IN BRIEF

Former secy Acharya dead

KATHMANDU:

Former secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Padam Kumar Acharya, who was suffering from heart and kidney ailment, passed away at the capital’s Bir hospital on Friday. He was 62. Acharya had retired after working in the government service for 31 years. The last rites of the deceased were performed on Friday. — RSS

Artists felicitated

Lalitpur:

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Buddhi Raj Bajracharya, on Saturday lauded the role of artists in the uplift of art and culture. Speaking at a programme organised by the Lunjhya Kala Samman, Bajracharya praised the organisation for its effort in promoting Nepali art and culture. The minister also sang a bhajan composed by Swayambhu Raj Bajracharya at the request of the audience. Shree Gopal Prajapati, Ratna Behoshi and Ajay Lopchan were felicitated for their contribution to traditional art, culture and music. At the programme, 14 life members of the Lunjhya Kala Samman were given away a token of love for their support. Minister Bajracharya was also felicitated. — HNS

FSU chiefs’ demands

Kathmandu:

Presidents and vice-presidents of over 27 Free Students’ Unions (FSUs) of different colleges of the Kathmandu Valley have decided to put forth a charter of seven-point demands before the authorities concerned. The demands prepared in a meeting held on Saturday include creation of conducive educational environment, declaration of educational institutions a ‘no-entry’ zone for security forces, immediate release of all the detained students, barring plainclothes policemen’s entry into colleges, providing examination facilities to the detained students, and restoration of students’ educational and democratic rights.— HNS