King back in capital

POKHARA: King Gyanendra and Queen Komal on Wednesday returned to the capital after wrapping up their nearly two-month stay in Pokhara. The royal couple was in Pokhara since February 15. — RSS

Ward chairman quits

ITAHARI: Bechu Mehata, Ward No 6 chairman of Inaruwa municipality, expressing his support for the ongoing agitation, has resigned from his post. Mehata said he left his post to take part in the agitation. He had been elected ward chairman on the ticket of Nepal Samata Party. — HNS

RPP cadre abducted

LAMJUNG: Maoists abducted Gopal Lamichhane, a cadre of the the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, from Archalkot VDC of the district on Tuesday. Two Maoists took him away from his house situated in ward 9 of the VDC, according to the party’s district chairman Mohan Lal Shrestha. — HNS

Civil servants’ strike

RAJBIRAJ: Civil servants in different government offices here halted work for two hours on Wednesday to express solidarity with the ongoing movement for democracy. They halted work from 10 am to 12 am. — HNS

Maoists abduct AHW

BAGLUNG: A group of Maoists kidnapped assistant health worker (AHW) Buddhi Raj Tiwari from Bhangara VDC of Parbat on Tuesday. According to his father Bhawani Prasad Tiwari, Buddhi was abducted while he was on duty at a sub-health post located in the VDC. — HNS

DHRO’s call to govt

KATHMANDU: The Dalit Human Rights Organisation (DHRO) on Wednesday demanded the government take initiatives for lasting peace in the country instead of suppressing pro-democracy demonstrators. “We will be forced to lobby the UN to intervene if the government does not stop the bloodshed. The autocratic criminals suppressing agitators will be then punished by the international court,” stated a release issued by Bhoj Man Lamgade, DHRO president. — HNS

24 detainees freed

HETAUDA: Twenty-four demonstrators, including four teachers, who were arrested six days ago for demonstrating in prohibited areas, were released on Wednesday. They were released on a order of the appellate court, Hetauda. — HNS

NBA suspends lawyer

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday suspended the president of Rajbiraj Appellate Court Bar Association, Ram Krishna Gautam, accusing him of siding with the government thereby going against the bar body’s decrees. The NBA has also dissolved the executive committee under Gautam and formed a new ad hoc committee under Ramesh Thapa. — HNS

Ward chief humiliated

NEPALGUNJ: Agitators led by central member of the Peoples’ Front Nepal, IP Kharel, on Wednesday smeared soot on the face of Ward Number 1 chairman of Nepalgunj municipality, Lal Bahadur Khatri.

The agitators burst into Khatri’s house, smeared his face and dragged him along to the nearby Birendra chowk before setting him free. Security men at Birendra chowk remained mute spectators. Women also in Nepalgunj staged a pro-democracy rally from Hospital Chowk to Birendra Chowk. — HNS

Landlord forgoes rent

TANAHU: A house owner here has vowed to house his tenants for free until democracy is restored in the country. Madhav Bahadur Pant of Main Chowk, Damauli, made this commitment as a show of support for the ongoing agitation. Pant rents out many small shops in his house. — HNS