Police on Friday seized a huge cache of explosive materials from Panchapuri Municipality-11.  Acting on a tip-off, security personnel seized 60 detonators, 555 gelatins and 22 mitres of fuse wire from a jeep (Dha 1 Ja 106) in Dhunge Bazaar. 

Superintendent of Police Mohan Kumar Acharya said the driver has been arrested and that a detailed investigation is underway. 

Preliminary investigation shows that the explosives were brought from India through Kailali. 

“The materials might have been brought by some anti-election groups,” said Acharya. Police have also seized a cell phone from the vehicle. 

An unidentified group had hurled two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting an election motorcade of CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Janardan Sharma, who is also a minister without portfolio, at Chaurjahari Municipality-8 in Rukum on Friday.

Similarly, former finance minister and Maoist Centre candidate for federal parliament from Rolpa Barsha Man Pun’s vehicle was ambushed at Sukudaha in Rolpa on Saturday. There were no human casualties in both the incidents. 

Last week, Surkhet police arrested a former Maoist combatant Dal Bahadur Kami with four detonators, some safety fuses, switches, holders and handcuffs from Chhinchu. The suspect was taking the explosives to Jajarkot, said police.