Maoists abduct ranger

CHARIKOT: Maoists abducted two employees of the District Forest Office, Dolakha, from Japhe VDC-6, Barhabise of Dolakha, on Friday. The abducted were Ranger Pradeep Chaudhari and Forest Guard Birendra Paswan. Nepal Rangers’ Association, Dolakha, Forest Guard Association and other organisations issued separate press statements on Saturday urging the Maoists to release the two immediately. — HNS

Maoists’ mea culpa

DAMAK: Maoists, in a statement issued on Saturday, have apologised for bombing the Damak-based office of the World Food Programme (WFP). The statement issued by Maoists’ Mechi Sub Bureau In-Charge, Rajendra, said the party regrets the grenade explosion at the godown of WFP office on Thursday and made it clear that the party has no policy of attacking any of the United Nations bodies. The UN had condemned the Maoists’ bomb blast at WFP office after which the it has been shut. — HNS