Bajghang, April 9 -- Police on Wednesday took nine people, including four ward chairs, in custody on the charge of defying the lockdown to organise a religious fair called Chaitali Mela in Bajhang.

The fair is held at Bannikot in Chhabispathibhera Rural Municipality, Bajhang, every year. The ceremony, which sees animal and bird sacrifices for religious purposes, concluded on Monday amid much fanfare.

According to Netra Bohara, information officer at the District Police, among the individuals held by the police are the chair of Chhabis Pathibhera Ward No.2 Bikash Ayadi, chair of Ward No. 3 Keshav Raj Joshi, chair of Ward No. 4 Amar Thapa and chair of Ward No. 5 Lokendra Thagunna.

Alongside ward chairs, police have also detained Rajendra...