FNJ’s protest

BARA: The Bara chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) on Saturday observed ‘black day’ in memory of slain journalist Birendra Shah. While the FNJ chapter took out a silent rally, which passed through main thoroughfares of district headquarters Kalaiya, Bara-based journalists carried out their duties wearing black arm bands. Shah, who was abducted from the Pipara bazaar on October 4 last year, was found dead in a jungle at Tingiya of Dumarwana VDC in Bara district on November 8. Though four persons were accused of killing Shah, none have been arrested so far. — HNS

Talks after Dashain

SAPTARI: A member of the government team formed to initiate talks with armed Tarai outfits on Saturday said steps for holding talks with the outfits would be taken immediately after Dashain. The government will send letters to the armed outfits for talks immediately after Dashain, Education Minister Renu Kumari Yadav said. She said the government was committed to resolving all problems through talks. — RSS

One held with arms

BARA: The Police held a person here on Saturday on the charge of possessing weapons. Mishree Lal Mahato of Amritgunj village development committee-3 was arrested with two homemade pistols and three bullets, Armed Police Force inspector Saroj Karki said, adding that investigation into the case was underway. — HNS

Policeman dead

DAILEKH: Head constable Nar Singh Bhandary drowned in the Dungeshwor stream here on Saturday. Inspector Shiv Shrestha said 30-year-old Bhandary, who had been deputed at a police post in Mathillo Dungeshwor, drowned when he was crossing the stream after inspecting a collapsed house in Gauri VDC. Local residents rescued constable Sher Bahadur Khadka, who was accompanying Bhandary, from the stream. — HNS

VDC secy kidnapped

Siraha: A gang abducted the secretary of Majhaula Village Development Committee in Siraha district Laxmi Naraya Yadav last night. According to Superintendent of Police at the Armed Police Force Border Security Office in Siraha, Bharat Kumar Shrestha, the gang abducted 52-year-old Yadav of Bhagawatipur Tamasuiya-5 while he was heading home from Lahan in a bicycle at 8 pm. Meanwhile, police arrested Sanjaya Yadav of Phulabariya- 3, Surya Narayan Yadav of Kalyanpur and Bhusal Yadav of Latiyahi on Saturday from Bhagawotipur Tamasuiya-5 on the suspicion of their involvement in the abduction, police said. — HNS

Land for Rajamama

DAMAULI: With financial assistance from the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) and Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Rajamama Kusunda and Indramaya Kusunda have bought a piece of land at Byas Municipality-5 in Tanahun district. The Kusunda couple plans to construct a house on the land. — RSS