Show cause to PMO

Kathmandu: Supreme Court on Friday issued show cause notices to government authorities, including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Cabinet and the Home Ministry, demanding reasons for arrest and detention of former minister Badri Prasad Mandal. A single bench of Justice Bal Ram KC issued the order, giving the authorities three days to submit their written explanations. The bench also ordered the authorities to produce the file on the arrest. — HNS

Respite for ex-mayor

Birgunj: The Hetauda appellate court on Friday directed the Parsa district administration office (DAO) to release former mayor of the Birgunj sub-metropolis Bimal Shreevastav. Shreevastav had been arrested on February 2 by the local administration in connection with the Terai unrest. Shreevastav is also the Narayani zonal coordinator of the RPP. — HNS

Chiranjibi Rijal dead

BIRATNAGAR: Former vice chairman of the National Assembly, Chiranjibi Rijal, died at his residence in Bargachhi on Friday. Rijal was suffering from cancer. Born in 1930 in Sibuwa of Dhankuta, Rijal joined politics in 1949 and the NC in 1950. He was elected to the National Assembly in 1997 and served as its vice chairman from 1998 till 2000. — HNS

Voters’ list looted

CHARIKOT: CPN (Maoist) cadres in Dolakha district on Friday looted voters’ lists, including other documents from Kavre VDC. Three Maoists led by Akash looted the old and new voters’ lists, annex forms and other documents from voters list updating officials Maina-pokhari here at 9:00 am, said assistant names’ registration officer and VDC secretary Narayan Prasad Dahal. The Maoists looted the documents after they were told that their demand that voters’ name should be collected in the places where they are staying cannot be accepted, VDC secretary Dahal said. Maoist leader Akash admitted that the documents were looted. — HNS

Arms verification on

Dhangadhi: The verification of the Maoist Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers and their weapons in its seventh division army camp concluded today. Personal representative of the UN secretary general, Ian Martin inspected the camp at Talbandh. After the conclusion of the verification, PLA soldiers in sub-camps at Sahajpur, Baidepur and Gorunge in Kailali district returned to their respective camps. Except for those PLA soldiers on leave and under treatment, the verification of all PLA soldiers was completed, division head Mahendra Shahi (Prajjwal) said. — HNS

Refugees’ request

Damak: Refugees, under the banner of Bhutanese Refugee Satyagraha Committee, have urged the Indian government to help solve their problems. The committee on Friday forwarded an appeal to Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh in this regard. “The appeal was sent to the Indian PM through the chief of the West Bengal Police after staging a sit-in near Mechi Bridge on Friday,” Bhutan Human Rights Organisation chairman SB Subba said. — HNS

PABSON’s appeal

KATHMANDU: Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation (PABSON) on Friday appealed to all concerned to create a peaceful environement for the sent-up exam, slated to begin from February 12, that has already delayed due to Terai unrest. The PABSON also hailed the Prime Minister’s latest address saying, “PM’s address to the nation has assured the success of CA poll.” — HNS

Two killed in mishap

BARA: Two persons were killed on the spot and two others injured when a truck bound for Birgunj from Pathlaiya turned turtle on the Pathlaiya-Birgunj section of the highway in Bara district on Thursday night, said the Bara district police office (DPO). Those killed have been identified as Ramesh Das, 38 and Rajeshwor Lal Das, police said. — HNS