Muslims call bandh

BANKE: Putting forth their nine-point demand, the Joint Muslim Struggle Committee has called a bandh in Banke on Sunday. According to a release issued during a press meet organised in Nepalgunj on Saturday, the demands include amendment to the ordinance that enlisted Muslims as Madhesis, formation of a Muslim Uplift Commission, a fresh census of Muslims and opening of a Muslim Kanya Campus, among others. Coordinator of the struggle committee Samasuddin Siddiki said the agitation would continue until their demands were met. — HNS

Blast in Maoist office

NEPALGUNJ: The shutter of the office of Unified CPN-Maoist in Nepalgunj was damaged when an unidentified gang detonated a bomb in the office on Saturday night, police said. The police said the gang detonated the bomb in the office at Surkhet Road. In investigation into the blast is on, the police added. — HNS

Motorcyclist killed

LAHAN: One person was killed in a motorcycle accident at Mirchaiya, Siraha, on Friday night. Motorcyclist Chandreshwor Nayak died on the spot when the bike he was riding on hit a commuter at around 9 pm. The commuter was injured in the incident and he is being treated in Lahan Hospital. — RSS

Four youths held

INARUWA: Police have arrested four persons here on the charge of involvement in creating terror by wielding swords and attacking people at several parts of the town for the past one month. The arrested are Prabhilas Dewan (18), Dinesh Rai (20), Suman Limbu (17) and Bishal Limbu (19) of Panchkanya-5 of Sunsari. One youth was killed and over 10 persons were injured when the group attacked them with swords in Inaruwa in one month, the police said. The locals also accused the detainees of kidnapping Prakash Bishwakarma (12) of Deurali of Panchkanya-5. The gang had also attacked Mani Raj Bhattarai, editor of the Dharan weekly, with a sword last week. — RSS

Rally against bandh

DHARAN: The Sunsari Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) organised a rally in Dharan on Saturday, to protest the continuous bandh, strikes and load-shedding. The rally started from the SCCI office and marched through different thoroughfares of the bazaar before converging into a corner meet at Bhanuchowk. Addressing the corner meet, SCCI chairman Ashok Tamrakar warned of strong agitation against the government if the ongoing strikes were not ended at the earliest. He accused the government of not being serious about ending the bandh called by the Tharus. “The SCCI will stage protests against the government if it failed to end the bandh within four days,” he warned. — HNS