Five nabbed in India

GULARIYA: Indian police arrested two Nepalis and three Indians, who were about to sell an idol of Goddess Durga, in the Motipur area and handed them over to the Nepal police for action. The arrested were identified as priest of Sit Bazar of Bardiya district, Hari Lal, Dhan Bahdur Darja of the same locality and three Indian nationals. — RSS

Minister visits office

POKHARA: Assistant Minister for Land Reforms and Management Yagya Bahadur Budhathoki inspected the Kaski Land Revenue Office on Thursday. The government is making efforts to solve problems dogging the land revenue office like lack of manpower, resources and building. — RSS

RCNP, RNA awarded

Kathmandu: The secretary general of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has awarded ‘Certificate of Commendation for 2005’ to the Royal Chitwan National Park Authority and the Royal Nepal Army. According to a press release issued here today by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the awards were given in reorganisation of their efforts to combat poaching and illegal trade in endangered species, in particular leopards, the rhinoceros and the tiger. —HNS

Appeal to Maoists

DAMAULI: The NC, NC (D) and the CPN-UML have called on the Maoists to immediately stop extorting money from the loclas of Tanahu. The parties have also urged the Maoists to stop subjecting people to torture. — RSS

Hill station in peril

Palpa: Hapazard plucking of seasonal flowers is spoiling the natural beauty of the Shreenagar Hill, a popular tourist destination in Tansen, locals said. Even as tourists from Palpa and nearby districts break the branches of the flowering trees, there is no one to stop the people from resorting to such a mindless behaviour, they said. However, chairman of the Shree Ganesh Community Forest Users’ Group, Jag Mohan Shrestha, said forest users have beeen preventing people from plucking flowers.—HNS

Gurkhas’ grievances

KATHMANDU: Former British Gurkha Army personnel have expressed disappointment for not being able to meet the team of parliamentarians led by John Stanley of the British Conservative Party. The team had visited Nepal recently. At a press meet, they said they they failed to get the team to listen to their grievances, rights and discriminatory treatment being meted out to the Gurkhas. — RSS

Judges transferred

KATHMANDU: Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel has, on the recommendation of the Judicial Council, transferred 32 judges to different appellate courts, the SC said. — RSS