DDC member quits

BARDIYA: Kritinath Yadav, area number-7 member of the District Development Committee (DDC), Bardiya resigned from his post on Wednesday. Yadav, a resident of Gulariya municipality-4, submitted his resignation before the DDC chairman, citing his bad health condition. Earlier, the Maoists had threatened of action if the DDC members did not resign within January 25. — HNS

Pro-democracy demo

KATHMANDU: Nepalis living in United States are organising a rally on January 21 in Washington DC to express their solidarity to the ongoing democratic movement in Nepal. Washington DC Rally Coordination Committee requested Nepali diaspora of North America to stand in solidarity with citizens of Nepal in US to participate the rally, according to a press release issued here on Thursday. Nepalis there had organised rallies in May and September 2005. — HNS

‘Candidate’ abducted

BARDIYA: The cadres of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Wednesday night abducted Ram Kumar Chaudhary, central member of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party, from Gulariya Municipality-6, Bardiya. Chaudhary had been widely depicted as a possible NSP candidate for the post of mayor in Gulariya Municipality in the upcoming municipal polls scheduled for February 8. He was abducted from his own residence. — HNS

Curfew imposed

NEPALGUNJ: The District Administration Office, Banke, on Thursday issued curfew orders throughout the district from 7 pm till 4 am the next morning every day effective from Thursday. Earlier, there was a curfew from 9 pm till 4 am the next morning every day. The curfew timings were increased following the increasing Maoist attacks in government offices and security posts in Nepalgunj. Chief District Officer Binod Kumar Adhikari said the curfew was increased to maintain peace and order in the district and ensure safety of people. CDO Adhikari said shooting orders against those violating the orders has also been given. — HNS

Fest begins

KAVREPALANCHOK: The Ashapure fair that begins on Purnima in the month of Paush or during the time of Swosthani fasting, has started here. People believe that one’s wishes are fulfilled if he visits Ashapure Mahadev. The fair takes place at Nangkhel VDC of Bhaktapur and Nasika VDC of Sanga. The shrine of Ashapure Mahadev is located on the confluence of Naichal Khola, Kachhabari Khola and Ghyangkhola. The site is a tourist destination and attracts many devotees, said chairman of the Temple Protection Committee Tulku Lama. — RSS

Writ filed in SC

KATHMANDU: A writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking the implementation of recommendations made by the National Human Rights Commission for the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. The petition filed against the Office of the Council of Ministers and the National Human Rights Commission has demanded the SC issue a mandamus order to the authorities for the implementation of the recommendations. — RSS

Cops leaves for Haiti

KATHMANDU: A 31-member police team left for Haitai on Wednesday to take part in a peacekeeping mission in Minustaha at the call of the United Nations. Additional IGP Dr Govinda Prasad Thapa extended his best wishes and bid farewell to the team at the Tribhuvan International Airport. — RSS