Plea against Joshi

KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) moved the Supreme Court challenging two-month-old Special Court verdict, which issued a clean chit to former minister and Govinda Raj Joshi. The CIAA claimed the Special Court had wrongly acquitted Joshi and the apex court should review it. The CIAA had charged Joshi of amassing property disproportionate to his income four years ago. — HNS

Cold wave kills two

CHARIKOT/ILAM: Two persons have died due to excessive cold in Charikot and Ilam. Bhim Kumari Thapa, 83, of Bhimeshwor municipality-10 in Charikot died on Thursday. Telephone services and power supply have also been disrupted since Wednesday due to incessant snowfall. Traffic on Araniko Highway that was disrupted since Tuesday due to snowfall at Kharidhunga resumed partially on Thursday. In Ilam, Bir Bahadur Tamang, 50, of Malumajhuwa, was found dead on Thursday. — HNS

Wildlife traders held

KATHMANDU: Two wildlife traders were arrested from Chitwan on Wednesday night, according to a release issued by Wildlife Conservation Nepal. The release states that the traders Sitaram Aryal and Man Bahadur Praja, residents from Piple village development committee, ward No 7 of Chitwan were arrested along with two fake rhino horns. They were transporting the ‘horns’ in microbuses and were seized from a check-post in front of the Armed Forest Guard Training Centre at Tikauli in Chitwan. — HNS

3 injured in lightning

MAHOTTARI: Three persons were injured when lightning struck them at Purano bazaar of Bardibas-2 on Wednesday night. Resam Bahadur Karki, 65, Prabesh Mukhiya, 14, and Rabin Acharya were injured when lightning struck them, the Bardibas Area Police Office said, adding that the injured are being treated. — HNS

PM’s message

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and Defence Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said the Nepali Army should bring about reforms and improvements in keeping with the democratic system. In a message on the occasion of Army Day-2007 that falls on Friday, Koirala said the army would make an important contribution in respecting the aspirations of the people and protecting democratic values. In his message to the army rank and file, the Chief of Army Staff General Rookmangud Katawal said it is crucial for the army to win the people’s heart. “A structural reform is necessary to make the Nepali Army inclusive,” the CoAS said. — RSS/HNS

PMO replies to SC

KATHMANDU: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)and Cabinet on Thursday called on the Supreme Court not to test the habeas corpus petition seeking the release of former deputy prime minister Badri Prasad Mandal. Submitting a written affidavit in the Supreme Court, the PMO urged the apex court not to test the petition as Mandal is in 90-day preventive detention under the Public Peace and Security Act, 1989. The government had arrested him on January 29 for fomenting violence in the Terai. — HNS

Rs 681m Swiss grant

KATHMANDU: The government of Switzerland is providing Nepal a grant of around Rs 681 million for two projects — the Trail Bridge Sub Sector Programme Phase-II and Raising the Impact of National Skill Testing System Phase-I. Country Director at the Swiss Development Cooperation in Nepal Joerge Frieden and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Dr Madhav Prasad Ghimire signed the documents in this regard on Thursday. The small bridges are to be built in 60 districts in the hilly regions. — RSS

Soldier killed

NAWALPARASI: A soldier of the Nepal Army (NA) Khor Bahadur Chaudhari, 32, was killed when the motorcycle (Na 2 Kha 2966) he was riding on hit a truck (Na 2 Kha 4393) that was parked at Dumkibas of Nawalparasi district along the Mahendra Highway on Wednesday night. Chaudhari was stationed at the Ahidraman Battalion in Nawalparasi, the Kawasoti area police office (APO) said. — HNS

DSP misbehaviour

Kavre: Deputy Superintendent of the Armed Police Force Jeevan KC on Thursday manhandled a staffer of the Kavre district administration office, Tika Raut, at the latter’s office. KC, who is currently on home leave, accused Raut of misbehaving with his father Gopal Bahadur KC the other day at the DAO, an eyewitness said. Raut, who hails from Janagal in Kavre, is a cook in the Chief District Officer’s residence. DSP KC is stationed in APF eadquarters at Halchowk in Kathmandu. — HNS

Snow hits normal life

HUMLA: Normal life here was affected following snowfall for the last few days. People of the northern part of the district are finding it difficult to come to the district headquarters for necessary work, because of heavy snowfall. Flights in Surkhet and Nepalgunj have been cancelled and telephones have gone dead because of the snowfall. — RSS

Girl killed in mishap

BUTWAL: A girl was killed when the scooter she was riding on collided with an Indian tanker headed for the west from Butwal on Wednesday. Anita Pun, 18, a resident of Paroha village development committee-1 in Rupandehi district, was headed for Butwal from Murgiya when the accident occurred in between Sorouli and Ranibagiya, the Area Police Office, Butwal, said. Protesting the “carelessness” of the tanker driver, locals obstructed traffic on the highway. The traffic resumed after 8 pm on Wednesday. — RSS