Outfit ready for talks

LAHAN: The Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Rajan Mukti Group), one of the armed groups operating in Tarai, received the government’s formal invitation for talks on Friday. A source said the letter was handed over to them by a government mediator. At a meeting held a few days ago in Bihar, 14 out of 27 armed groups operating in the Tarai decided to accept the government’s invitation for talks, the source added. — RSS

Extortion slur on KWP

GAIGHAT: Kirant Workers’ Party cadres are allegedly extorting from people in eastern Udayapur. The KWP cadres call up people based in Beltar, Basaha, Tapeshwori and other VDCs and seek funds, businessmen alleged. They demand Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000, they claimed. The businessmen have accused the administration of not providing them security even after requests. — HNS

One shot dead

BIRGUNJ: An unidentified gan shot dead a local school teacher in Parsa district on Thursday night. The gang fired at Loknath Gaire (28) of Biruwaguthi-3, Parsa District Police Office said, adding that Gaire received three bullets in his abdomen and died on the way to hospital. Gaire was a teacher at Nepal Rastriya Higher Secondary School Meanwhile, making calls at local FM stations, Tuphan Singh, who claimed to be the district in-charge of JTMM-J, has owned up Gaire’s killing. —HNS

Murder suspect held

BIRGUNJ: The police claimed to have arrested a person involved in the killing of Mohan Mainali, an officer at the Parsa District Administration Office. Shashi Bhusan Tiwari alias Chinnu Pandey of Bhawanipur-6 in Parsa was held with a pistol and bullets from Maisthan, Birgunj, on October 7, police sources said. According to the police, Tiwari is the regional commander of Samyukta Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (SJTMM). During interrogation, Tiwari admitted to his involvement in the killing, the police said, adding that Tiwari had demanded Rs 6 lakh in ransom from the Mainali family. SJTMM had shot dead Mainali at Ranighat in Birgunj on August 19. — HNS

FNJ’s concern

JANAKPURDHAM: President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Dharmendra Jha on Saturday expressed concern about the reported use of journalists as mediators between the government and the armed outfits in the Tarai. Speaking at an interaction organised by the FNJ, Jha said it was regrettable that the government was using journalists on individual basis without formally asking the FNJ to mediate for talks. — HNS

Road reopens

TULSIPUR: The Lamahi-Bhalubang section of the East-West Highway, which had remained obstructed since Friday, has reopened.

According to the District Police Office, Dang, the highway was obstructed by relatives of a girl, who was killed in an accident at Lalmatiya. The relatives were demanding compensation to the bereaved family. The road was reopened after an agreement was reached to provide compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh to the girl’s next of kin. — RSS

PLA adjustment

LAHAN: Minister for Science and Technology Ganesh Shah has called on the government to form a special committee for the adjustment of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army with the Nepal Army. He called on the government to implement the consensus forged for the adjustment of the Maoist PLA into the army. Madhesi people’s participation in the army should be increased, the minister said. — RSS