Thursday, March 23 2006 12:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Over a dozen Armed Police Force personnel raided the residence of the Nepal Communist Party's (UML) top leader and snatched all communication equipment.

Security personnel stormed the Koteshwor house of Madhav Kumar Nepal, the party's general secretary, without warning yesterday and took away a computer, fax machine, telephone and one cordless set, party sources said.

"The men, who did not possess a search warrant, also disconnected the telephone lines before leaving," they added.

Nepal had been put under house arrest for the past two months in the wake of the peaceful demonstrations being organised by the country's seven-party alliance to oppose King Gyanendra and demand return of democracy in Nepal.

"This is the extreme form of injustice and an irresponsible act on part of the government," CPN-UML leader Rajendra Pandey told sources.

"The government has shown its autocratic nature by looting private property. It should not be done with a person who is already under house arrest for the past two months," he added.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (Democratic) vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha was released yesterday following a Kathmandu District Court order.

The court ruled that Shrestha, who was in custody for the past two months for opposing King Gyanendra's rule, had been detained illegally.