Bar on pigeon release

POKHARA: Bird sacrifice and releasing pigeons in the Bindhyabasini temple, in Pokhara, has been banned from Sunday. The action has been taken to prevent fear of infection of avian flu, secretary of the Bindhyabasini Religious Area Development Committee, Mukti Subedi, said. Because avian flu has already been seen in India and China and pigeons are imported from these countries, the decision was taken, he said. — HNS

Envoy meets Bohara

KATHMANDU: Danish Ambassador to Nepal Finn Thilsted on Monday met acting general secretary of the CPN-UML, Amrit Kuamr Bohara, at the latter’s office in Balkhu. They discussed the ongoing conflict, joint movement of the seven-party alliance, the 12-point understanding reached between the alliance and the Maoists and prospect of peace. A UML statement said, the Danish envoy expressed his concern over the detention of party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. — HNS

Student hurt in blast

DIPAYAL: Ravin Rokaya (18), a student, was injured when a bomb left by Maoists went off in a jungle area at Laxminagar on Monday. Meanwhile, Maoists abducted Tap Bahadur KC, Chetman Budha and Nara Bahadur Malla from Kailali on Sunday.— HNS

Maoists bomb office

NEPALGUNJ: Maoists set off two bombs at the District Agricultural Development Office in Nepalgunj on Monday. Also on Monday, Maoists looted a motorbike belonging to No 3 Road Division Office. — HNS

Three houses gutted

BARA: Three houses were gutted in a fire in Kalaiya on Monday. The fire broke out from the house of Bharat Hajara and spread in the houses of Tulashi Hajara and Laxman Hajara, destroying them completely. — HNS

SC scraps Guthi ruling

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court on Monday scrapped the decision of the Central Office of Guthi Sansthan four years ago to bring around 850 bighas of land under State trust. The SC verdict has brought the tract of land back into private trust under the Swargadwari Ashram. — HNS

1 killed, 4 hurt

DHARAN: One villager was killed and four injured when villagers retaliated dacoits at Harinagar in Sunsari on Sunday night. Shree Lal Shrestha, 32, died on the spot when the dacoits opened fire at a house. Dacoits looted property worth Rs 400,000. — HNS

Cop abducted

RUPANDEHI: Maoists abducted policeman Krishna Giri from Pangeni Rice Mill at Kekhani-4 on Sunday. Giri had come home on leave. — HNS

Pillion riding banned

HETAUDA: The DAO Makwanpu on Monday prohibited pillion riding in the district until further notice.— HNS