CIAA grills Rana

KATHMANDU: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday questioned former minister of the royal cabinet, Shrish SJB Rana, for his role in misusing the state treasury. Rana was grilled for over two hours by a CIAA officer. The investigation officer questioned Rana on the misuse of state funds and for doling out money to journalists. The officer told Rana to show up again after four days. — HNS

NC CWC meet today

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress (NC) will hold its central working committee (CWC) meeting on Friday to discuss the current political scenario of the country. According to a central member of the party, Laxman Ghimire, the meeting is likely to discuss the ongoing political development, the Tarai movement and constituent assembly polls. — HNS

12 houses gutted

RAJBIRAJ: Around a dozen houses belonging to 11 families residing at Barahibaripur VDC-7 in Saptari district were gutted in a fire on Thursday night. According to initial estimates, property worth Rs 1.5 million was destroyed in the inferno. Fire brigade personnel from Rajbiraj municipality and Armed Police Force men doused the fire. — HNS

Traders stage sit-in

RUPANDEHI: Local businessmen staged a sit-in at the Butwal branch office of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on Thursday to demand that there should be load-shedding only once a day. Businessmen led by the Rupandehi Trade Association staged the sit-in from 9:30 am till noon. First vice-chairman of the association Krishna Bahadur Gautam said they would lockout the NEA office if their demands are not met. — HNS

Ministry appointment

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) will appoint a new spokesperson as the current spokesperson, Yadav Khanal, is set to leave for South Korea as charge-de-affairs on Monday, an official said. Likewise, Under-secretary Shankar Bairagi will also leave for Australia as charge-de-affairs on March 7. — HNS

JC seeks reps

KATHMANDU: The Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel-led Judicial Council recently requested Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Nepal Bar Association to appoint their representatives in the Council, according to a source. The JC has not been able to hold a single meeting due to the absence of the representatives. — HNS

Belgium ready to help

Kathmandu: The government of Belgium will provide the already allocated 4 million Euro to help Nepal implement various projects in the direction of strengthening democracy, but the government here is yet to finalise such a proposal. “The fund of 4 million Euro is ready and the government may send the proposal soon,” said Ang Chirring Sherpa, the honorary consul of Belgium in Kathmandu. Belgium is expected to complete its assessment by this month. — HNS

Hindu body’s stir

KATHMANDU: The World Hindu Federation has announced protest programmes from March 5 to press with their demand to declare the nation a Hindu state as mentioned in the 1990 Constitution. A press release issued here on Thursday by its senior office secretary, Dr Keshav Prasad Sapkota, said sit-in protests would be organised in the capital city. — HNS

India pledges help

POKHARA: Deputy chief of the mission at the Indian Embassy in Nepal Dr Kheya Bhattacharya on Thursday promised to extend help for construction of a 24-room building for a proposed secondary school in Kaski. Inaugurating the golden jubilee function of the Ratan Pandey Proposed Secondary School at Arwa-6 in Kaski, Dr Bhattacharya assured of constructing a concrete building and providing furniture to the school estimated to cost Rs 27.8 million. — HNS

Hysteria grips girls

Lekhnath: Gogan Secondary School here has been closed for two days after three girls students suffered hysteria fits on Thursday. “Three girl students had sudden tremors, weeping fits while one fell unconscious after classes started today. So, the school has been closed for two days,” headmaster Mohanraj Baral said. “A girl who fell unconscious was taken to Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara for treatment. — HNS