Smugglers held

DHANUSHA: District Forest Office, Dhanusha, arrested four people on Friday for their hand in timber smuggling. Those arrested are Pancha Lal Ale Magar of Bharatpur VDC-2, Sunil Pokhrel, Dipak Yadav and Ghanas-hyam BK, according to District Forest Office. They were arrested with the ti-mber they were preparing to smuggle from the northern belt of Charkhola of Chure forest, the DFO said. — RSS

Relief fund

DAMAULI: Local people have collected about Rs 20,000 to provide as a relief to Rajan Kumal of Byas Municipality-10, whose house was destroyed by fire on Wednesday. Property worth Rs 300,000 was gutted when fire engulfed the house, according to Tanahu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. — RSS

Indians’ support

NEW DELHI: The Indian people and political parties have reiterated their support for and solidarity with the ongoing agitation for restoration of democracy in Nepal. In a statement on Saturday, the Nepal Democratic Solidarity Committee, India, reiterated its support and solidarity. The statement, jointly signed by Communist leader Sita Ram Yechuri and general secretary DP Tripathi, said: “We all Indians support and express solidarity with the movements of Nepali people for the restoration of democracy in Nepal.”— HNS

Release sought

BARA: The Network for Human Rights, Bara, and the Civil Society of Bara have demanded the immediate release of four persons, including two policemen, who are in Maoist captivity. Coordinator of the Network, Shree Krishna Subedi, and coordinator of Civil Society, Ram Krishna Kafle issued a joint statement on Friday urging the Maoists to release the four unconditionally. The joint statement also urged the Maoists to treat the abductees according to international humanitarian law. The Maoists abducted police inspector Raj Kumar Khiuju, head constable Megh Raj Ghimire, and civilians Shyam Krishna Khatiwada and Kedar Pudasaini of Hetauda on March 30. — HNS

10 hurt in mishap

BAGLUNG: Ten passengers were injured, three of them critically, when a bus (Na 2 Kha 8241) headed for Baglung from Birgunj met with an accident on Saturday. The bus skidded off the road at a turning near Dobilla of Parbat along the Pokhara-Baglung Highway. The injured are undergoing treatment at the Parbat District Hospital, District Police Office Parbat said. — HNS

17 Maoists surrender

BAGLUNG: Seventeen Maoists in Baglung surrendered before the District Administration Office on Friday, security officials said on Saturday. The Maoists gave up arms before the Zonal Administrator of Dhaulagiri, security officials and media persons. They said they were ready to lead a normal and peaceful life. — HNS

Litterateur dead

DHARAN: Litterateur Govind Bikal, 57, died on Friday of a brain haemorrhage. Bikal, a resident of Mahendranagar in Sunsari, was taken to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences at Dharan for treatment. He breathed his last while returning home after doctors declared treatment was impossible. Bikal contributed a lot during the 1990 peoples’ movement. — HNS