Maoist killed in operation

BHAIRAHAWA: Security forces have killed a Maoist in Rupandehi on Friday afternoon. According to District Police Office, security forces shot at a group of 12 Maoists when they hurled a socket bomb at them at Mahajidiya of Khudabagar VDC-7. Police said the deceased could not be identified. The forces recovered two socket bombs and Maoist literature from the site. The other Maoists managed to flee. —HNS

Nepal for all-party govt

Kathmandu: Political leaders expressed different opinions on the issues of finding a solution to the present crisis while speaking at an interaction on "Shadowed peace by political ego and clash" organised by South Asia Pacific-Nepal here on Friday. "Formation of an all-party government with full constitutional power is the only way to solve the present political crisis," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, general-secretary of Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist. —HNS

Attack on Press flayed

SYANGJA: Human rights organisations, journalists, civic society and legal practitioners have condemned the damage inflicted on the vehicle carrying Annapurna Post to Pokhara near Ghansikuwa, Tanahun. Criticising the attack on the staff and distributors of the newspaper, a joint statement issued by them said the Maoists should be aware of the fact that attacking the press would not herald the pro-people regime. The statement has urged the government to provide compensation to the families of the deceased. — HNS

Donation for Jiri hospital

DOLAKHA: Donations amounting to Rs 126,000 has been collected from local residents of Dolakha district for the improvement of Jiri Hospital. The locals themselves started collecting donations as the condition of the hospital has been deteriorating for want of budget, according to Dr Ananda Raj Khanal of the hospital. Constructed by Swiss Agency Sata in 1964, the hospital was handed over to the government in 1972. The condition of the hospital started deteriorating after the government took responsibility of management of the hospital, says Keshar Bahadur Jirel, a local. — RSS

Quake resistant schools

SURKHET: Some 71 earthquake resistant schools have been built in the mid-western region under the earthquake resistant school construction programme of the government. There are 25 such schools in Surkhet, 25 in Jajarkot, 21 in Achham districts constructed at a cost of Rs 11, 360,000 in 2059-60. The government provides Rs 24,000 for furniture in such schools and Rs 1,740, 000 has been provided to the schools in the last fiscal year said the Surkhet regional depot office. Some 30 schools will be constructed in Dolpa, Humla, and Jumla districts in the current fiscal year. — RSS

Boys involved in burglary

RAJBIRAJ: It has been learnt that about a dozen children were involved in burglary in Rajbiraj since the last few weeks. Local scrap shopkeepers are said to have been sheltering the young boys and encouraging them to steal. This was disclosed after the police arrested two boys involved in a burglary at a grocery shop in front of the appellate court, Rajbiraj. The young boys are encouraged to steal as severe action is not taken against immature criminals. — RSS

Kerosene shortage

Phidim: The residents of Phidim are facing kerosene shortage since the past one-and-a-half months. People have to queue up for more than 10 hours to get their quota of three litres of kerosene and many of them even have to return empty-handed after lining up for hours. — HNS