Police have intensified search to nab the leaders and cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist in Bajhang and Dolpa districts after the rise in attacks targeting election candidates across the country.

Police on Monday arrested CPN Maoist’s Dolpa secretary Rajesh Buda for his involvement in holding anti-election activities in various places of the district, devising plans to attack election candidates, threatening candidates, pasting anti-election posters on the houses of candidates and threatening voters, said Chief District Officer Keshav Raj Acharya.

There are 66 election centres in Dolpa out of which 36 are categorised as highly sensitive, 18 sensitive and 15 normal from security point of view, informed CDO Acharya.

According to the CDO, security checks have been tightened at entry points to Dolpa in order to identify the non-residents of Dolpa who could hold anti-election activities in the district.

In Bajhang district, police have arrested CPN Maoist cadre Haridatta Awasti of Bitthad Chir Rural Municipality. Two days ago Chand Maoist’s district committee member of Bajhang, Jog Kathaya, had been arrested.

Likewise, police searched the houses of CPN Maoist members and former lawmaker Shankar Khadka, central Janaparishad advisor member Dhan Bahadur Malla, district Janaparishad Bajhang Chairman Chandra Bahadur Singh, former secretariat member of All Nepal National Independent Union Bharat Malla, among other leaders and cadres of CPN Maoist.

According to sources, the police failed to arrest them as they had fled before police reached their houses.

Meanwhile, the district leaders of CPN Maoist have expressed anger over the police crackdown on the party cadres without committing any crimes.