Overcrowded jail

Mahendranagar: The district jail, where more than 60 activists of the political parties are being held is busting at its seams. Meant to hold 75 detainees, 135 detainees are being held there. Eight leaders and activists of political parties, who were arrested on February 1, are being kept at Company No. 4 of Nepal Police. They are: CPN-UML leader and former deputy speaker Bhojraj Joshi, former minister Lal Bahadur BK, UML district committee members Ram Dutta Joshi and Mahesh Dutta Joshi, area committee member of CPN-UML Ram Singh Dhami, president of Nepal Tarun Dal municipal committee Akkal Bahadur Bista, Keshav Bahadur Chand and NC ward number-9 secretary Bhawani Joshi. — HNS

Bus torched

Dhading: Maoists set ablaze a passenger bus bound for Chitwan from Kathmandu at Jogimara VDC of Dhading, on Saturday evening. The Maoists torched the bus after asking the passengers to get down. — HNS

Relief for Majhi’s kin

BIRATNAGAR: Home Minister Kamal Thapa on Saturday handed over a cheque of Rs 1.5 lakhs to the family of deceased ward chairman of ward number 15, Tribeni Majhi. Maoists had murdered Majhi on Thursday night. Minister Thapa, who is here to participate in a program, also assured to provide employment to the son of Late Majhi. — HNS

Ex-mayor held

DHARAN: Police on Saturday arrested former Mayor of Dharan Municipality, Manoj Kumar Meyangbo, while he was participating in a door-to-door campaign to urge the locals of Dharan to boycott the municipal polls scheduled for February 8. Meyangbo, who is also the in-charge of constituency number 1 of CPN-UML, was arrested from Dharan-9, Putalilas, Police Inspector of Area Police Office, Dharan, Raj Kumar Baidwar said. Meyangbo is being kept at Police Company situated at Fusre, police said. — HNS

Panchami marked

MOSCOW: Basanta Panchami was marked at the Royal Nepal Embassy in Moscow on Friday by offering prayers to Saraswoti, the Goddess of learning and knowledge. On the occasion, Royal Nepalese Ambassador Hiranya lal Shrestha offered prayers to Saraswoti and highlighted the importance of worshipping the goddess. Also present on the occasion were chairman of the Nepali Nari Nikunja Dr Samata Prasad Mahato, Vice-chairman Dr Bindita Lamichhane and senior literary figure Krishna Prakash Shrestha. — RSS

Four held with timber

BUTWAL: The Shivanagar Range Post has arrested four persons along with a mini truck on Friday night as they were smuggling timber during curfew hours. A team led by the Ranger Shanker Jha arrested the four with 42 cubic feet of timber worth Rs 10, 000 near Charenge, Devdaha VDC-9. The men have been identified as Ratan Pun and Prem Khatri of Devdaha-9, Charange, truck driver Netra BC of Syangja and helper of the truck Rajan Khand. Action will be taken against them as per the Forest Act, said District Forest Officer of Rupandehi, Biswo Babu Tiwari. — RSS

Poll coordination desk

SUNSARI: A regional, zonal and district-level Election Coordination Desk has been established to coordinate activities of the security forces keeping in view the approaching municipal elections. The Royal Nepalese Army, Eastern Division Headquarters in Itahari, on Friday said the desk will act against any untoward activity in the town during the civic elections. All resources will be maximally utilised for the same and all preparations are complete, the RNA said.— RSS

Projects in offing

RASUWA: After the Chilime Hydel Project, the model hydel project of the country, created an awareness, processes of setting up new projects for generating electricity have begun.

Investment is being made to supply electricity to the people by utilising the water resources from the Himalayan peaks. Investors have entered Rasuwa with much enthusiasm. The Perennial Power and Consultant Engineering Pvt Ltd has completed a survey for a 425 KW and Rs 70 million project in the Bremdang Khola below the Gatlang village and a 506 KW and Rs 56.1 million project in Parbati Kunda waters in Gatlang of North Rasuwa. Technical expert Bir Bahadur Rai said the project would take four years to complete. It will also establish modern water mills in place of older ones.— RSS