Links between royalists and NDA to disrupt Nepal polls

Kathmandu, Feb 21 (UNI) A little-known group, Nepal Defence Army, which exploded a bomb during the seven parties' mass meeting here recently, has links with the royalists to disrupt the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls.

Kathmandu Valley in charge Kailash Bahadur Singh, who was arrested recently, revealed at a press meet in Metropolitan Police Range Office at Hanumandhoka yesterday that pro-palace leaders were scheduled to meet the group's members in the capital this week to discuss strategies to derail the CA election, Kantipur reported today.

Singh, who was arrested from Dillibazaar on Tuesday evening, told mediapersons that all Valley-based cadres of the armed outfit had been asked to attend the meeting that was scheduled to be held at a hotel in the capital tomorrow.

''All nationalist youths had been invited to attend the meeting to discuss strategies,'' he said.

The paper quoted Singh as saying that his group has 1,200 armed cadres. He also claimed that the organisation was spread in various western districts including Rolpa, Rukum, Dang, Banke, Bardiya and Kailali.

Police have recovered two kg gun powder, two kg iron pieces used for explosive devices, and seven meters of electric wires, besides two pistols, 13 rounds of live bullets, pamphlets and donation receipts from him.

He is allegedly involved in the murder of at least three persons, apart from extorting and issuing threats to a large number of people.

UNI XC SKB AS1606