Rifle recovered

BARA: A .303 calibre rifle, which had been snatched by locals from policemen during a scuffle at Khajani in Amritgunj VDC of Bara district on Wednesday, was recovered on Thursday. The rifle was recovered from Baansghari in Amritgunj-7, the Bara district police office (DPO) said. A walkie-talkie, also snatched from the policemen during the scuffle, was returned along with the rifle, police said. Locals had clashed with the policemen accusing the latter of misbehaving with some female artistes accompanying a wedding party. — HNS

Maoist-Morcha talks

KATHMANDU: The CPN-Maoist and the Loktantrik Ganatantra Morcha Nepal, led by Bhim Bahadur Kadayat, on Thursday held second round of talks on working unity between the two parties. In a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting, Kadayat and Maoist leader Barshaman Pun ‘Ananta’ said the Morcha extended its support to the Maoist ideology of Marxism, Leninism-Maoism, Prachanda Path and Maoist plans for a democratic republic. The statement stressed the need to form a political front of Left and republican forces during the CA election to defeat the feudal elements. They stressed on the need for unity o f Left forces. — HNS

Post-surgery infection

Bara: The CPN-UML has urged the government to bear the medical expenses of women who are suffering from post-surgery infections from the minilap surgery they underwent at free family planning camps in Kalaiya, Piparpati, Pachrauta and Chyutaha VDCs of Bara district a few months ago. CPN-UML’s Bara district publicity chief Krishna Poudel, in a statement on Thursday demanded an investigation into the negligence and free treatment for victims. Use of low quality equipment and negligence on the part of the medical professionals have resulted in infections, the statement said. — HNS

Donors’ meet held

KATHMANDU: Representatives of donor countries and agencies have expressed commitment to provide maximum possible assistance for Nepal’s peace process and development. The commitment for assistance was made during a meeting of representatives of development partners and agencies held at the Ministry of Finance here on Thursday. Finance Secretary Bidhyadhar Mallik said the meeting discussed macro economic status, evaluation of the implementation of the current budget and preparation of budget for the next fiscal year. — RSS

CIAA investigation

NARAYANGARH: The Commission for Investigation for Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has started investigations into alleged irregularities in the Chitwan-based BP Koirala memorial cancer hospital. A three-member CIAA team headed by Bashishtha Kumar Ghimire on Thursday acquired documents from the hospital’s accounts and store departments to begin with. “The team is going through documents of the accounts section and the store room,” said acting director of the hospital, Dr Balman Singh Karki. The chairman of the hospital, engineer Mahendra Bahadur Karki and some other officials have been accused of embezzling funds. — HNS

86 held for felling trees

RAUTAHAT: A joint team of officials from the Rautahat District Forest Office, armed police force and civil police on Thursday evening arrested 86 persons on charges of involvement in deforestation. The accused were felling trees in the Bholeritar forest, the DFO sources said. — HNS

NSP-A, MJF unity

Bhairahawa: General secretary of Nepal Sadbhawana Party-Anandidevi (NSP-A) Hridayesh Tripathi on Thursday said his party would form an alliance with the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum for the constituent assembly (CA) polls. Tripathi said: “We are ready for an alliance with all agitating parties in the Tarai, including the MJF, for the CA polls.” There may be an alliance between the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha as well if they give up violence, Tripathi added. — HNS