Rickshaw for winners

CHITWAN: Kalika FM has decided to award a rickshaw to the winner of a rickshaw-pulling contest.

Gyan Bahadur Tamang of Mahottari won the competition organised by the FM station, while Chandra Bahadur BK and Hiralal BK stood second and third. Bikram Pandey, managing director of the FM station, said Tamang will get the award during the anniversary of the FM station on October 12. Seventy-two rickshaw-pullers had taken part in the contest. — HNS

Cinemas shut today

JHAPA: Chairman of the Nepal Motion Pictures’ Association (NMPA) Raj Kumar Pokhrel said on Sunday that it would close theatres across the nation on Monday to pressure the government to stop imposing development tax on Nepali films. The NMPA also demanded that the government provide subsidy to films dealing with issues related to castes, culture, patriotism, nationalism and the sacrifice of martyrs. The film hall owners’ body has also demanded that taxes be collected from film halls as per ticket sales. It has given the government a 15-day ultimatum to meet its demands. — HNS

Mishap kills two

CHITWAN: Two persons died and 47 were injured when a bus heading to Sindhuli from Kathmandu skidded off the Narayangarh-Muglin road at Kabilas VDC-8 in Chitwan district on Saturday. The police identified one of the dead as Muna Raut, 25, of Ranigunj-4 in Sarlahi district and added that identity of the other victim was yet to be ascertained. Of the injured, 35 have been undergoing treatment in Chitwan, while 12 have been taken to Kathmandu for treatment. — HNS

Bullets recovered

BHAIRAHAWA: The police found 12 bullets and important documents in a rented room of Anish Teli in Rupandehi’s Siddharthanagar Municipality-1, Belahiya, on Saturday night. Teli, who used to identify himself as a journalist, is at large. He was once associated with Bhairahawa-based Siddhartha Times daily, which has remained closed for four years. However, vice-president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Rupandehi, Dipak Gyawali, claimed that Teli was not a journalist and demanded action against him. — HNS

Maoist official quits

CHANDRANIGAHPUR: CPN-Maoists’ Maryadpur VDC chairman Dharmendra Yadav resigned on Sunday. The VDC party committee asked Yadav to step down alleging him of working against the party policy. The emergency meeting of the village committee approved Yadav’s resignation, committee member Umalal Yadav said. — HNS

Abductee rescued

PHIDIM: People of Nagi VDC freed Aaitaraj Laksam from the grip of Maoist cadres on Sunday evening. Laksam is the Panchtahr area committee member of the CPN-UML and former secretary of Nagi VDC. The villagers also caught one person, Man Kumar Nepali, on the charge of involvement in the abduction of Laksam. Nepali was handed over to police. Assistant secretary of Panchthar Raj Kumar Bhandary said Maoists’ Panchami VDC secretary Bhim Yonghang and Maoist cadres Dhana Sundar Sereng, Due Kumar Tamang, Man Kumar Nepali had come with khukuris and abducted Laksam from his home on Sunday. — HNS

Journos’ tour

URLABARI: Three mediapersons of Tikapur, Kailali, who are on a Mechi-Mahakali cycle tour, arrived in Urlabari of Morang on Saturday. The three began their tour on the National Children’s Day with the slogan ‘Children and students’ voice for lasting peace and democratic republic’. They have travelled to 23 districts. The three are Kapil Ojha (17) and Tulsi Devkota (21) of Tikapur FM and Tej Narayan Pandey (19) of Tilapur daily. During the tour, the three distributed educational materials to Dalit and poor students of five community schools. — RSS

Right to Info Day

KATHMANDU: National Information Commission on Sunday released a booklet on the Right to Know, coinciding with the International Right to Know Day, which is celebrated on September 28. Article 19 calls for maximum disclosure; obligation to publish; promotion of open government; limited scope of exceptions; processes to facilitate access; open meetings and disclosure takes precedence. Article 33 (C) of the constitution requires the state to adopt a system which abides by the concept of fundamental human rights right to information of the people. — HNS

Open-airport call

DOLAKHA: Despite repeated pleas from the local people, Jiri Airport in the district is yet to reopen. The closure of the only airport in the district, often touted as gateway to Mt Everest, has hit people hard.

The airport has remained closed ever since a chopper of Air Ananya was set on fire nine years ago. The resumption of air service in Jiri could usher economic development not only in Jiri but also in other parts of the district. — HNS