The building that housed Paschimanchal FM was also rented by local Maoist leaders.



The explosion in the room rented by Maoist district secretary Netra Pande did not, however, result in human casualty despite presence of four Maoist cadres, including district in-charge Basanta Sharma and three FM staffers in the three-story building at the time of explosion. [break]



Sharma was on the first floor, where the explosion occurred, the FM staffers on the top floor broadcasting the three-pm news bulletin and other Maoist cadres on the ground floor.



“Pandey was not in his room. Suddenly there was a big explosion and I jumped into the adjoining building for safety,” Sharma said. FM journalists on the top floor also jumped from the roof top.



The rooms rented by Pandey and Sharma have been completely damaged in the explosion while walls, doors and windows of four other rooms have also been damaged. The adjoining house of journalist Jagadish Bhattarai and three more houses in the surrounding have also suffered damages.



Police and Chandi Prasad Battalion of Nepal Army are investigating the incident. “We have recovered explosives, detonator and some shells from the site.



A special force has been called from Butwal for investigation,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Meera Chaudhary.

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