Democracy Day

Kathmandu: The seven-party alliance’s taskforce on Saturday decided to mark Democracy Day on February 19 as an anti-autocracy movement benchmark across the country. It also decided not to recognise the people elected in the controversial civic polls of February 8. On Democracy Day, the alliance is scheduled to pay tribute to Umesh Chandra Thapa and Horilal Tharu who were shot by security forces in Ghorahi of Dang, and Dhangadhi of Kailali respectively, during the municipal elections. Nepali Congress central working committee member Arjun Narsingh KC said taskforce also decided to draw the attention of national and international human rights bodies to the government’s inhuman treatment of political prisoners. —HNS

Road cleared

MAHENDRANAGAR: Traffic on Mahendranagar-Attariya section of the Mahendra Highway resumed on Sunday. The road was blocked by Maoists since February 5. Personnel from the Unified Security Command defused 38 bombs. An army man was injured while defusing the explosives, the RNA far west divisional headquarters said. Meanwhile, three civilians were hurt in a bomb blast at Beli of Dhangadhi municipality-8. — HNS

25 hurt in bus mishap

TANSEN: At least 25 passengers were injured when a bus heading from Gulmi to Butwal overturned on road at Thanapati VDC of Gulmi district on Sunday. — HNS

15 troops killed: RNA

KATHMANDU: The Royal Nepalese Army’s Public Relations Directorate on Sunday confirmed the death of 10 army men, three personnel of the Armed Police Force and two policeman in clash with the Maoists in Nawalparasi on February 9. — HNS

Order to free seven

Nepalgunj: The Nepalgunj appellate court on Sunday issued order to government authorities to free seven political prisoners who were arrested from their campaign against municipal polls. The court ordered to free Devraj Bhar, Gajendra Hamal, Dr Arun Koirala, Teknarayan Bhusal, Akbar Ali Khan, Umendra Kunwar and Puspa Raj Sharma. — HNS