Kathmandu, Apr 7 (uni) At least eight people were injured in explosions in three places across the country where the Nepali Congress was due to hold electoral assemblies this afternoon.

Five people were injured when a bomb went off at Ghantaghar in Birgunj when NC rally was underway and the condition of two of them was reported to be critical, Kantipur said, quoting its local reporter.

The injured were undergoing treatment at the Narayani Sub-regional hospital.

One civilian was injured in an explosion near the NC electoral assembly venue at New Baneshwor, Kathmandu today.

Kantipur quoted Armed Police Force DSP Bhim Bahadur Chaudhary of saying that a socket bomb went off in the park opposite the western gate of the Birendra International Convention Centre.

The injured, Khadak Singh is undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital. According to eyewitnesses, a group riding a motorcycle hurled the bomb.

Police said a search operation was underway to find the persons involved in the bombing. Unidentified people hurled a bomb when the NC was carrying out a motorcycle rally at Inaruwa-2 in Sunsari district this noon, injuring two people.

Local residents Budhichandra Jain and Surendra Gupta were injured when the bomb landed at Jain's grocer shop at around 1 this noon.

Jwala Singh-led Janatantric Terai Mukti Morcha and Madhesi Mukti Tigers have claimed responsibility for the explosion.

The publicity campaign for the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls will be closed from tonight. Meanwhile, there were reports of violence in the districts as Maoists cadres have attacked the opposition candidates and supporters, the local media reports said.

UNI XC SZ GC1858