Contraband seized

MAHENDRANAGAR: Kanchanpur police seized 31 kg of hashish brought from Bajhang in Mahendranagar on Sunday night. The police found the contraband from a bus at Haldukhal area of Bhimdatta Municipality-7. At a press meet, Kanchanpur SP Pawan Kharel said that they seized the contraband following a tip-off. The bus that belongs to Biradatta Joshi of Bhimdatta-4 has been taken into police custody.

Two killed in accident

NUWAKOT: Two persons were killed when a truck met with an accident at Newarpani of Nuwakot's Budhasing-VDC-6. The truck skidded off and plunged some 200 meters down the hill killing Krishna Bahadur Bhattarai on the spot. Another person, Ram Bahadur Tiwari, succumbed to injuries while being rushed to the Trishuli Hospital, according to DSP Hari Bahadur Pal. Both the dead were residents of Newarpani. The truck driver, Shambhu Adhikari, a resident of Taruka VDC-7, is undergoing treatment in Trishuli Hospital.

DDC extorted

Khotang: The District Development Committee, Okhaldhunga, has paid a hefty sum as donation to the Matrika-led CPN- Maoist. The DDC, however, has not revealed the amount it paid to the party. Of late, Yadav's party has been seeking donations not only from the public but also from government offices. A VDC secretary requesting anonymity said that staffers of government and non-government offices were hit hard due to the donation drive of the party. The secretary added: "The party has written letters to the DDC and VDCs seeking donation.'' They have asked a sum of Rs 25,000 from each VDC, he said. The VDC's have received letters signed by the party's district secretary Milan Adhikari and district in-charge Bikram. Yadav's party has also been capturing plots of land in Khotang and Udaypur districts.

Panel draws flak

Banke: Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Sarbadev Ojha has voiced disapproval of the high-level political mechanism (HLPM) formed recently. Speaking at a press meet organised by the Awadhi Journalists' Union in Nepalgunj on Monday, Ojha said duties and responsibilities of the mechanism were not clear. He alleged that the mechanism was formed neglecting the concerns of small political outfits. He claimed that the mechanism formed by the leaders of the three political parties would not be acceptable to the other parties, reasoning, "All the parties participating in the government are equal.'' Stating that the government has been formed with the support of 22 parties, he added, "The other parties will not blindly accept the decision of the three parties.