Bihar bans gatherings

Biratnagar: Gatherings and group movement of people in the Nepal-bordering areas of Bihar state in India have been prohibited from Friday. Owing to increasing violence and unrest in Nepal’s Terai region for the past some days, the Bihar government enforced the prohibitory orders by invoking section 144 of India’s Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Indian officials said. According to a decision taken by the state’s Home Ministry, section 144 has been enforced in the bordering areas from today, Inspector General of Darbhanga, Ratna Lal Kanaujia, said. The restrictions have been enforced in areas of Bihar bordering Kakarvitta of Jhapa in eastern Nepal to Raxaul in the west. Under section 144, assembly and movement of more than three persons and carrying of any kind of weapons, including homemade ones, are banned.In an appeal, the Bihar government urged Indian citizens not to visit Nepal. It has tightened security and mobilised security personnel in the bordering areas. — HNS

Lab catches fire

RUPANDEHI: A fire broke out in the laboratory of Lumbini Zonal Hospital on Thursday night. “High voltage leading to power overload caused fire burning down some equipment,” laboratory superintendent Binod Kumar Gyawali, said, adding that the fire was doused promptly. — HNS

Four hurt in clash

NEPALGUNJ: Four persons were injured in a clash over distribution of citizenship certificates at Lagdahawa of Karkodo village development committee-8 in Banke on Friday. Karna Bahadur Thapa, Kshitiz Rawal, Pramod Kurmi and Jamin Haluwai, who were injured in the clash, are undergoing treatment in Bheri Zonal Hospital, police said. — HNS

Black Day observed

POKHARA: Journalists here organised a programme on Friday to mark Magh 19 as Black Day. Two years ago, on this day, the royal government had imposed heavy sanctions on the Press. The Kaski chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists organised the programme. Addressing the gathering, senior journalist Narayan Karki said, “The present democratic government is still treating the media as an enemy.” Chairman of Mechi-Mahakali Media Society, Madhav Sharma, said, “The Rayamajhi panel has held guilty the conspirators of the Magh 19 plot and the journalists can never experience democracy unless it is made public.” — HNS

Property looted

RAUTAHAT: A gang of around 25 armed dacoits looted cash and goods worth Rs 100,000 from five households in Balerikhor Tole of Bishrampur VDC-8 on Thursday. The dacoits looted valuables from the houses of Bir Bahadur Karki, Ram Bahadur Karki, Krishna Bahadur Karki, Chakra Bahadur Bhujel and Dhan Bahadur Moktan, villagers said. — HNS

Robbers strike Birgunj

BIRGUNJ: An unidentified gang looted three godowns of the Agriculture Inputs Corporation in Birgunj Sub-Metropolis 19 Bhutandevi on Thursday night and set them on fire, the Parsa district police office said. The fire-fighters later doused the fire. Branch manager of the corporation Hari Prasad Gajurel said the corporation lost property worth one million rupees in the incident. — HNS

Minister’s call for talks

POKHARA: Minister for Local Development Rajendra Prasad Pandey has said the government would resolve the movement being launched in the Terai through talks. Speaking at the concluding session of a three-day symposium on Friday, he stressed the need to work as per aspirations of the people. — RSS

Police posts back

BAGLUNG: Some 13 police posts, including an Area Police Office, which were displaced during the decade-long conflict, have been re-established so far. Four police posts will be re-established soon after holding discussions with the Maoists, said police inspector of the District Police Office Nawaraj Karki. — RSS