KATHMANDU: Netra Bikram Chand Biplav-led group is using six districts of Karnali Province as a base area for its activities. The group has the strategy to raise fund through extortion in city areas and indoctrinate villagers against the local representatives, according to a highly-placed source at Nepal Army (NA).

Given its activities including extortion and collection of weapons, the group is likely to pose a threat to the state in the near future, the source said, adding, “If restrictions are not imposed, the group might put the national economy in jeopardy.”

“Police alone are unable to contain the group. The army should be mobilized to control Biplav activities,” said the army source.

A cabinet meeting on Tuesday had decided to put a ban on the activities of the Biplav-led party, terming it a ‘criminal’ group following a tip-off by the NA that the group was giving training to its cadres with weapons.

Talking to journalists at Singha Durbar on Thursday, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Gokul Prasad Baskota said the government banned the group after its illegal weapons were seized.

Biplav-led group has become stronger following the government’s ban on it. There were some differences between Biplav and Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma ‘Prakanda’ over issues related to extortion, mobilization of class-based organization and liaison with the civil society and media persons.

Biplav group holds 3,000 cadres

Biplav group had been carrying out explosions in various places of the country, including the one at Bhainsepati, where a man was killed and two others injured.

The number of Biplav cadres cannot be underestimated. NA said that there are around 3,000 cadres in Biplav group. He might use them against the state at any time in the future.

Similarly, the group may have around 1,000 arms including homemade and sophisticated ones, of which 100 are automatic.

Biplav has a drone capable of hitting 500-meter-range target

According to army sources, Biplav has a drone that can hit the target at the distance of 500 meters. Biplav had successfully tested the drone few days ago, army source said.

The drone can carry a half kilogram of explosive devices. Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police has also started investigation on the test of drone by the group.

As opposed to the assessment of the NA, Nepal Police has considered Biplav group as a ‘minor criminal group’.

Police said his activities can be controlled through legal actions.

“Biplav group is involved in criminal activities rather than political ones. It is intending to expand its activities by means of extortion and explosion,” said police.

“We are preparing to take actions as per the government decision in line with the existing criminal law,” said SSP Uttam Raj Subedi.

Earlier, Biplav group’s decision to carry out high-profile killings including Nepal Communist Party chairmen, KP Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal had hit headlines.

Police have arrested 411 leaders and cadres of Biplav group in the last 11 months, 73 in the last one month alone. Police have recently launched a ‘search and arrest’ operation. Most of the Biplav cadres and leaders have gone underground since the police imposed this operation.