Man with suspected Maoist links held in Delhi

NEW DELHI - A 42-year-old Nepali was arrested in Delhi Friday on suspicion that he has links with Nepali Maoist groups, police said.

Loknath Panth was nabbed with nearly 500 non-electric detonators and fake Nepalese currency while he was on his way to the New Delhi Railway Station from Karol Bagh.

“He is suspected to be a member of a Nepali Maoist group and efforts are being made to ascertain his links with the group,” said an official from special staff of the central district police here.

Following a tip-off, the police decided to arrest Panth, who is suspected to be working for the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).

“Both the pockets of his jacket were found stitched and on unstitching these, 150 non-electronic detonators were recovered. He was also found to be wearing a specially designed belt having a slot from which 348 more detonators were recovered,” the official said.

Investigators suspect that he used to supply detonators to Nepalese Maoists when they were an underground outfit.