Farmer killed

Birgunj: A farmer who was critically hurt after being trapped in a machine for drying rice, died while undergoing treatment on Friday. Suraj Raut Ahir, 45, of Parsa’s Ramnagari-7 died at the Narayani sub regional hospital. — HNS

Freak accident

LAMJUNG: Padam Giri, 44, of Gorkha Palungtar VDC-6 was crushed to death when a huge tree fell over him on Friday at Bhoteodhar VDC-8, Beldhari of Lumjung. A dozer kept in Bhoteodar - Beldhari bridge for road construction picked up the tree from his body. Giri, who was critically injured in the accident, died on the way to Pokhara for treatment. — HNS

Indian boy rescued

Birgunj: Nepal Police on Friday freed an Indian boy, who was abducted by his kins one-and-a-half months ago. Shivam Roy, 13, of Debariya, India Uttar Pradesh was rescued from Kapil Dev Shah’s house in Samjhauta - 9 of Parsa with the help of some villagers. Shivam’s uncles, Kripa Roy and Rinku Roy had kidnapped him after a family dispute. Shivam had managed to flee to Kapil Dev Shah’s house taking a critical decision to run for his life when the abductors were on a toilet break. House owner Kapil Dev Shah later handed over the boy to the district police office. — HNS

Commercial benches

KATHMANDU: The government has taken a decision to constitute commercial benches in different courts across the country effective from January 14. The commercial benches will be established at four Appellate Courts in the country — Biratnagar, Patan, Butwal and Nepalgunj. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Constituent Assembly Affairs is conducting a study regarding establishment of a Commercial Bench at the Appellate Court, Hetauda, according to officials at the Ministry. — RSS

PAPAD’s solidarity

KATHMANDU: Professional Alliance for Peace and Development (PAPAD), a common forum of six leading professional organisations in the country, has expressed its solidarity to the ongoing protests against the attack in media houses being conducted under the leadership of Federation of Nepali Journalists. A meeting of PAPAD here on Friday condemned the anti-press freedom activities in the country and demanded that the government initiate investigation into the incidents and bring the culprits to book. It also called on the government to provide compensation to the media houses for the damage caused by the attack. PAPAD also decided to organise a huge demonstration in the capital within a few days to express solidarity to the movement under the leadership of FNJ and also to hold an extensive rally calling for putting an end to impunity. — RSS