DANG: A police team held 40 persons, armed with country weapons, during the latter’s attempt to torch a petrol pump in Satbariya VDC in Dang’s Deukhuri today.

The gang had come from Banke’s Kohalpur with the intention of padlocking and torching the Trishuldhari Petrol Pump. The police also seized a microbus and a jeep used by them.

Area Police Office Lamahi said the miscreants were carrying khukuris, swords and knives with them. Gyanendra Khanal had led the gang to retaliate with the gas station owner Narendra Sedhain, following the latter’s debate with Tanka Khanal, a relative of Gyanendra.

Police said a probe was underway and legal process had been initiated against those held. Police from Lamahi as well as Ameliyan and Satabariya had arrested them.