Himal Press 
POKHARA: Two people have been arrested in Pokhara on charges of illegally collecting donations ahead of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5.
Police had increased surveillance on them after receiving information that they were allegedly collecting donations unlawfully by intimidating people, claiming to be Maoist cadres. A special team deployed from the Provincial Police Office, Pokhara, and the District Police Office, Kaski, made the arrest.
The two have been identified as Laxman Pandey (32) of Chhabdi in Byas-13 of Tanahun and Bhimsen Pariyar (37) of Machhapuchhre-2 of Kaski.
Initial investigation revealed that Pandey is a central member of the CPN Bahumat party, while Pariyar serves as the district secretary of the same party. Police recovered Rs 23,000 in cash, along with a bag, donation receipts, envelopes, a diary, and a mobile phone from their possession.
According to police, the donation receipts mention the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) District Committee, Kaski, and bear the signature of Distric Secretary Comrade Brinda. The bag they were carrying had “Nepal Communist Party Maoist Gandak Bureau” written on it.
