Verification ends

KATHMANDU: The second phase of registration and verification of Maoist army combatants was completed on Saturday, UNMIN said. The last combatants to be verified were those retained outside the cantonments for the security of Maoist leadership and those who are getting medical treatment outside the camps, according to a press release issued by UNMIN. The last group of combatants were interviewed at CPN-Maoist’s headquarters in Kathmandu on December 20-21. — RSS

One held for extortion

SIRAHA: A patrolling team of Armed Police Election Camp of Sukhipur nabbed one for alleged extortion and involvement in criminal activities on Friday. Police arrested Jaya Kumar Yadav of Mohanpur Kamalpur-3 from his residence in connection with robberies and on suspicion of being JT-MM-J cadre. Meanwhile, Ram Aautar Shah who was abducted by a gang on December 4 was freed on Friday. — HNS

Office padlocked

SARLAHI: Activists of Peace Army Nepal (PAN) affiliated to Chure Bhawar Ekata Samaj have padlocked the main gate of the Bagmati Irrigation Project on Saturday. “We did so to exert pressure for the implementation of the nine-point agreement signed between us and the government,” PAN’s central commander Babu Thapa said. — HNS

Paddy set on fire

RAUTAHAT: An unknown group set on fire the paddy planted in 30 bighas of land owned by Shiva Narayan Yadav and Ram Narayan Yadav of Gedahiguthi VDC-1 on Saturday. They said that the paddy that they had recently cut down for harvesting was set on fire by sprinkling kerosene. By the time, the fire extinguisers reached the incident place, the entire paddy had been completely burnt down, Ram Narayan Yadav said. — HNS

Settlement destroyed

SIRAHA: A total of 47 persons of 15 Dalit families have been left stranded after an enraged group set fire to their settlement in Lakkar VDC-7 of Dhanusha district two days ago. The group came and set ablaze the Dalits’ settlement claiming that some of the inhabitants had abducted a Janamorcha Nepal cadre, Vidyasagar Tamang. Tamang, who was abducted a week ago, was released on Thursday. — HNS