Maoists abduct four

MAHENDRANAGAR: Maoists on Tuesday abducted four passengers from two jeeps at Bani area of Kanchanpur district along the Mahendra Highway before disappearing into nearby jungle, the District Police Office (DPO), Kanchanpur, said. According to the DPO, the Maoists stopped the two jeeps bound for Attariya of Kailali from Mahendranagar and abducted their passengers. The abductees are yet to be identified. Among the abductees, the Maoists have released one Birendra Bahadur Chand after interrogation, police said. — HNS

NC directive to units

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress (NC) has directed all district committees concerned of the party to bring before April 3 the party cadres in Kathmandu for the April 6 mass rally. The party has also decided to organise meetings of all zonal party leaders and cadres at the party office on March 31 and April 1. — HNS

Invigilators suspended

KAPILVASTU: Three invigilators deputed at the SLC exam centres in Kapilvastu and thirteen in Sarlahi were suspended after they were found helping the examinees with cheating. Two peons were also suspended in Sarlahi. — HNS

Traffic disrupted

MAHENDRANAGAR: Vehicular movement came to the halt on the Mahendranagar-Chisapani road section of the Mahendra Highway in the far-western region of the country on Tuesday after a group issued a notice in the name of Maoists, urging people not to ply vehicles along the highway. Dhangadhi Bazaar was also closed following the halt in traffic. — HNS

Man dies of pig-bite

PHIDIM: Dhan Bahadur Darnal (55) of Mehelbote of Angsarang in Panch-thar died on Monday night after being bitten by a pig. Darnal, under the influence of alcohol, ran into a pig while going to the toilet on Monday. The pig bit Darnal on his anus and penis, wife Kamala said. — HNS

Truck-hit kills one

NAWALPARASI: A 35-year-old motorcyclist, Birendra Prasad Bhusal, of Shiv Mandir-7, Nawalparasi, died on the spot when a truck hit the motorbike he was riding in at Bardaghat of Nawalparasi on the Mahendra Highway on Tuesday, the Nawalparasi District Police Office said. Following the mishap, traffic on the highway was halted for two hours. — HNS

Mini-truck torched

DHADING: A mini-truck headed to Gajuri from Kathmandu was found torched near Belkhu of Dhading district at around 11 pm on Monday, locals said, adding that there was no one at the spot. — HNS