Road office bombed

Charikot: Maoists detonated bombs in the Charikot-based Division Road Office on Sunday, staffers of the office said, adding that there were no fatalities as they had been forced out of the office before the bombing. Two jeeps were destroyed in the blasts, eyewitnesses said, adding that a third jeep was damaged in the blasts. Security men defused two bombs on Monday. Meanwhile, the same group abducted ward chief and ward member of Bhimeshwor municipality-8, Ram Bahadur Kunwar and Amar Bahadur Karki, from their homes on Sunday, relatives of the two said. Relatives have urged rights activists and journalists to facilitate the release of the two. — HNS

Bus set ablaze

BIRATNAGAR: Maoists set a bus, which was headed to Kakarbhitta from Biratnagar, at Jirikhimti, Morang, of the Mahendra Highway at Pathari after forcing the passengers out, police said, adding that Maoists had come on the same bus. — RSS

RPP (Thapa) to meet

KATHMANDU: The central working committee meeting of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party led by Home Minister Kamal Thapa has been scheduled for March 24 at the party office, Old Baneswor. An informal meeting of the party on Monday decided to postpone the regional party cadres camp to be held in Jhapa. — HNS

Royal couple’s visit

POKHARA: King Gyanendra and Queen Komal arrived in Pokhara on Monday. King Gyanendra arrived at the Pokhara airport in a special airplane at around 3:45 pm while Queen Komal arrived in a special helicopter at Ratna Mandir at around 2:45 pm on Monday. The royal couple is staying at Ratna Mandir situated at Baidam of Pokhara and is scheduled to return in second week of April. — HNS

Crown Prince’s trip

VIENNA: Crown Prince Paras and Crown Princess Himani arrived here on Monday on an official visit to Austria. They were welcomed by Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Austria Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai and office-bearers of the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Germany. Also present to welcome them were Board Chairman of the Zoo Schonbrunn in Vienna Dr Rudolph Nagiller. — RSS