Biplav caused explosion at Baskota’s house as “punishment for his corruption”

POLICE ARREST CPN DISTRICT MEMBER IN CONNECTION WITH THE BLAST

KATHMANDU, March 11: The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Netra Bikram Chanda ‘Biplav’ caused the explosion at former Communication and Information Technology Minister Gokul Baskota’s private house in Lokanthali as “punishment for his corruption”, according to a report.

A pressure cooker bomb went off at Baskota’s under-construction house today morning, causing damages to the compound wall, a parked mini-van and his neighbor’s house. No injuries were reported.

Baskota, who resigned on Feb 20 following the Rs 700 million bribe deal controversy, has been living in Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s house in Balkot since he was appointed the minister.

A handout recovered by eratokhabar entitled “Why punish corrupt Baskota!” from the blast site — in which Chand group admits to the blast — has pointed out a number of reasons for punishing the ex-minister.

According to the handout, published by the online portal, the CPN punished Baskota for misusing his position as government spokesperson to commit corruption, for demanding Rs 700 million bribe in planned procurement of security printing press, embezzling millions of rupees in the procurement of satellite worth Rs 24 billion, expansion of 4G service worth 19 billion, expansion of optical fiber worth Rs 10 billion and masterminding the restriction of CPN. 

Meanwhile, the police have held CPN Bhaktapur District Committee member Dev Gurung from Jadibuti in connection with the explosion.

Gurung has been taken to Metropolitan Police Range, Teku for interrogation.