Lawyers’ call

KATHMANDU: Six units of the Nepal Bar Association on Wednesday jointly called the government to resolve the Terai crisis by respecting sovereignty and integrity of the nation. They have expressed concerns over loss of human lives and damage of public property in the Terai. According to Supreme Court Bar Association president Prakash Raut, they have called the government to respect the rule of law, independence of judiciary and human rights. Appellate and district court bar associations of the Kathmandu Valley and Kavre held a meeting to call the government to resolve the Terai crisis. — HNS

Tuskers run amok

GAIGHAT: A herd of wild elephants on Tuesday night damaged six houses and crops worth thousands of rupees in Triyuga municipality. The elephants damaged houses belonging to Devendra Khadka, Siroj Karki, Hira Prasad Pokhrel, Radhika Khadka, Daulat Khadka and Netra Bahadur Shrestha, locals said. The rampaging herd damaged around 16 quintals of crops also, said a local Chakra Pokhrel. — HNS

ANPWA reconstituted

KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Progressive Women’s Association (ANPWA), previously led by Sita Khadka, has been reconstituted under the leadership of Rita Karki Basnet. “We had to reconstitute the association because the previous leadership could not lead the movement to liberate women,” Rita Karki Basnet, president of ANPWA, said in a press meet on Wednesday. The ANPWA was restructured on January 27 to uplift the exploited women. “We plan to enable women to speak for their rights,” Basnet said, adding, “We are determined to form the association on the basis of gender and professionalism.” The new committee of ANPWA includes 25 progressive women members. The number will be increased to 29 in the near future. — HNS

Jailbirds seek amnesty

Pokhara: Inmates of Kaski district prison, seeking amnesty, have sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. The prisoners have urged him to guarantee them the right to vote in the constituent assembly polls. Stating that prisoners in all 73 jails of the country supported the Jana Andolan II morally, physically and economically, the prisoners’ memorandum demanded that the democratic government should give amnesty to all those prisoners who were convicted in an impractical and unscientific justice system and investigation process of earlier governments. Coordinator of the Jail Struggle Committee, Kaski branch, Mohan Prasad Adhikari said the amnesty was sought so that the prisoners too could contribute to the creation of a new Nepal. — HNS