Peace panels in VDCs

CHARIKOT: Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong on Saturday said peace committees would be formed in every village soon. Speaking at a function in Dolakha headquarters Charikot, Minister Chemjong said the country would regain peace once the two armies were integrated. — HNS

Diarrhoea claims two

RUKUM: Two more persons died of diarrhoea in Rukum on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as 38-year-old Purna Bahadur Khatri of Aathabisakot VDC-7 and four-year-old Himani Budha of Aathabisakot VDC-4. The death toll in Rukum has now reached a total of 69. —HNS

Land-grab bid foiled

BHAIRAHAWA: Villagers on Saturday drove away about 100 UCPN-Maoist cadres in their bid to seize 26 bighas of land belonging to Mahendra Singh Rana and Nabin Rana in Birta of Rupandehi's Kerbani VDC. Journalist Sanjaya Rauniyar, the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Farmers' Union-Revolutionary activists had countered the villagers by hurling stones. — HNS