A helicopter carrying Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Balen Shah, who was flying to Jhapa, has returned to Kathmandu.
Shah is a candidate for the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5.
After casting his vote early morning in Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Shah boarded a helicopter from Tribhuvan International Airport to travel to Jhapa.
According to Pradeep Gautam of Heli Everest, the helicopter was turned back after traveling 52 nautical miles.
"After reaching 52 miles away, he asked to return to Kathmandu," Gautam said. "The helicopter then turned back."
He said that there was no technical reason behind the helicopter’s return.
Surendra Bajagain, a close aide of Shah, said that although permission had been obtained to use the helicopter, they returned to Kathmandu due to security reasons.
According to Bajagain, permission to use the helicopter had been obtained on March 4 itself and it was used only after obtaining permission. However, security agencies advised against traveling to Jhapa, he said.
He did not specify which security agency gave such advice.
"The security agency asked us to return," Bajgai said. "We returned after receiving such advice. There is no other reason.”
