NA barracks inspected

KATHMANDU: Parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) MPs inspected the bases of Nepal Army under the Central Division on Thursday. The 17-member team led by SAC Chairperson Hirdaya Ram Thani inspected the army bases at Helambu in Sindhupalchowk, Chaap in Sindhuli, and Babai security base in Chitwan National Park, according to the Directorate of Public Relations of Nepali Army. — HNS

Probe panel in town

NEPALGUNJ: The commission formed by the government to probe Nepalgunj riots reached here on Friday. The government has formed a judicial probe commission led by Butwal Appellate Court judge Purushottam Parajuli. “The probe commission set up its office on Friday and will start work from Saturday,” a member of the commission said. Additional chief of the National Investigation Department, Sukh Chandra Jha and deputy attorney general Drona Raj Regmi are members of the commission. — HNS

Timber thief held

ITAHARI: The forest consumers in Indrapur VDC of Morang seized 40 cubic feet of timber from a Maoist cadre, on Thursday night, while he was ferrying the stolen timber on a bullock cart. Prakash Ghimre, a Maoist cadre from Haraicha VDC of Morang had stolen the timber from Khorsane Community Forest Group in Indrapur. The forest users seized the cart at 10:00 pm at Prakash Chautaro in Indrapur 6. The Maoists’ Indrapur VDC secretary, Hari Dangal, confirmed the theft and took the timber under his control saying he would initiate investigation. The consumers have demanded stern action against the culprit. — HNS

3-day Terai bandh

RAJBIRAJ: The Jay Krishna Goit-led Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) has called a three-day Terai bandh from January 12 to January 14. Issuing a statement, coordinator of the JTMM’s central ad hoc committee Jay Krishna Goit urged the Terai people not to fall for the “ploy” of the constituent assembly polls. The statement said there was no alternative left for the Terai people except to fight for their rights. — HNS

Kamaiyas leaving

Kathmandu: After being assured by the government on Thursday that they would be provided with land, the freed Kamaiyas are preparing to return home from their makeshift camps at Tinkune. Addressing a press meet, Pashupati Chaudhari, a freed Kamaiya activist, said they would leave Tinkune as soon as they can make a necessary arrangement for returning home. — HNS

SLC exam centres

Taplejung: Centres for the SLC exam that were limited to the district headquarters for the last five years will be established outside the district headquarters from this year. Exam centres will also be established in the rural areas, the district education office (Taplejung) said, adding that nine exam centres would be established in the district this year. — HNS

Maoists fell trees

BARA: Maoists have been accused of felling 50 trees standing on five bigha land registered in the name of Akshya, 18, the grandson of Ramesh Chandra Pokhrel, at Mahendranagar in Bara. The trees were felled on Tuesday, Bara FNJ president Binod Pyakurel said. Saying the land is registered in the name of his disabled grandson Akshya, Ramesh Chandra said Maoists were not doing justice to the boy. Maoist district secretary Kumar Dahal said he did not have any information about the incident. — HNS