Curfew lifted

HETAUNDA: The District Administration Office, Makawanpur, on Friday lifted night curfew in Hetaunda municipality, which was in force for the past three years. In a notice, Chief District Officer Modraj Dotel said the nine to four curfew since August 31, 2003, had been lifted. Similarly, the district administration office of Ramechhap lifted curfew in Manthali, Ramechhap bazaar and Doramba bazaar. — HNS

NHRC hails truce

KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission has taken in positive light the ceasefire declared for three months by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) with effect from April 26. The Commission, in a press release on Friday, hoped that the ceasefire would help towards the protection of human rights and it would be important in moving forward the peace process. — RSS

Agreement extended

KATHMANDU: The Social Welfare Council (SWC) and OXFAM Nepal have reached an agreement to run various programmes in Nepal for another five years. OXFAM will run different programmes in public health, community development, advocacy and natural disaster sectors in different districts in partnership with different local NGOs. The programmes will be run in Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Jumla, Dailekh, Surkhet, Banke, Bardiya, Arghakhanchi, Makwanpur, Sindhupalchowk, Baglung, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi, Kathmandu, Rautahat, Mahottari, Sarlahi and Saptari. The donor institution will provide Rs 9.527 million during the period. Member-secretary Sharad Sharma of the council and representative of the OXFAM Nepal TJ Cleden signed the agreement. — RSS

Man castrates self

KANCHANPUR: Jaya Bahadur Raisela, 36, a resident of Suda Village Development Committee-8 of Mahendranagar in Kanchanpur district was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after he chopped off his own testicles. Raisela was bleeding profusely when he was brought to the Mahakali Zonal Hospital at 3:45 am along with his testicles in a plastic pouch. Hospital sources said he received first aid treatment there and was referred to a hospital in India. The reason for chopping off his testicles at a time when his wife was away at her maternal home is yet to be confirmed. — RSS

Envoy arrives

KATHMANDU: Ambassador-designate of Thailand to Nepal, Vanvisa Thamrongnavasawat arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday to take up her assignment. She was received at the Tribhuvan International Airport by ADC to the King and Mohan Krishna Shrestha, deputy chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. —RSS

6 hurt in jeep mishap

CHITWAN: Six passengers were injured when a Damauli-bound jeep from Chanauli overturned at Dasadhunga in Chitwan district on Friday morning. The injured passengers have been sent to Bharatpur Hospital for treatment and their condition is said to be normal. — RSS

Relief sought

DHADING: The 53 families of Gaira village of Semjung VDC in Dhading, whose houses were damaged by hailstorm on April 9, have demanded relief assistance from the Nepal Red Cross Society, Dhading branch. According to the chairman of the Red Cross branch, Ishwori Prasad Adihikari, the office has appealed to the central committee of Red Cross to provide necessary relief materials as it has run out of stock. — RSS