The authorities reached such conclusion following arrests of individuals who were on the run after committing crimes. They also speculated that the group could have been backed by mainstream political parties.

A police team, earlier, arrested Prahash Ijam Limbu of Thechambu-2 and Manoj Limbu of Lelep-1 in Taplejung last week from Phidim in connection with the robbery in the Gopetar-based house of UCPN (Maoists) district committee member Madan Gautam a month ago. The two are among seven people suspected to have been involved in the robbery.

Police said they also arrested Nar Bikram Limbu of Ikhabu-9 and Sagar Limbu of Lelep-1, in Taplejung, for possessing arms and ammunition and Deshe Limbu of Ikhabu-8 and Dambar Bahadur Darji of Terahthum on the charge of exploding a bomb in front of District Police Office in Taplejung.

Investigation has revealed that the same group was creating terror in eastern districts, including Taplejung, Pancthar, Morang, Ilam and Jhapa, under the name of Kirant Limbuwan Rajya Parishad, Limbuwan Krantikari Party, Limbuwan Bhumimukti Rashtriya Party and others. “We found that the group was involved in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, murder, amassing weapons, bomb blasts and spreading pamphlets demanding ethnic state, to terrorise people under the guise of underground political outfits,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Pokhrel said.

Pokhrel said they were an organised group using politics for criminal activities.

He said all the arrestees were found to be involved in more than half a dozen criminal activities. He said despite engaging in repetitive criminal activities, the group had managed to give it a political color. DSP Shanti Raj Koirala of Taplejung said most of the members of the group were convicted criminals and those suspended from political parties. Meanwhile, police said the arrest of Manish Hellok and Darshan Limbu of Tapethok-8 in Taplejung was a serious blow to the group. Hellok is the alleged leader of the group that kidnapped representatives of contractors of Kabeli Hydropower Project.