National flag torched

MAHOTTARI: Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha-Jwala Singh cadres set the national flags on fire at different parts here on Saturday night. JTMM-J Mahottari in-charge Tulsi Das said the national flags were burnt by regional chiefs Master in Mahottari’s constituency no 1, Bishala at Khuttapiparadhi in Padariya constituency no 2, Azad at Ekrahiya of the constituency no 3, Krishna at Baheda of the constituency no 4 and Gabbar at Ramnagar in the constituency no 6. — HNS

DDC office reopens

RAUTAHAT: The Rautahat DDC office, which was closed indefinitely by its employees citing insecurity, was reopened from Sunday. The office was opened after CDO Durga Prasad Bhandari, representatives of the seven parties and DDC employees agreed to provide security for employees, the DDC said. — HNS

Smugglers sued

DAMAK: A lawsuit was filed against 17 timber smugglers, who were arrested on different dates on the charge of timber smuggling from Ratuwamai Tree Plantation Project in Jhapa’s Topgachhi. Head of the project Binod Manandhar said 17 timber smugglers, who had been arrested since August 18, were sued under the Forest Act. Of them, 14 were held in Jhapa’s Jhilkhile and three in Kerkha. Four others arrested from Sano Kerkha area were released at the initiation of a local NGO Jana Samaj on the condition they will not be involved in timber smuggling, Manandhar said. — HNS

Held for acid attack

DAMAK: Police arrested Dhanraj Giri of Topgachhi-5 in Jhapa on Sunday on the charge of flinging acid at his wife and sister-in-law in the district headquarters, Chandragadhi. Inspector at the Damak area police office, Govinda Raj Kafle, said Giri was brought to Damak for necessary action. Giri was alleged to have assaulted wife Tara and sister-in-law Geeta with the acid two days ago. Both sustained deep burns on the body. — HNS

Firing kills one

RAJBIRAJ: Firing by an unidentified person killed an artist at Singiyauntole of Bishhariya-3 of Saptari district on Sunday morning. Phanilal Yadav, 35, a resident of Andharamath Thana Giroja of Bihar’s Madhuwani district, who was performing in a drama organised on the occasion of Sama Chakewa festival on the premises of the Hulaki temple was killed when he was fired at while he stepped on the stage for performance, SP at Saptari District Police Office, Milan Basnet, said. Locals said a team of 16 artists from India was invited to perform a drama in Bishhariya. Artists and the audience ran away after the incident, eyewitnesses said. “The body has been taken to Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital for post-mortem,” the police said. — HNS

Minister Nepal’s take

NEPALGUNJ: Minister for Education and Sports Pradip Nepal has said that the deferral of the constituent assembly polls should not be taken as an alarming event. Speaking at a press meet here on Sunday, the minister said: “Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will never install a leftist leader in his position. Koirala will rather show willingness to transfer power back to the palace.”— HNS

Property gutted

BARA: Property worth around Rs 8 lakh was destroyed in Triveni Spinning Industry of Chhatapripa VDC-3 of Bara district on Sunday morning, police said. The incident took place after short circuit damaged a cable wire at the factory, the Bara district police office said. Nobody was injured in the incident, SI Binod Dhital of Jitpur police post said. The fire also gutted the house of Krishna Sahani, of Jitpur VDC-9. — HNS

Damages sought

Kathmandu: People attacked by those allegedly involved in illegal trade of red sandalwood in Sindhupalchowk district have demanded action against the attackers and compensation. Eleven people of Fulpingkatti village development committee of Sindhupalchowk were injured when the people allegedly involved in the trade of red sandalwood attacked them for collecting donation from vehicles. At a press conference organised in the capital on Sunday, the victims claimed the people involved in the illegal trade of red sandalwood were afraid that they will find out about the trade. — HNS