Attorney General returns

KATHMANDU: Attorney General Sushil Kumar Panta on Monday returned from La-Antigua, Guatemala, where he attended an international conference of attorney generals, prosecutor generals and law ministers of various countries from February 2 to 5. At the conference, Panta said he had emphasised the need of an international organisation to fight terrorism and narcotic drugs. — HNS

Maoist blast injures one

BARDIYA: Punaram Chaudhary, 65, of Bashgadhi VDC was injured when a Maoist-set bomb went off on Monday morning at Bashgadichwok. Maoists’ sister organisation Tharuwan Liberation Front is suspected top have planted the bomb on Saturday prior to the front-called bandh on Sunday. — HNS

Maoists torch VDC offices

JHAPA: Maoists looted and later torched seven VDC offices of Jhapa on Sunday. In Okhaldhunga, a group of Maoists bombed and destroyed the DDC office on Sunday. The Maoists looted Rs 7,000 and later torched the Prithvinagar VDC office in Jhapa. They also looted cash from Kechana, Pathari, Bhalubadi, Pathabhari, Banipani and Gherabari VDC offices. They asked the people of Gherabari VDC not to pay taxes, and warned the VDC secretary not to perform his duties, the DDC said. — HNS

Pond gets facelift

Pokhara: The local Environment and Tole Reform Committee of Pokhara sub-metropolitan city Ward No12 completed the task of renovating a 200-year-old pond at Chapapani, Pipaldali.The pond which used to have water in it throughout the year now dries up during winter. Ex-chairman of Pokhara Municipality Rudhra Bahadur Karki inaugurated the renovated pond. He also inaugurated a chautara and a garden at Chapapani. The pond is believed to have been constructed by Bhunabir Karki who migrated there from Krishti of Kaski. — HNS

Two persons jailed

GORKHA: Two persons arrested by the security forces during a search on Sunday were sent to prison after being found guilty of carrying out terrorist activities, according to the district administration office. Those jailed are Sarita Kunwa of Ghairung-5 and Rajendra Koirala of Lyachowk-5. — RSS

Rhino kills one

BHARATPUR: Padma Kumari Paudel, 38, of Chitwan district Barchhauli village development committee, Shivamandir was killed by the attack of a rhinoceros on Sunday afternoon. Paudel, who had gone to cut grass in Icharni area of Royal Chitwan National Park, died on the way to hospital, according to the family sources. — RSS

Health posts handed over

DHANGADHI: All the 30 sub-health posts in Kailali district were handed over to the local communities as per the government policy of handing over the responsibility of sub-health posts to local people with the purpose of improving public health. — RSS

Infant mortality on rise

Surkhet: Infant mortality has been increasing drastically in the remote hilly districts of mid-western development region. In the districts of Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot, Jumla, Humla, Achham and Bajhang, the mortality rate has increased to 58 per cent, which was 45 per cent earlier. Among them 70 per cent of infants die in the first week of birth, according to Radha Paudyal, chief, Safe Motherhood Programme, Surkhet. Traditionally, mothers and infants are kept away from home after delivery. That is why most of the children die during the first week of birth, Paudyal said. — RSS