An unidentified group hurled two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting the election motorcade of Janardan Sharma, the CPN (Maoist Centre) federal parliamentary election candidate and minister without portfolio, at Goiri in Chaurjahari Municipality-8, West Rukum, on Friday.

The motorcade was travelling to Simli of Sanobheri Rural Municipality when it came under attack. The first IED exploded after landing on one of the vehicles while the second one failed to go off, a member of Sharma’s election team told the Post.

There were no casualties.

Gopal Sharma, left alliance’s provincial assembly candidate; Chandra Bahadur BK, proportional representative candidate for federal parliament; Bimala KC, provincial assembly candidate; and Devi Oli, CPN-UML’s proportional representative candidate for provincial assembly, among others, were also travelling in the motorcade.

 Police said the explosives, packed inside energy drink cans, were aimed at the vehicle carrying the Maoist minister.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajendra Dhamala said a manhunt had been launched to nab the suspects.

It is possible the perpetrators are linked with the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), whose functionaries had hoisted a black flag outside Sharma’s house as a symbol of protest a few days earlier, DSP Dhamala said.

Chandra Bahadur Budha, district secretary of CPN, denied his party’s role in the incident.

The left alliance of CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN-UML has condemned the attack and demanded local administration to arrest the persons responsible.