Kathmandu: Three women were seriously injured in a powerful bomb blast in central
Kathmandu even as King Gyanendra, on the occasion of Nepal's 13th Constitution Day,
hinted in his message to the nation that political parties were responsible for the
current chaos in the country.
The bomb, suspected to have been planted by Maoists, exploded at 6:15 am local time
on a crowded road near the domestic sales counter of the Nepal Airlines, seriously
injuring three elderly women who were going to a nearby Hindu temple for their
morning worship, police said.
The explosion smashed glasses of the Nepal Airlines building and some other nearby
buildings.
The injured were admitted to the Bir Hospital where their situation is reported to
be serious.
Police has so far arrested nine people in connection with the blast.
Meanwhile, King Gyanendra, in his message to the nation on the occasion of the
Constitution Day, stressed on the need to create an environment of understanding and
consensus among all with a cultured exercise of multi-party Democracy.
The King also reiterated the nation's dedication towards achieving the ideals of the
Constitution but hinted that political parties were responsible for the current
situation in the country.
"As everyone is aware, the inability to develop a character, conduct and commitment
in conformity with Democratic values and norms resulted in increasing aberration,
which not only made the objectives of the Constitution unachievable but also led to
Constitutional difficulties," the King said in a statement.
To commemorate the Constitution Day, the caretaker Lokendra Bahadur Chand government
has released 118 prisoners from various prisons across the country.
The remaining jail term of the prisoners has been pardoned, according to the
department of prison management.
The Maoists have also intensified their activities in different parts of the country
including the capital Kathmandu ahead of their three-day general strike beginning
from November 11.
The rebels had announced the nationwide shut-down to coincide with the November 13
general elections, which were later postponed indefinitely by King Gyanendra through
his October 4 announcement dissolving the Deuba government.
However, the Maoists are carrying on with the proposed three-day strike.
PTI
