Defence Army members arrested

Police on Thursday made public five members of Nepal Defense Army (NDA) who were arrested for finding involved in bomb explosion cases at Thapathali and Peepal Bot, New Road, in Kathmandu.

The NDA is a Hindu extremist group and demanding re-declaration of Nepal as a Hindu kingdom.

On the accuse of terrorizing public and extorting 27 individuals, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has arrested 28-year-old Pulis Bishwas aka Jagat Narayan Chaudhary of Morang, 26-year-old Pramod Kumar Mahato aka Pariwartan of Sarlahi, 26-year-old Nirmal Lama aka Bishal of Makwanpur, 30-year-old Jagat Bahadur Thapa aka DSP Prakash of Nawalparasi and 22-year-old Cham Bahadur Thapa “Rajan” of Tanahun from different locations.

According to the CIB, the mastermind behind the series of bomb blasts in the Capital was Phani Raj Mainali, the NDA’s supreme commander who is currently serving a jail term at Dillibazar prison since 2009 after being convicted of attacking churches and other religious places.

Police said they had found that the communication was going on between Mainali and his group members through letters delivered by Jagat Bahadur Thapa. Police have confiscated five mobile sets, two SIM cards and letters written by Mainali from those arrested.