A cadre of Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal has died after an improvised explosive device malfunctioned in Dhangadi on Thursday.

District Police Office DSP Daksha Kumar Basnet informed that Ram Singh, who was seriously injured after an IED he was carrying in his backpack detonated, died while undergoing treatment at the Maya Metro Hospital. Singh had entered a hotel for a cup of tea when the IED placed inside a tiffin-box exploded, leaving four others injured.

According to the police, another CPN cadre Laxman Serala, hotel operator Keshav Raj Pandey, Jitendra Yadav and Mubin Khan were injured during the incident. Of them, Serala is reported to be in serious condition.

Police have recovered a Chinese-made pistol, one tester and a notebook from Singh’s bag, according to Basnet. Meanwhile, security has been heightened following the incident in Dhangadi.

In May, four people died and three others were injured in two separate explosions in the Capital. Three people were killed when a cooking gas cylinder exploded inside a hair salon in Sukedhara and the fourth person died in another cylinder explosion in Ghattekulo.

The Chand party, whose activities have been banned by the government, has attempted to unleash terror among people in a grim reminder of the days during the Maoist insurgency.

The party was involved in two blasts in the Capital—one outside Ncell office in February and another at a private residence in March. One person had died and two others were injured in the February blast. 

The government in March declared the Chand party a criminal outfit. Police have arrested hundreds of Chand party leaders over the months, even as the government says it is open to talks.