A guard at the official residence of the Chairman of the Raj Parisad Standing Committee

Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamaghi in Baluwatar shot dead a fleeing Maoist who planted a bomb on the compound wall, neighbours said. The army confirmed the firing incident.

The incident at the official residence of Rayamajhi in Baluwatar occurred on the third and last day of a three-day national strike called by Maoists to coincide with Wednesday’s suspended national snap elections which rebels opposed.

A rebel scaled a wall and managed to plant a bomb on the compound wall between 3 AM and 5 AM despite strict security during the period of the strike, neighbours said.

A bomb disposal unit of the army set off a controlled explosion at 7 AM, residents said. An army guard shot dead the rebel as he fled after planting the bomb, residents said.

A newspaper reported in last Friday’s edition Chairman of the standing committee Keshar Jung Rayamajhi said he recommended King Gyanendra assume executive powers by dismissing Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba last month.

The King consulted all sections of society in the lead up to the royal action on October 4; the King appointed Lokendra Bahadur Chand to replace Deuba.

“It has also become essential to form an efficient government to maintain law and order situation in the country. That’s why the King took over the reign in his hands,” the newspaper quoted Rayamajhi as saying. He denied issuing such a statement one day later.

Maoists have opposed the royal move. The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, Nepal’s two largest parties, have asked the King to rectify what they call a “procedural flaw” in the royal action.

An official statement on the incident is expected later in the afternoon. The official residence of the prime minister is also at Baluwatar.