Two of the former high-profile royalist ministers were arrested in late night raid on Monday for working to instigate the violence in Terai.
Former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and former minister Badri Mandal were arrested on Monday night from Kathmandu and Biratnagar, respectively.
Police arrested Thapa from his residence in Bishal Nagar, Kathmandu, at around 9:45 pm. Thapa reportedly refused to receive the arrest warrant, but the police team insisted to take him with them saying they had order from above to arrest him.
Thapa is accused of fuelling violence in the ongoing protests of Madhesi groups in several Terai districts over the last few days.
On the other hand, Mandal was arrested from his residence in Biratnagar at around 11:00 pm. He is also accused of similar charges. Mandal, who is a former chief of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) is accused of turning the agitation violent in many places including Kalaiya and Rautahat.
Thapa has been detained at Nepal Police Battalion 2 facility in Maharajgunj whereas Mandal is kept at District Police Office of Morang.
Their arrest came hours after Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula claimed at a press briefing that royalists were infiltrating into the protests in Terai to instigate violence and vowed action against those trying to create unrest. Sitaula had claimed that the government would bring Terai situation under control within few days.
Thapa, one of the key figures in the past royal government, is also accused of ordering brutal clampdown on 19-day pro-democracy agitations last April.
Meanwhile, the government has ordered administration to keep strict vigil on certain royalist elements including those who assumed positions of mayors and deputy mayors after royal municipal elections held in February of 2006.
At least seven people have been killed and dozens others injured in the ensuing violence in Terai during protests organised by Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and two factions of Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha (JTMM), demanding amendment in the recently-promulgated interim constitution to guarantee proportional representation in the upcoming constituent assembly polls and a federal system.
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