Bomb explodes in Birgunj

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

BIRGUNG: A bomb went off at the Ghantaghar Chowk of Birgunj today targeting a mass meeting of the

Rastriya Janaprajatantrik Party.

Party general secretary Govind Poudel was addressing the meeting, when the explosion took place. The sudden explosion triggered a stampede among the participants of the meeting.

The explosion occurred near the statue of Madhesi leader late Ramjanam Tiwari, who was also the founding leader of Sadbhavana Party. No human casualty has been reported. Despite the eyewitness’ claim that it was a ‘sutali’ bomb, DSP Diwesh Lohani, argued that only a normal firecracker that had gone off there today.

The incident has raised doubts among the locals over the efficiency of police who were deployed in large number at the RJP mass meeting and training for its Bara and Parsa cadres for the first time in order to mount pressure for the timely promulgation of a statute with federalism.

“Due to the explosion we are bound to cut short our training programme,” said party Parsa district president Phajur Rahaman Miyan Ansari.

An investigation has been launched into the explosion, police said.

BHAIRAHAWA: Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa today said that his government is always ready to extend help for the development of Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha.

Speaking at the programme organised to mark the 2556th Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day, Rajapaksa pledged Sri Lankan government’s continued support for the development of the holy site.

“Our government has contributed for its development in the past too. In fact, Lumbini has played a crucial role in cementing the long-standing relations between Nepal and Sri Lanka,” said Rajapaksa.

Addressing the programme, Former Culture Minister and the coordinator of the Visit Lumbini Year 2012 Gopal Kiranti said the proposed construction of the

Gautam Buddha airport in Bhairahawa would prove a cornerstone

for Lumbini’s development.

Thirty students from Lumbini were awarded with the Mayawati scholarships on the occasion.

Earlier today, students, representatives of different organisations and monks of different monastery had started a rally from the Mayadevi temple premises.