Kathmandu,July 30, 2007 The government today denounced the attack on the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Dolakha and termed it a ‘planned’ one by an ‘unruly’ mob of the Young Communist League (YCL). A statement issued by the Home Ministry said any attack and manhandling on a responsible government official, destruction of government property and obstruction in government affairs by unruly mobs is condemnable. “The ministry has directed the local administration to take stern action against anyone involved in such unruly activities,” the Home Ministry said. Anyone involved in violent and unruly activities is a criminal in the eyes of the law, the ministry said, adding that such people “will not be excused” under any pretext. “Anybody creating terror will not be spared,” the statement added. At least 30 people, including six cops, were hurt following a clash between the police and the Maoists cadres yesterday in Charikot following manhandling of the Dolakha CDO Uddhav Bahadur Thapa by Maoists cadres. The ministry has appealed to all sections of the society to cooperate with the government officials in their day-to-day official work. Meanwhile, MPs flayed the attack on CDO Uddhav Bahadur Thapa of Charikot during the special session of the House and suggested that the Maoists “correct” their behaviour. MP Pashupati Chaulagain of the CPN-UML criticised the home ministry for being a “silent spectator” when the YCL cadres, armed with swords and khukuris, were heading towards Charikot. Lauda lease case verdict on Thursday Kathmandu, July 30, 2007 The Special Court said today that it would issue a verdict on the much-awaited case of lease of a Lauda Air aircraft on Thursday. The case was filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) eight years ago. A three-member bench of Judges comprising Bhoopdhoj Adhikary, Komal Nath Sharma and Cholendra SJB Rana said today that the bench would pronounce the verdict on the case on Thursday. “Though the bench was supposed to pronounce the verdict today, it could not do so due to time constraint,” Registrar Lekh Nath Neupane told journalists. The CIAA had filed the case against the then Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Tarani Dutta Chataut and all officials of the board of the then Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation Hiri Bhakta Shrestha, Thirtha Lal Shrestha, Gauri Nath Sharma and Raja Ram Upadhyaya. The CIAA had accused them of amassing Rs 389 million in the lease of an aircraft of Lauda Air. In the case, the CIAA had warned the then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala not to repeat such a ‘mistake’.