Plea against topi

RAJBIRAJ: A writ petition was filed in the Appellate Court in Rajbiraj on Friday demanding relaxation of the regulation to wear the dhaka topi while taking photographs to be used in citizenship certificates. The petition was filed on behalf of the District Bar Association, Saptari, by its vice-chairman Gopal Prasad Shah. The District Administration Office and Chief District Officer have been made the defendants. The petitioner claimed that the Citizenship Act, 2050, does say that wearing such a cap for the purpose is mandatory. — HNS

Jailed for polygamy

ILAM: The Ilam District Court on Friday sentenced a couple of Ilam municipality-3 to one year in prison and slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 for practising polygamy. Harishchandra Ijam Limbu, a father of five, and Pabitra (Muna) Baniyan, a mother of three, had got married on May 16. A single bench of judge Lekhnath Ghimire announced the verdict and they were sent to Bhadrapur prison. — HNS

Tusker kills one more

Itahari: With the death of a person on Thursday after an attack by a wild elephant the number of those killed by wild elephants in Panchkanya, Dharan, Pakli and Itahari of Sunsari district and Kerabari and Madhumalla of Morang has reached eight over the last six days. Six other persons were injured by wild elephants during these six days. Fifty-year-old Suk Maya Dhami, who had gone to Charkose jungle to forage for firewood last evening, was killed by a wild elephant, inspector at the Itahari Area Police Office, Bishwa Mani Pokharel, said. Dhami along with four other companions was returning with firewood from the jungle when she was attacked by the elephant, Pokharel said. — HNS

Rs 5 lakh collected

POKHARA: The Kaski chapter of the CPN-Maoist has collected Rs 5,00,000 by playing deusi-bhailo during Tihar in Pokhara this year. “The Maoists played deusi-bhailo at different chowks in Pokhara to raise funds to meet the internal expenses of the party,” the central secretariat secretary of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Transport Workers’ Union, Jagat Khadka, said. — HNS

CPN-ML’s concern

KATHMANDU: The CPN-ML on Friday warned the parties concerned against any failure to record an achievement during the upcoming peace talks. A statement to this effect was issued by party leader CP Mainali in the capital. Mainali warned against any delay in holding the talks. The party said it does not mind settling down for elections to a constituent assembly if other parties come to a consensus. The party said it has appreciated the efforts being made to solve the Maoist problem. — HNS

Maoists apologise

MAKWANPUR: Maoists have apologised in public for beating up a deusi-bhailo team and paid compensation for the damages caused in the incident. Maoists had attacked members of the Annapurna Youth Club playing deusi on Tihar and damaged the sound system. CPN-Maoist district leader Sagar paid Rs 2,000 as compensation to the club. He said the cadres found guilty in the incident would be sent to labour camp. — RSS

Sama Chakhewa

JANAKPURDHAM: The festival of Sama-Chakhewa which symbolises love between brothers and sisters in Maithili society, is being celebrated from Friday. The festival is observed from Panchami (fifth day of the lunar calendar) to the full moon night of Kartik. Sisters keep Sama Chakhewa idols in the open every night while singing songs and expressing their love for their brothers. — RSS