Two individuals were arrested in Pokhara on February 15 on charges of collecting donations by issuing threats while claiming to be Maoist cadres.
Those arrested are Laxman Pandey alias Agni, 32 of Vyas Municipality–13, Chhabdi, Tanahun, and Bhimsen Pariyar, 37 of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality–2, Kaski. According to police, Pandey is a central committee member of the Nepal Communist Party (Bahumat), while Pariyar is the district secretary of the same party. The District Police Office, Kaski, stated that a joint team deployed from the Nepal Police Provincial Office, Pokhara, and the District Police Office, Kaski, carried out the arrests.
DSP and Information Officer of Kaski Police Hari Bahadur Basnet said that investigation procedures have been initiated against both individuals under offences related to the Donation Act, and permission has been obtained from the Kaski District Court to keep them in custody for five days for further investigation. Basnet also informed that police surveillance has been intensified to prevent illegal extortion and intimidation in the name of donations ahead of the elections.