An improvised explosive device went off at the building of Chulachuli Rural Municipality in Ilam on Saturday, causing a minor damage to the facility.

According to Sub-inspector Dev Raj KC of the Peltimari Police Post, the pressure cooker bomb exploded at around 8pm. It is not immediately clear who planted the device, said KC.

The meeting hall got a crater while window panes were shattered. There were minor damages in other rooms as well.

“We heard a big blast in the evening,” Chairman of the Rural Municipality Pradeep Chandra Rai said.

“It’s not been established who planted the IED.

“If anyone has any problem, it should be resolved through discussion. It’s not good to destroy public property by planting a bomb,” said Rai.

According to Vice-chairperson Nirmala Dahal, two cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal had come to the office three months ago and urged officials to control corruption.

“Corruption is taking place in the development works of Ward 9 and Chulachuli Forest. We want a corruption-free society. We are taking action against the corrupt,” Dahal quoted the Maoist cadres as saying then.

According to Dahal, they had warned of planting IEDs at various places as part of their campaign against corruption.