VDC secy escapes

Sarlahi: Sarlahi’s Murtiya VDC secretary Jagarnath Shah escaped from the custody of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) on Thursday night. A gang of JTMM (J) had abducted Shah from the border of Murtiya and Barahathwa village development committee on Thursday afternoon. Shah said he was able to give his abductors the slip when three activists of the JTMM (J) were taking him through sugarcane fields to Lakhandehi river with an intention to kill him. — HNS

Students’ call

KATHMANDU: Student leaders and teachers on Friday urged the Tribhuvan University (TU) not to phase out the certificate level from TU colleges. Pradeep Poudel, president of the Nepal Students’ Union, Rupesh Khatiwada, chief of the Education Department and secretariat member of the All Nepal National Free Students Union, Yuba Raj Chaulagain, vice-president of the All Nepal National Free Students Union-D said that the certificate level should not be phased out. The TU Part Time Teachers’ Association said in a press statement, “The government should guarantee the easy access of higher secondary education for the students before the TU phases out the certificate level from its campuses.” The press statement urged the government not to phase out the certificate level. — HNS

Building collapses

DIPAYAL: Building of the Durga Lower Secondary School at Lamautya of Nirauli -7 collapsed due to a heavy rain on Wednesday. The collapse of the building resulted in loss of property worth Rs 8 lakh, in-charge at BP Nagar area police office Surendra Pant said. Following the incident, teachers have gone to district headquarters Dipayal, seeking alternative methods for running classes at the school,” headmaster Dhan Bahadur Bogati said.— HNS