KATHMANDU, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- An underground armed outfit has claimed responsibility for the bombing on Friday evening near Nepali Vice President Paramananda Jha's residence.

    A bomb went off close to Vice President Paramananda Jha's private residence in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Friday evening, injuring a local people, which took place about 50 meters from the Vice President's house at around 19:30 local time (1345GMT). Jha and his family members escaped unhurt, local newspaper The Himalayan Times reported Saturday.

    "Kirat Republican Workers' Party (KRWP), an underground armed outfit, has claimed responsibility for the blast," the report said.

    Leaflets, belonging to the outfit, were recovered from the site.Superintendent of Police Nawa Raj Silwal, the in-charge of Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, said that the explosion was triggered by an improvised socket.

    The KRWP claims to fight for the Kirat people in eastern Nepal.Kirat, meaning people with lion nature, refers to the Kirati minorities including ethnic groups of Nepal like Limbu and Rai, etc. The KRWP once demanded to be recognized by the government as a political party and to include their demands in the constitution being drafted.

    Security has been beefed up in the area following the incident, and the police launched a manhunt for KRWP activists.

    This is the second time that bomb exploded near the Vice President's residence. Last August, a handmade bomb was exploded in his compound, injuring one soldier deputed for his security. Another underground outfit, National Liberation Army, had claimed responsibility for the blast that time.

    Jha is in the midst of controversies over his oath-taking in Hindi since last July. The Supreme Court of Nepal has required the Vice President to take an oath in Nepali language by the coming Sunday.