KATHMANDU: A cabinet meeting today decided to identify security lapses and tighten the security to curb increasing criminal activities. The government also decided to review special security action plan launched by Home Ministry a few months ago and improve law and order accordingly.

"The government has decided to make concerted attempts to control criminal activities," said Shankar Pokharel, Minister for Information and Communications.

Home Minister Bhim Rawal said the ministry was preparing a new document to identify the lapses and strengthen the security situation. He added that the delay in releasing budget remained one of the causes to implement the special security action plan effectively.

The cabinet decided to felicitate Dipak Bista with national honour. Bista had won four gold medals in the recently-held SAARC games in Bangladesh. He will get a cash reward of Rs 1 million, according to Pokharel. The cabinet also decided to ensure proper treatment for the players who got injured during the SAARC games.

It also decided to provide government land in Shantinagar to set up Media Centre as requested by the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nepal, Nepal Media Society, Television Broadcasters Nepal and National Network for Nepali Print Media.

The cabinet also decided to form a commercial bench in Hetaunda Appellate Court.

It, however, could not appoint governor of Nepal Rastra Bank as the issue of sharing the post of governor and vice president of National Planning Commission is still unsettled between coalition partners Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, cabinet sources said.

Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said, "The appointment could not take place today, as Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal told the cabinet to deal with the issue in the next meeting." He claimed that there were no differences between him and the PM on the issue of governor's appointment.

A cabinet meeting today decided to identify security lapses and tighten the security to curb increasing criminal activities. The government also decided to review special security action plan launched by Home Ministry a few months ago and improve law and order accordingly.

"The government has decided to make concerted attempts to control criminal activities," said Shankar Pokharel, Minister for Information and Communications.

Home Minister Bhim Rawal said the ministry was preparing a new document to identify the lapses and strengthen the security situation. He added that the delay in releasing budget remained one of the causes to implement the special security action plan effectively.

The cabinet decided to felicitate Dipak Bista with national honour. Bista had won four gold medals in the recently-held SAARC games in Bangladesh. He will get a cash reward of Rs 1 million, according to Pokharel. The cabinet also decided to ensure proper treatment for the players who got injured during the SAARC games.

It also decided to provide government land in Shantinagar to set up Media Centre as requested by the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nepal, Nepal Media Society, Television Broadcasters Nepal and National Network for Nepali Print Media.

The cabinet also decided to form a commercial bench in Hetaunda Appellate Court.

It, however, could not appoint governor of Nepal Rastra Bank as the issue of sharing the post of governor and vice president of National Planning Commission is still unsettled between coalition partners Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, cabinet sources said.

Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said, "The appointment could not take place today, as Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal told the cabinet to deal with the issue in the next meeting." He claimed that there were no differences between him and the PM on the issue of governor's appointment.

Don't stop penning, CDO tells journalists

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Chief District Officer Laxmi Dhakal today urged the mediapersons not to stop their pens in the face of threats and murder. He also urged them not to lay the blame on the police for the security lapses, but to cooperate with security agencies to boost their morale.

“Mediapersons, who are the only voice to aware the general public about what is going on in the society, must not stop their pens,” he said.

Talking to The Himalayan Times today, he said the government officials are solidly involved in giving security to media and the general public.

"We need police for our security. So let us not blame the cops every time. In these critical times, we must encourage the police", Dhakal said. CDO Dhakal, however, complained that no one has complained of threats. "In our security meetings, we have time and again made inquiries about such complaints to the police. But no one has filed such complaints. Without any one complaining, how will the security personnel know who got the threat and from whom?" he retorted.

“After the incident occurs everybody blames the cops. This really discourages the lower rank cops,” said Dhakal.

He said that the police yesterday impounded 300 pulsar bikes for security checks. “We are now issuing a notice for the bikers, not to wear the black visor while riding,” he said.

He said that special squads of the Nepal Police have started checking the suspected residents, hotels and restaurants to ensure peace and security. “We are always with media and will give full security to media and the general public,” he added.