Man abducted

MAHOTTARI: An armed gang abducted 35-year-old Bhim Bahadur Rana of Ramnagar Village Development Committee-9 in Mahottari district on Sunday, according to residents. They said that a gang of four persons abducted Rana from Bhabsikhola in the district. Family members have urged human rights activists and journalists to facilitate the release of Rana. Nobody has owned up to the abduction yet, according to the police . — HNS

Flu claims lives

KALIKOT: A couple died of flu in Sukatiya Village Development Committee in Kalikot district on Saturday. Hundreds of villagers have been suffering from the disease. A resident, Nanda Bahadur Shahi, identified the dead as 39-year-old Chutte Damai and his 35-year-old wife Shitala Damai. The rain has lashed the district for some time. Consumption of contaminated water has caused the spread of flu, according to the Rarakatiya Health Post. Medicines are in short supply in the Village Development Committee. District Public Health Officer Dr Binod Giri said that a team of health workers would be dispatched to the affected area soon.— HNS

Donation drive

DAMAK: Activists of the Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC) have been seeking donations amounting to lakhs of rupees from banks and businessmen in Jhapa district. General secretary of the FLSC, Misekahang, said a meeting of the council had allowed FLSC cadres to collect donations. However, he said they would not resort to extortion. Second vice-president of the Damak Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Tirtha Raj Basnet, said that Limbuwan activists have been seeking lakhs of rupees in donation from Damak-based financial institutions and businessmen. — HNS

Timber seized

GORKHA: The police on Sunday seized a truckload of timber, which was being smuggled to Besisahahar from Chhepetar Bazaar of Lamjung district. Following the seizure, the timber has been handed over to the Lamjung District Forest Office, the police said. Pawan and Lekhnath Thapa have been arrested on the charge of smuggling the timber, the police added. — RSS