Kalikot Police has arrested Bheri-Karnali incharge of the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Dhan Raj Shahi on Monday.
Shahi, who hails from Jubiya-8 Libuwa in Kalikot, has been arrested from Molpa Ratadabad as he was planning to attack a police patrol team and detonating bombs at different places, according to chief of Kalikot Police DSP Binod Sharma.
The police also recovered gelignite (blasting gelatin), electric cords and other materials used to prepare improvised explosive devices from Shahi.
Shahi is also the chief of the people's government formed by the party in the district. "He will be taken to the court on Tuesday after studying what cases are attracted against him," Sharma told Setopati. Sharma claimed that Shahi has been involved in expansion of the party's organization and destructive activities including detonating bombs.
The party's trade union incharge in the district Bharat Shahi has also been arrested. DSP Sharma also claimed that deputy military incharge in the district Ramesh Chadara has surrendered after the police intensified action against the party. "He has surrendered before the police pledging allegiance to the Constitution," Sharma stated.
Kalikot, the home district of spokesperson of Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma, is the area of influence of Chand-led Maoists in Karnali.
Bishwokarma, who hails from Malkot in Narharinath rural municipality 6, has expanded 'challenging influence' in Malkot, according to the police. Construction of a 2100-square foot martyr memorial building and party headquarter has been started at Malkot under his leadership.
A 16-kilometer access road to the party headquarter is being constructed.
Thirteen leaders of the party including politburo, central and Bheri-Karnali bureau members come from the district.
Bishwokarma has handed the party's command in 45 districts including Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, and all the districts in Karnali to those from his district. Bhirendra Upadhyaya is the party chairman in Kathmandu and Navin BK in Lalitpur. BK is considered to be the mastermind of Nakkhu bombing and is said to be hiding in Kalikot.
