ONCE-OVER

FSU election ends

MAHENDRANAGAR: Election of the Free Students’ Union of Siddhanath Multiple Campus concluded on Sunday. Five student bodies, including ANNFSU, ANNISU-R and Nepal Students’ Union, fielded a total of 46 candidates in the election that saw 1,216 votes being cast. Altogether, there were 1,535 voters. Leaders of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist and other parties oversaw the election. — HNS

Bomb defused

BARA: Personnel of the bomb disposal squad from the Kaligunj battalion of the Nepal Army’s brigade at Kalaiya defused a socket bomb on Sunday. The bomb was left in a black bag by an unknown group. — HNS

Cops released on bail

BARDIYA: Four policemen, including a police inspector, were released on bail from the police custody on Wednesday. They were kept in custody in charge of helping prisoner Dhan Bahadur Shahi of Magara Gadhi of Bardiya to escape from the prison on December 6. Acting chief of Bardiya prison branch, Min Bahadur Regmi, said that the four have been released after the order of the District Court in Bardiya on a bail of Rs 4,500 each. The released cops are SI Chandra Bahadur Darji, head constables Nakuldev Giri and Lok Bahadur Shahi and cop Ramesh BK. — HNS

Maoists abduct one

DHANKUTA: Maoist cadres on Saturday abducted Ratna Poudel, a resident of Chunuwa-9 in Dhankuta on the charge of creating terror by asking for donations. Poudel, a former Maoist cadre, was abducted from his house, the Dhankuta chapter of the Maoists said. After the abduction, the Maoists took Poudel towards the Dhankuta bazaar, a family source said. — HNS

‘Murderers identified’

INARUWA: The District Police Office, Sunsari said, the convicts involved in the murder of Kiran Aryal from Biratnagar of Morang district have been identified. According to the chief

of the Police, Yadav Raj Khanal, the convicts have been identified and search for them is underway. Sunsari coordinator of the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, Kris, has taken responsibility for killing Aryal. He says Aryal had exploited common farmers. Aryal was shot dead at Rajgunj Sinwari on Friday. — RSS

Women on stir

UDAYPUR: The struggle committee of the Female Health Volunteers has announced a struggle to put pressure on the government to meet its 10-point demand. The struggle was announced during the third national gathering of the committee at Gaighat of Udaypur. Strong protest programmes will be launched if the demands are not met soon, said president of the committee, Sunita Bhattarai. The Female Health Volunteers have been demanding an end to the situation in which they have to work without pay, provision of dress for them, appointment letter, life insurance and proper payment, among others. — RSS

Shortage of blood

BIRATNAGAR: “One locality, one blood donor” campaign has been launched in Biratnagar after a shortage of blood at the Blood Transfusion Centre here. As part of the campaign, a blood donation camp was held at Ward No 12 of the Biratnagar Sub-metropolitan City on Saturday. On the occasion, 21 persons donated blood, coordinator of the programme Nagendra Bhagat said. — RSS

Palungwa’s warning

PHIDIM: Central member of the Federal Limbuwan Council, Sanjuhang Palungwa, has warned that the country will be pushed into a bigger crisis, if the country is not restructured for federal republic with ethnic autonomy before the constituent assembly polls. Inaugurating the first district convention of the council in Phidim, he said the CA polls has been

delayed at the interest of the seven parties. He accused the government of ignoring the genuine demands raised by the council and other ethnic groups. He warned that they will move ahead by forming a parallel government if their demands are not addressed on time. — RSS

Gurung’s appeal

ITAHARI: Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Prithvi Subba Gurung, on Saturday said the parties have reached the final stage of agreement to end the current political deadlock. Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the two-day training organised by Nepal Democratic Kirat-Limbu Organisation, Gurung claimed there was no chance of change in the government leadership until the CA polls are held. He said an agreement has been reached to give foreign ministry portfolio to the Maoists. — RSS

Projects monitored

MAKANPUR: An all party committee monitored projects which have been undertaken and those to be operated in Phaperbari and Rai Gaun VDCs located in the eastern part of the district with the co-ordination of the DDC, Makwanpur and local consumers. A team of political parties, Chief District Officer and Local Development Officer monitored health, education, road and drinking water projects. — RSS

Robbers arrested

SINDHULI: Locals and cadres of YCL arrested six persons along with two pistols and 10 rounds of bullet while trying to loot at Nakkali of Marinkhola of Sindhuli. Those arrested are Buddhi Man Syangtan, Ram Krishna Majhi, Sapta Jargha of Patharkot, Min Bahadur Moktan of Lalbandi and Chandra Singh Yonjan of Ishwarpur of Saptari district. — RSS

Letter to minister

KATHMANDU: Youth wings of major political parties on Sunday submitted a letter of memorandum to Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan regarding the alleged encroachment of Nepali territory by Indian authorities in Susta, Nawalparasi. “Basically, we have raised four issues of the national interest that we believe the government should act on immediately,” said Sagar, Valley In-charge of the Young Communist League. After listening to the presentation, minister Pradhan told them she would take the issue

in the parliament. Sagar said the memorandum would be submitted to the Indian embassy in Kathmandu on Monday.— HNS