A group of unidentified persons hurled an improvised explosive device (IED) targetring Industry Minister and federal parliamentary election candidate Sunil Bahadur Thapa at Dhankuta on Friday.

According to a source, the IED exploded near Faksing River at Saptingtar, Khalsa Chintang Sahid Bhumi Rural Municipality in the district at around 7:30 am this morning. Minister Thapa is also the general secretary of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Prajatantrik.

Sources informed that even though the perpetrators had targeted the Minister’s vehicle there was not casualty as the vehicle had already moved about 200metres ahead from the IED explosion site.

District Police Chief Sudeep Rajbhandari confirmed of the IED explosion. He, however, said that further details regarding the incident will come as soon as the police team reaches the incident site.

Likewise, Chief District Officer Prem Prakash Upreti informed that investigation is underway regarding the explosion.