A central leader of the banned Maoist outfit led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ has been arrested.

The party has confirmed police arrested Om Prakash Pun in Kailali of Sudurpaschim. The chief of Kailali District Police Office, SP Anupam Shamsher JRB, has also confirmed the arrest of a leader affiliated to the party, without revealing his name.

Meanwhile, the party claims Pun’s wife Purnima Dhami, who is also the in-charge of the party’s women’s department, has also been arrested.

Of late, Pun has been demanding that the party hold talks with the government. In a recent interview, Pun had said the party would not run away from the talks if the government sent an invitation.