KATHMANDU: Police arrested central commander of Netra Bikram Chand (Biplav)-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), Hemanta Prakash Oli and eight others in the wee hours today.

The arrested are CPN leaders and cadres Dharma Raj Rajbahak, Ram Krishna Khatiwada, Bijaya Shrestha, Lalit Tamang, Shanker Adhikari, Dev Ghimire, Sanjiv Karki and Lokendra Khadka, police said.

According to police, a joint team deployed from the special bureau, the central investigation bureau and the district police office apprehended them in a search operation, from Milche area of Khanikhola Rural Municipality-7 in Kavrepalanchok at around 4:50 am today. They were heading towards Kathmandu on a jeep.

Hemanta Prakash Oli was under police watch after CPN issued a press statement claiming responsibility for carrying out explosion in front of Ncell office in Nakkhu, that took place on February 22, signed under his name. A person was killed while two others were injured in the blast. Police had been looking for him since then.

Police have intensified action against Chand-led party ever since the government announced absolute ban on the party.