The government has intensified action against the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Netra Bikram Chand after receiving information that the party has intensified terror of extortion and started to build military structures.
The government has become serious after knowing that Chand has started to build shelters even outside the country and started to stay on both sides of the border.
Sources with the Nepal Police and the Prime Minister’s Office have told Setopati that party spokesperson and second in command behind Chand, Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma, a senior leader of the military wing, and 10 central members of the party have been arrested recently. Many district level leaders and cadres have also been nabbed.
“We believe we have arrested a very senior leader who oversees the military wing,” the police source said. “We are investigating to find out if he is the chief of the military wing or there is another person above him and below Chand,” the source added without revealing the name of the leader due to security sensitivity. The Cabinet source also confirmed arrest of a senior military leader of the party.
“This can be a big problem in the future if we don’t pay attention to security and take Chand Maoists lightly even now,” the Cabinet source stated. “We have, therefore, intensified arrest of their leaders and cadres”
The police source claimed that the party has extorted around Rs 250-300 million, and added that it has started military training and construction of military structures after collecting such a huge amount.
PM KP Sharma Oli during the meeting with editors Monday morning also hinted that the challenge is getting serious without naming the Chand Maoists. “Some elements have started mining of violence now,” PM Oli said hinting toward the Chand Maoists. “They are non-political, anti-social and terrorist activities. A civilized society cannot accept that.”
PM Oli then started to list the recent violent activities by Chand Maoists. “Legs of a Nepali Congress leader were chopped in Udaypur during the election. This is a criminal act. An unarmed mother and her son were attacked in Rautahat. Some don’t have hands, others legs. A temporary policeman was killed. A leader was attacked in Bhojpur. A leader’s vehicle in Nuwakot was attacked.”
PM Oli also hinted at connivance of the Chand Maoists with external powers. “It is difficult to even lock such elements. It is difficult to exactly know the extent of their links. We cannot say who are supporting them. Backing them. This is a frightening thing,” he stated.
The police source was a bit upbeat, and claimed that the party has been weakened a lot after arrest of Bishwokarma and the senior military leader. “Bishwokarma is the main leader overseeing the finances and organization. The Chand group has suffered a big setback after his arrest,” the source reasoned.
The source added that Bishwokarma and other senior Maoist leaders will not be set free easily. The government has been repeatedly arresting Bishwokarma from the Supreme Court (SC) premises itself after being released by the Apex Court.
Bishwokarma was arrested while coming to Kathmandu from Hetauda on August 7. The police have charged him of unleashing terror of extortion. The Kathmandu District Court extended his judicial custody.
The joint bench of Justices Cholendra Shumsher Rana and Tej Bahadur KC hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by his younger brother Birendra Bishwokarma had ordered the former minister’s release on August 17 deeming that he was not involved in punishable activities as per the Donation Act 1973.
The SC released him but the police did not.
The police immediately rearrested Bishwokarma from the main gate of the court. Bishwokarma had stayed inside the court for around five hours after the order anticipating his arrest.
Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Sudip Pathak tried to escort Bishwokarma in his vehicle but was obstructed by the police. Bishwokarma himself got off from the vehicle and gave his arrest after a standoff of around an hour at the main gate of SC.
He was then taken to Kavre. He has been accused of explosions at Bluesite Store Crusher in Namo Buddha on the Nepali New Year Day in April. The police had arrested Mohan Karki and Krishna Dhamala of the party and tried them. Bishwokarma was listed as absconding.
Four tippers, two excavators and a JCB heavy equipment were destroyed in the explosions.
Birendra filed another habeas corpus petition at the SC on August 19 after the case in Kavre moved forward.
Justices Kedar Prasad Chalise and Purushottam Bhandari ordered his release on August 23 stating that rearresting him without completing legal procedures cannot be deemed legal.
He was arrested again at 7:45 in the evening from the court gate that day itself. He was then taken to Nuwakot where a case has been filed accusing him of explosion at an Ncell tower.
Justice Kedar Prasad Chalise hearing the latest petition on August 26 ordered the police to produce him before the court within 24 hours.
He will have to be produced at the court by 10 Tuesday morning as there was public holiday in Kathmandu Valley on Monday for Gaijatra.
The government is not in the mood to release him despite repeated court orders.
He has another pending case in Bhojpur related to bombing the vehicle carrying the current Province 1 Chief Minister Sher Dhan Rai on November 14, 2017 ahead of the general elections. The Bhojpur District Court had issued an arrest warrant, and a notice was pasted on his house in Naraharinath in Kalikot asking him to report to the court.
Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, a fellow comrade during the Maoist insurgency, has also hinted at the harsh government stance against Bishwokarma. “Bishwokarma has been arrested for unleashing terror of extortion and violent activities against the state. He is a criminal as he has violated the laws and rules,” Minister Thapa had stated addressing a program in Chitwan on August 10.
