Disease kills one

BANKE: One person has died and 13 are suffering from an unknown disease in a village across Rapti River in Banke district. Gudiya Khan, 25, a resident of Bhagwanpur in Mataiya VDC, died on Wednesday night, said locals. Of the 13, condition of three is critical and they have been sent to India for further treatment, Assistant Health Worker at Gangapur Health Post, Narayan Sharma said. —HNS

Cop threatens journos

RUPANDEHI: Two journalists working for Siddhartha Times claimed that a police officer threatened to kill them for writing news about the involvement of police in smuggling activities across the Indo-Nepal border. Acting editor of the daily, Bindu Kumar Chauhan, and reporter Kanhai Yadav alleged that Sub-Inspector of Police Dev Raj Aryal threatened to kill them over phone. — HNS

VDC secy abducted

MAHOTTARI: Dev Narayan Yadav, secretary of Hariharpur Harinagar VDC, hailing from Sathouwa village development committee ward no-7, was abducted from Agepur bridge on Thursday evening. A team led by Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) Bir Singh took Yadav to an undisclosed location. JTMM (J) Mahottari in-charge Surya confirmed the abduction and said he was taken under control for not complying with the policies of the ‘Madhes Government’. Police are yet to confirm the incident. — RSS

Abductee rescued

ITAHARI: Satyendra Meheta, who was abducted by an unidentified gang from Sunsari’s Laukahi on Sunday, was rescued on Thursday. Meheta, a businessman from Sunsari’s Madhuban was freed in Birpur in India with the help of Indian police. An unidentified abductor was arrested. SP Yadav Raj Khanal said both Meheta and the abductor will be brought to Sunsari.— HNS

Tibetans’ prayers plan

KATHMANDU: Nepal Tibetan Solidarity Forum is set to organise a special prayer sessions at Swoyambhunath and Boudhanath on May 18. The prayer is being organised in the memory of thousands of people killed and injured in the earthquake that struck south-western parts of China on May 12. — HNS

Fatal firing mishap

TAPLEJUNG: Dil Prakash Nalbo of Taplejung’s Thukima VDC-8 was killed after his gun burst accidentally in a forest where he had gone to hunt on Wednesday, a local Subas Limbu said. Nalbo succumbed to injuries, as could not be taken be taken to right hospital due to transport strike, Limbu added. —HNS

Khotang blacked out

KHOTANG: The 11-KV Gaighat-Diktel transmission line in Khotang was struck by lightning on Wednesday night, blacking out more than 20 villages. Nepal Electricity Authority head in Diktel, Dhruba Katwal, said work in many government, as well as private offices, was affected. — HNS