Singer Ojha’s confession:

DHARAN: Popular singer Prakash Ojha, who is in custody on charges of molesting minor girls, admitted to his “crime” before district attorney on Monday. Police arrested him from Kathmandu on February 6 on the basis of complaints filed by a girl and a guardian. The victims accused Ojha, major actor in Tite Kareli on Kantipur TV, of abusing minor girls by promising them role in the serial. DSP Yogendra Katuwal said Ojha will be sentenced from 10 to 15 years in jail if the charge against him is proved. — HNS

Kaski police nab forgers:

Pokhara: The Kaski district police office has nabbed a gang of 14 persons involved in forging documents. Police also seized the gang’s paraphernelia. A police team led by inspector Surendra Mainali nabbed the six days ago, according to sources in the police department. In a press conference today, Kaski district police superintendent Hemraj Bahadur Malla said the gang was operating in connivance of some staff of the district administration office. — HNS

30 vehicles escorted:

TANAHUN: The security forces escorted 30 vehicles across the border from Tanahun district on Monday. The escorted vehicles include 15 buses, nine jeeps, three taxis, two motorcycles and one truck. Schools and factories remained open as usual in Tanahun. Meanwhile, vehicles were escorted to Gorkha and Lamjung on Monday. — HNS

Garjeni accident probe:

PYUTHAN: The probe commission formed to investigate Garjeni bus accident has begun its work. The panel held a meeting last Saturday, inspected the accident site and interviewed locals. Similarly, the panel has distributed questionnaire to transport entrepreneurs, government offices, institutions and members of the civil society . The accident at Garjeni in Tiram-3 on January 21 claimed the lives of 41 passengers. — HNS

Journalists in custody:

CHITWAN: Security forces on Sunday took two journalists working for different state-owned media into custody, said Chitwan CDO Janardan Sharma Poudel. He said Basanta Parajauli, local reporter for Gorkhapatra, and Narayan Adhikari, RSS district representative, will be released after necessary investigation. An FNJ delegation met them at the District Police Office. In a statement, the FNF, has demanded their release. — HNS

Journos voice concern:

Kathmandu: The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) on Monday organised an interaction with prominent journalists to discuss the future course of protest against the curtailment of press freedom. Dozens of journalists spoke of the problems they are facing since the suspension of freedom of speech and expression after King Gyanendra assumed all executive powers on February 1. FNJ president Taranath Dahal said in a written statement that the government has tried to suppress the press by abrogating the basic principles of the press freedom. — HNS

Dacoity in Ilam:

DAMAK: A group of about six dacoits looted a shop and two houses at Chulachuli VDC in Ilam on Sunday night. According to the victims, the dacoits looted Rs 8,000 in cash and three tolas of gold from Singphore Rai of ward number 5, Rs 11,000 of Hari Prasad Acharya of ward number 7 and goods worth Rs 5,000 from the shop of Ranga Lal Adhikari of ward number 7. — HNS

Two houses gutted:

RAUTAHAT: Property worth Rs 60,000 was gutted when two houses in Gaur municipality-8 caught fire on Sunday night. The police said the fire, which started from the kitchen and spread by wind, destroyed the houses of Gafur Miya and Yasin Miya. — HNS