An unknown gang detonated an improvised explosive device on Monday at Trikota Rural Municipality in Libang, the headquarters of Rolpa district.

The locals said that they heard a loud bang and smoke after the IED was set off at the jungle nearby Trikota at Rolpa Municipality-4 at around 1:15pm today.

The police immediately reached the incident site and officials are investigating the matter. Police suspect that the IED explosion was carried out to protest the visit of Province 5 Chief Minister Shankar Pokharel, who had arrived in Rolpa to take part in a programme.

CM Pokharel was in Rolpa to hold discussions with officials of all the local levels regarding development works and security in the province. Another programme, Rolpa Gurans Literary Festival, was also underway in the area when the incident occurred.

Many people who had arrived in Libang to participate in the programme, including from Kathmandu, were in a state of fear following the explosion.

Despite the explosion, CM Pokharel, State Law Minister Kul Prasad KC, and other officials are still planning to go to various other villages in the province as per their schedule.