Polls largely peaceful: Govt

KATHMANDU, NOV 20 - Barring aside sporadic violence like bomb explosions and clashes, and disruption from poll-opposing parties, the government on Tuesday said the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election was largely peaceful across the country. 

An eight-year-old boy was seriously injured in a bomb explosion at Bhotebahal in Kathmandu. Police said the explosive went off when Samir Khadgi mistook a ‘wrapped object’ for a toy. Dr Buland Thapa, director at Bir Hospital, said the boy’s right hand had to be amputated. 

The Home Ministry said 25 people were injured in various incidents across the country during polling. Ministry spokesperson Shanker Koirala said security forces arrested 37 persons for their involvement in various anti- election activities. Also, bombs went off in 16 places across the country, he said. 

Addressing a press meet, secretary of the ministry Janardhan Nepal said tight security at polling stations was the main reason for the people to cast their ballot without much fear.

The government had deployed over 200,000 security personnel from all the four security agencies across the country. “The work division for each of the forces was exemplary,” Army spokesperson Brig Gen Jagadish Chandra Pokhrel said. Home secretary Nepal said ballot boxes were taken to counting centres amid tight security. 

“Ballot boxes in rural parts of the country have already been taken to the counting centres, while we may use helicopters to make sure that the boxes reach the centres safely,” said Nepal.