Impact of Terai bandh

RAJBIRAJ: Life remained affected in Saptari on Saturday, the last day of the two-day Terai bandh called by the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) in five districts of the Terai. Neither long nor short-route vehicles plied. Except for drug stores, almost all commercial institutions were closed. Major markets like Phattepur, Kanchanpur, Rupani Hanumannagar, Basain, Kalayanpur and Pato were closed, said locals. The effect of the bandh was also felt in Siraha. No long or short-route vehicle plied in Siraha. However, the effect of the bandh was partial in Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa districts. — HNS

Khanal’s assurance

DAMAULI: CPN-UML standing Committee Member Jhal Nath Khanal said that the top leaders of seven political parties and the Maoists are committed to make the on-going peace talks a success. He expressed this view at a press conference organised here on Saturday by Press Chautari, Tanahun. The talks have not yet been finalised though various conclusions have been drawn, said khanal, adding the negotiating teams have reached an agreement regarding arms and arms management. But the dispute of monarchy is still under discussion, he added. He urged the Maoists to immediately return the land and property seized by their cadres to respective owner. The Maoists would be inducted in interim government until November 16, he said. — RSS

Gajurel, Baidhya meet

NEW DELHI: Two Nepali Maoist leaders Mohan Baidhya (Kiran) and CP Gajurel (Gaurav) who are kept in New Jalpaiguri Jail of West Bengal in India met on Friday. Gajurel who was shifted to the jail from Chennai jail on Thursday was allowed to meet Baidhya, who has been in the jail since February, 2004, on Friday, said the chairperson of the pro-Maoist Peoples’ Right Protection Committee (India), Laxman Pant. Baidhya’s lawyer Anup Mitra was also present on the occasion, said Pant adding that both leaders discussed various issues including the ongoing peace process in Nepal during the meeting. — HNS

Vehicles vandalised

POKHARA: An unidentified gang vandalised at least half a dozen vehicles parked on the road stretch between Srijana Chowk and Shahid chowk in Pokhara on Friday night, said the Baidam ward police office. The windshields of buses and taxies parked there were broken. On september 29, an unidentified gang had vandalised more than two dozen vehicles at Nagdhunga in Pokhara. — HNS

Insurance for victims

KATHMANDU: Kin of the 24 people who died in Taplejung in a helicopter crash on September 23 would get insurance money amounted $20,000 for each, managing director of Shree Airlines, Banwarilal Mittal, said on Saturday adding that the procedures to provide insurance money has been initiated and insurance company concerned was positive in this regard. He added that the certificates of registration of death, citizenship certificates and kinship certificates will be collected from the families of the dead. Officials at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation performed a rudri puja praying for eternal peace for the departed souls. — RSS

NEFEJ meet held

Kathmandu: The 21st general convention of the Nepal Federation of Environment Journalists (NEFEJ) has elected Sahaj Man Shrestha as its new president and Chandra Kishore Jha as the vice-president in its executive body. According to NEFEJ statement issued on Saturday, Sangeeta Lama has been elected as the general secretary, Tika Ram Rai has been elected as the treasurer. Abdulla Miya, Subodh Gautam, Laxman Upreti, Govinda Pokhrel, Bharat Raj Pokherel, Siddhartha Kumar Shakya have been elected as the members of the new committee while Dilip Kafle has been unanimously elected as secretary and Dr. Mukesh Chalise and Surya man Shakya have been unanimously selected as members. The NEFEJ has decided to award the Environment Journalism Award 2005 to Ramesh Kumar Poudel, a Chitwan-based journalist. The award carries of cash of Rs 25,000 and a certificate. —HNS