Transport operators' rivalry suspected behind IED blast

JUMLA, Sept 23: An improvized explosive device (IED) went off at the head office of Karnali Transportation Entrepreneurs' Association in Khalanga, district headquarters of Jumla, at around 1:30am on Wednesday. After the explosion, terrified locals said they have been feeling more insecure since the passing of the new constitution.

"We could not go to bed after the bomb went off around 1am," said Karbire Rawat, a local. "It reminded me of the conflict era in the country."The transport entrepreneurs' office building sustained partial damage in the blast with its ticket counter completely destroyed. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bishnu Hari Koirala said thet he suspected the IED to be a pressure-cooker bomb. The association claimed that they have incurred millions of losses in the explosion.

"We are committed to strengthen district's security to avert such incidents in future," said Koirala. "We have already initiated an investigation into the incident. The guilty will be arrested at the earliest," he added.

The police said preliminary investigations point to the disputes between transport operators as the reason behind the blast. There used to be frequent clashes in Jumla between Karnali and Mid-West transportation operators.

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