FIRE KIILS ELDERLY WOMAN IN PARBAT Kathmandu, 11 April A woman died and 21 houses were destroyed when fire engulfed a Dalit settlement at Phandanda of Pakhapani VDC in Parbat district, RSS reports from Parbat.. The deceased is 70-year-old Kaushi Nepali of Pakhapani-5. Her charred body was found in the ruins of her house on Wednesday night. The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon, police said. The fire destroyed nine houses and 12 cowsheds in the settlement. It was brought under control through joint efforts of police and locals at 2 a.m. today. Full extent of the damage caused by the fire has not been assessed yet. Preliminary relief assistance has been distributed to the fire victims, according to the District Administration Office, Parbat. RSS adds from Ilam: A fire that broke out at Panitar of Mangalbare VDC-4 here last night gutted two houses and goods and property worth 1.5 million rupees. The houses of Kumar Sherpa and Ashok Pradhan were destroyed by the fire. It also gutted grains, goods and property in the houses. The fire broke out from the house of Kumar Sherpa at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and it was brought under control by locals with the help of police personnel two hours later. No human casualties were reported in the fire. Meanwhile, strong winds here last night disrupted the electricity supply to the town. The gale brought down power cables and electricity poles, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Ilam branch stated. Nnnn WOMAN MISTREATED IN NUWAKOT Kathmandu, 11 April Masini Tamang, 35, was tied and battered Monday by villagers at Lachyang VDC in Nuwakot charging for casting a magic spell on Suklal Tamang. Masini said she was forced to sign a paper conceding she cast an evil spell. and was tied by a rope. A mother of three, Masini’s husband is in Qatar. Nnnn