Maoist cadre captured two Armed Police Force trucks ferrying arms to the capital last night. According to the Home Ministry the trucks were carrying “explosives, bullets and training logistics for the Armed Police Personnel”.

According to Republica:

The Maoists have taken strong exception to arms import by the Armed Police Force, calling it a breach of the CPA, and they have decided to raise the issue with the government and the high-level political mechanism.

But instead, they headed to Naubise and took the trucks under control, writes The Kathmandu Post:

Two APF vehicles (a truck and an escorting vehicle) managed to move ahead from Dharke, only to be stopped at Naubise. The Maoists and police clashed in Naubise when the former tried to take the vehicles under their control. A few Maoist cadre, including Maoist CA member Pushpa Bikram Malla, sustained injuries in the clash. The Maoist leaders, including Janardan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’ and Lekhraj Bhatta, had gone to Naubise last night after the incident.

Security forces managed to release the trucks only on Saturday morning and brought the vehicles to the APF Headquarters at Halchwok. A large number of security personnel were mobilised to secure the arms and ammunition-laden trucks, which were brought from APF’s training school at Bardaghat.

The arms were being imported from India.

"United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has called on the government and the Maoists not to involve themselves in any activities including making public statements against the peace process, but the UN body stated that investigation of the arms import doesn't fall under its jurisdiction", Republica further notes.

According to the CPA:

5.1.2. Both sides shall not recruit additional armed forces or conduct military activities, including transporting weapons, ammunitions and explosives.

However, the security forces deployed by the interim government shall have authority to conduct routine patrol, explore in order to prevent illegal trafficking of the weapons, explosives or raw materials used in assembling weapons at the international border or custom points and seize it.

5.1.6. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force shall give continuity to the task of maintaining legal system and law and order along with criminal investigation as per the norms and sentiments of the Jana Andolan and peace accord as well as prevailing law.

--------------

About the rumours of the banda tomorrow: Apparently Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal has called a banda in the capital tomorrow demanding a referendum on constitutional monarchy, federalism and secularism.