Scribes stage protest

CHARIKOT: Dolakha district unit of the Press Union on Friday staged an hour-long sit-in outside the district administration office to protest disruption of publication and transmission and sacking of journalists

of the Gorkhapatra Corporation. President of the Press Union Dolakha branch Shambhu Gautam denounced the intervention in media houses. — HNS

Snake bite claims two

MAHOTTARI: Two children of Harinmati VDC-7 of Mahottari were killed due to snakebites on Thursday night. Six-year-old Mamata Kumari and three-year-old Das Tatma died while undergoing treatment for snake bite at the Janakpur Zonal Hospital in Janakpur on Thursday night, their father Rajeshwor said. — HNS

NC meet postponed

KATHMANDU: The crucial meeting of the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee, which was scheduled to be held on saturday has been postponed till Monday. The decision to

this effect was taken on Friday. Party source attributed the postponement to Prime Minister and NC President Girija Prasad Koirala’s busy schedule. The party leadership was slated to form a committee to write party manifesto for election to constituent assembly. They were also supposed to take up the issue of properties seized by the Maoists that they were yet to return to the rightful owners despite repeated calls. The issue of the displaced people was also expected to be debated. — HNS

JTMM-G plea for relief

RAJBIRAJ: Central coordinator of the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Goit), Jaya Krishna Goit, has appealed to the international community seeking assistance for flood victims in Tarai. Issuing a press release on Friday, he said the government’s assistance drive is insufficient and futile. “The flood has led to starvation, unemployment and disease to 90 per cent of the Tarai population, who live on agriculture.” — HNS

JTMM-G abducts one

MAHOTTARI: Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Goit) cadres abducted Hari Prasad Kafle of Bikulpura VDC-8, Dandatole on Wednesday. Kafle, a local driver, was abducted in Bateshwor of Dhanusha, his family said on Friday. Kafle’s family has appealed to media and rights activists to ensure his safe release. — HNS

Indian education aid

KAPILVASTU: The Indian government has provided a grant of Rs 30 million to Gautam Buddha Higher Secondary School, Kapilvastu, for upgrading its educational standard, the school management committee said. According to assistant headmaster at the school Shishir Aryal, the embassy provided the assistance following the proposal of the school to upgrade its standard and development of physical infrastructure. With the assistance, the school plans to build a modern building with 44 rooms and add more subjects in the higher secondary level. — HNS

Chakkajam staged

Dang: The All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) staged a chakkajam in Khalanga, Rukum, from 10.00 am today to protest the beating up of its cadres by the police on Thursday.

The ANNISU-R said 10 of its cadres were injured in the police action in Khalanga on Thursday. One ASI and a head constable sustained injuries on their heads when the ANNISU-R students pelted stones at the Rukum DAO on Thursday, DSP Lokendra Malla said. — HNS

Technology bill

Kathmandu: The parliamentary Environment, Communication and Technology Committee on Friday passed the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Bill 2007, second amendment. The Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) has been changed into the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), while the Ministry of Science and Technology has been named as the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology. The panel also amended clauses of the act to form a two-member panel under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor for selecting academicians. — HNS