7 died, 700 ill because of Anti-elephantiasis

Apr 2, 2011 @ 11:30

Nepal Medical Association (NMA) expressed its deep concern over the deaths and suffering of the victims who consumed the elephantiasis prevention drug distributed by the government. At least seven people died and around 700 took “seriously ill” in the last three days, according to unofficial reports.

Elephantiasis is a disease that causes thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the lower body, caused by small, threadlike parasitic worms spread by Culex female mosquitoes.

The government administered two free different drugs — Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole — to 14.5 million people aged above 2 years in 36 districts on March 26 and 27 and they began showing adverse side effects from Wednesday.
High rate of deaths and illness are being reported from Banke, Bardiya, Saptari, Dang and Okhaldhunga districts. In Banke alone, two persons died and more than 500 took ill. Two died in Saptari and 50 people were referred to BP Koirala Memorial Hospital, Dharan. One person died in Dang and one in Okhaldhunga. By Friday evening, more than 100 similar cases have been registered in various health institutions, hospitals across the country.

Meanwhile, medical teams are in field studies in Banke, Bardiya, Saptari and Dang and will prepare report by Sunday. “The drugs cause various side effects like high fever, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness, but not death,” Dr Biswa Raj Khanal, senior Public Health Administrator at EDCD, said. He added, EDCD has been administering the anti-elephantiasis pill for the last 50 years and Albendazole for last 20 years at the recommendation of WHO.

More Male patients seeking psychiatric help than female patients

Apr 3, 2011 @ 18:24

RSS reported that the number of male patients visiting Nepal’s only psychiatric hospital in Patan has been increasing of late.

Out of 100 patients visiting the hospital, around 75 are males, psychiatrist Dr. Ravi Shakya told RSS. Dr. Shakya further added, the men consuming alcohol regularly are prone to mental problem and said, “The men consume liquor after having feeling of under duress and even feel more pressured after becoming deprived of such drinks,”

He said a woman could have mental disorder due to the pressure of her husband if her husband has a psychological problem. “Most of the patients visit the hospital only when they begin to trouble family members, neighbor and villages”, said Dr Shakya. According to him, it is necessary to instruct people that the mental disorder, too, can be cured if treated.

As per the hospital source, around 60 percent people of the total population has psychological disorder whether it is severe or unnoticeable.

Specialists team found no death due to elephantiasis drug consumption in Banke

Apr 5, 2011 @ 14:15

A team of specialists of the Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control had left for Nepalgunj for study and research after the report of deaths and sickness due to anti-elephantiasis drug in that area and they come to the conclusion that no one died of elephantiasis drug consumption in Banke district. The team of specialists has confirmed it, as per RSS.

Member of team Dr. Yaduchandra Ghimire said, “As per the preliminary study and research no one was found to have died due to the consumption of the elephantiasis drug.”

Embezzlement of millions rupees while purchasing APCs – IGP Thakuri says he has clean hands

Apr 5, 2011 @ 17:35

Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP) Ramesh Chand Thakuri on Monday confessed before the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Authority (CIAA) that embezzlement of around Rs 300 million did take place while purchasing Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) or other logistics for the Sudan-based Nepal Police Peace Keeping Mission. But he said that he was not involved in that embezzlement.

IGP Thakuri told CIAA officials, “Everything was done based on the agreement reached during the tenure of former IGP Om Bikram Rana and there was no instruction or signature from my side while releasing the final payment to the supplier, Assured Risk Limited UK, through the bank”.

As former IGP Rana had already agreed on a “book force loan”, Thakuri could not have stopped the remaining payment, source claimed. “Once a book force loan is agreed upon, the purchasing party must clear the remaining payment within the deadline, or else Nepal Police would be blacklisted,” he said.

CIAA has already interrogated more than three dozen police officers in connection with the procurement deal reached two years ago. Former IGPs Om Bikram Rana Thakuri and Hem Bahadur Gurung have also recorded their statements in CIAA office.

The embezzlement was found out while investigating by two investigation teams — one led by lawmaker Pradeep Gyawali and another by Home Ministry officials.

Govt directed to investigate ‘rape attempt’ at PM’s residence

Apr 6, 2011 @ 21:21

The Women, Children and Social Welfare Committee of Legislature-Parliament on Wednesday directed the government to look into an alleged rape attempt on a woman police officer by Anesh Singh Thakuri, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the National Investigation Department (NID). Both of them were deputed at the Prime Minister’s official residence. The committee issued such directive after the media disseminated the news of rape attempt by DSP Thakuri. The committee also summoned the chiefs of Nepal Police and NID at the Committee meeting today. Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP) Ramesh Chand Thakuri said the investigation is going on with high priority but no case has been filed regarding the incident. NID chief Ashok Dev Bhatta also informed that a departmental investigation is underway and expressed commitment to take strong action against Thakuri if found guilty.

Nepalese celebrities teach traffic police courtesy

Apr 7, 2011 @ 23:51

Top Nepalese film and television stars were enlisted to help train traffic police in Kathmandu to be more polite, to help them control their temper when faced with chaos on the roads, after receiving complaints about officers’ rude manners, police said on Tuesday.

Kathmandu’s traffic police chief Bigyan Raj Sharma told AFP, ‘we’ve received many complaints saying police behave badly towards drivers,’ Mr. Sharma further said police officers frequently lose their tempers with drivers and sometimes even swear if traffic rules are violated.

Leading Nepali actors, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Haribansha Acharya and Arunima Lamsal will teach courtesy to the Kathmandu valley’s 700 traffic officers through ‘interactive sessions’, said Mr Sharma.

Some 500,000 buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles ply the congested roads of Kathmandu, having population of 1.5 million people, writes AFP.

Traffic jam has become the daily problem in the city.

The course will be week long and the celebrities had volunteered to help the traffic police, Mr. Sharma said to BBC.

Nepali student received Indian university gold medal

Apr 8, 2011 @ 22:05

Nepali Student, Bishwa Raj Bajracharya has been awarded with Indira Gandhi National Open University gold medal at the 22nd Convocation of the University held on 2nd April 2011 at the IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi, India.

Winning the gold medal, Bajracharya has made the nation proud, General Manager of International Center for Academics (ICA), Bishwajit Mukharji said during press meet on Friday.

Bajracharya stood First in the Examination Held in December 2009 / June 2010 leaving behind around 3 million competitors. Bajracharya, post-graduate diploma student under the faculty of the Financial Management, is the seventh Nepali student to win the medal.

Prior to this, Dhundup Dolma, a student of Sociology, Gagan Gurung, a student of Rural Development, Naresh Yadav, a student of Computer Application, Noor Dhoj Joshi, a student of Marketing Management, Amarmani Adhikari, a student of Tourism Management and Jitendra Kumar Singh, a student of Nutrition and Health Education had won the medal.

According to ICA advisor Shekhar Giri, the University has been running classes under 41 programmes through 67 centers in 40 countries in the world.

Thamel turning to Wi-Fi zone

Apr 11, 2011 @ 04:26

Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC) has tied up with Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. for turning Thamel, one of the famous tourist centres in Kathmandu, as the first Wi-Fi internet zone in Nepal with an aim to provide high-speed Wi-Fi internet service to tourists and entrepreneurs.

Mercantile CEO Sanjib Raj Bhandari and TTDC president Tejendra Nath Shrestha has signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday and Mercantile has agreed to make technical and financial investment for the development of Wi-Fi facility.

According to TTDC president Shrestha, “though almost all the restaurants and hotels in Thamel are providing free Wi-Fi service, the quality is poor. So, the new Wi-Fi system will be of high standard and quality, and it will reduce the hassles faced by internet browsers.”

He told, this agreement comes at the right time when the country is marking an ambitious tourism year.

Prachanda Man Shakya, corporate executive of Mercantile Communications, said this would be a contribution to Nepal Tourism Year-2011 from the private sector for the development of tourism through quality service. According to Shakya, the project will be in operation within a couple of months and the price will be around $1 per hour.

Bomb hoax terrified Standard Chartered Bank, Lazimpat Branch

Apr 11, 2011 @ 04:29

Standard Chartered Bank Staffs in Lazimpat branch hurried out of the office with terror after an unidentified person called up and claimed that a bomb was planted at its premises on Sunday afternoon.
But it was found that the call was hoax when police reached the site along with sniffer dogs and bomb disposal unit and investigated.
The bank has resumed its operation after an hour and investigation into the bluff call is underway, informed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kedar Dhakal of the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu.

Five Banks to be in problem if failed to meet minimum paid-up capital requirement

Apr 12, 2011 @ 17:32

Five commercial banks will be in problem if they failed to meet their commitment of increasing their paid-up capital to Rs. 2 billion by mid-April (End of Chaitra 2067). The banks—Citizens Bank International, Sunrise Bank, Bank of Asia, DCBL Bank and NMB Bank—and Prime Commercial Bank were awarded license after they made such commitment. The undergoing situation of plummeting share market and compulsion of disclosing income source are making the promoters themselves uninteresting in investment. So, the banks are facing difficulties in increasing paid up capital. However, Prime has already increased its capital to the required level. And other banks are searching various alternatives. Bank of Asia started the process of issuing rights shares last week. Citizens has initiated auction of its rights shares which were not purchased. DCBL is gearing up for a follow-on public offering. NMB is also preparing to issue rights shares. Three banks, Sunrise, NMB and Bank of Asia, have appli
ed for extending time. But there is less chance of deadline extension, said a senior NRB official. “We encourage these banks to go for merger.” At present, paid-up capital of banks is:- Citizens- Rs. 1.92billion NMB-Rs. 1.65billion Sunrise-Rs. 1.62billion DCBL-Rs. 1.92billion Bank of Asia-Rs.1.50 billion

Attack on Energy Minister Bista

Apr 12, 2011 @ 17:37

Unidentified assailants attacked newly appointed Minister for Energy, Gokarna Bista on Monday, April 11 nearby his residence in Gongabu town planning at around 8.45 pm. He was attacked by khukuri from the rear by motorcycle–borne assailants while he came out of his residence following an unknown call.

Bista got injured on his head and right hand. According to Bista’s wife, Bista got injured in his hand when he tried to save himself while the attackers aimed the khukuri at his head. He is undergoing treatment at the Sorakhuttey-based Manmohan Memorial Hospital. Doctors said he is in stable condition.

Eyewitnesses could not notice the face of the attackers as it took place during a power outage and they fled the scene. Police has rounded up suspects and seized a motorcycle.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal met Bista in the Hospital and directed to probe the attack and assured to book the guilty.

Singer Kailash Kher in Kathmandu, concert on New Year’s Eve

Apr 13, 2011 @ 13:45

Indian fusion and playback singer Kailash Kher has reached to Kathmandu for working his magic on Kathmanduities and make them dance and swing this New Year.

JPR Events, who successfully organized the Bryan Adams concert in February, has invited Kher for a musical show scheduled to be held at Soaltee Crowne Plaza on the Nepali New Year’s Eve, April 13. This is Kher’s first official visit to Nepal.

The famous song sung by Kher are Allah Ke Bande from movie Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, Tauba Tauba,Teri deewani, Ya Rabba from movie Salaam-e-Ishq etc.

The price is Rs. 5000 per ticket only.

Indian leader said Mahakali treaty can be amended -Can it be?

Apr 15, 2011 @ 21:11

Indian opposition leader Bharat Singh Koshiyari of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (April 15) said the controversial Mahakali treaty could be amended to better suit the interest of the two nations.

While addressing a programme organized by the Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh Nepal in Bhimdatta Nagar of Kanchanpur district, Koshiyari said, no treaty can remain permanent, it should be amended as per the need.
The BJP leader suggested Nepali side to hold dialogue with India for amendment in the treaty if they want to and to sort out any inconvenience regarding the treaty with keeping in mind the interest of both nations.
Koshiyari also called for implementation of the multipurpose Pancheshwor project as defined by the Mahakali treaty. He said, the project promises to address the power scarcity of both Nepal and India.
In another context, he opined that Indo-Nepal border issues and frequent reports of harassment to Nepali citizens by Indian Sima Suraksha Bal (SSB) should be resolved through dialogue between two nations.

Fuel Shortage Grips Valley after IOC cuts supply

Apr 16, 2011 @ 18:42

Long queues of vehicles were noticed at petrol pumps in the Kathmandu Valley on Friday as the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) slashed supplies by one-third, citing low import.

“More than 60 petrol pumps remained dry as the NOC supplied fuel to 40 petrol pumps only,” said Narad Bhandari, office secretary of Nepal Petroleum Dealers´ Association.

Saroj Pande, chairman of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association said, only 277 kiloliters of petrol and 407 kiloliters diesel were distributed from depot of NOC in Thankot on Friday.
The shortage continues on Saturday too due to cut down of the supply by up to 40 percent by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). IOC has refused to supply more petroleum products until NOC settles the outstanding credit amount.
Due to shortage of funds, NOC has not been able to settle all due amount with IOC. So, NOC has asked for a loan to the government to settle it
The government had already agreed to sanction Rs 1 billion for NOC to pay the dues, said undersecretary at the supplies ministry Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, so, the shortage would be eased by next week.

Moving car suddenly got fire in Pokhara

Apr 17, 2011 @ 19:35

A moving car, suddenly, got fire at Srijana Chowk in Pokhara on Sunday morning. It is learnt that it is the Toyota car (Ga 1 Ya 220) of a hotel in Lakeside Pokhara. The fire brigade was immediately called up. Yet the car has been completely destroyed. The investigation is going on and the cause behind this accident is not ascertained yet, police said.

CIAA officials, themselves, under the investigation for authority abuse

Apr 18, 2011 @ 17:10

Former commissioners of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), officials of the anti graft body including Acting Chief Bhagwati Kumar Kafle have been dragged into the investigation for their alleged involvement in a land registration controversy. Last year, the CIAA has issued directives to the local land revenue office to register 2.3 ropanies of land belonging to the UN Park in an individual’s name. Kafle and CIAA officials are summoned by the State Affairs Committee on Tuesday to seek clarification for this directive after getting direction from the Supreme Court for investigating the CIAA’s decision and take action against the two former commissioners. On March 30, the court concluded that then Acting Chief Commissioner Lalit Bahadur Limbu and Commissioner Bed Prasad Siwakoti abused their authority in a subjudice case on Jan 1 last year. Sources said, the decision of transferring the 2.3 ropanies land to Purna Bahadur Tandukar was made in a single day, and the Supreme Court’s verdict considered it as “gross negligence” and “wrong intention.” A new case over the UN park land is in the offing at the Supreme Court.

“The documents are showing the involvement of CIAA Secretary Kafle in this controversial case,” a source at the House Committee said. As officials of CIAA, themselves, are found to be involved in this scam, the State Affairs Committee is likely to form a separate subcommittee for the investigation. The officials may be suspended too for the investigation.

Two CA members arrested over misuse of red passport

Apr 19, 2011 @ 16:37

The Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), on Tuesday, arrested Constituent Assembly members, Gayatri Sah and Bishwonath Prasad Yadav for their alleged involvement in the misuse of diplomatic passports (red passports). Madhesi Janadhikar Forum lawmaker BP Yadav and Nepali Janata Dal lawmaker Gayatri Shah have been arrested while they were exiting from the Constituent Assembly Hall premises at New Baneshwore after the House was put off on Tuesday afternoon. In the press conference at the police headquarters in Naxal, CIB Chief DIG Rajendra Singh said that the House Speaker, Subash Chandra Nembang was informed before taking them into custody. The lawmakers have been held at Metropolitan Police Circle in Katmandu. The investigation was carried out by the anti-graft body Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authorit
y after two persons were caught in Abu Dhabi, UAE while trying to board a flight to Australia, using others (lawmakers) passports.

On Fifth Loktantra Day

Apr 25, 2011 @ 04:27

Fifth anniversary of the historic People’s Movement-II- Loktantra Day- is being marked all over the country on Sunday amid a special function at the Army Pavillion in the capital.

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said all political parties should actively engage themselves in drafting a democratic constitution as per the aspiration of the people after successfully concluding the ongoing peace process while addressing a special programme marking the Loktantra Day at the Army Pavilion, Tundikhel in the capital.

We have felt that the differences between the co-workers of the people’s movement, at a time when the peace process, Maoist combatants’ integration and constitution is yet to be concluded, has distressed the Nepali people,” reads

The UCPN (Maoist) has issued a press release on the occasion of the Democracy Day on Sunday. The Maoists has remarked that the people are saddened by the disagreement among the partners of the people’s movement, when there are still a lot of important tasks remains unfinished to institutionalize the achievements made through the movement. They have called on all to patch up the mistrust, doubts and differences among the parties and collaborate for the peace process and the constitution.

Congress President Sushil Koirala accused the Maoists of being disloyal to democracy and the peace pact while addressing an assembly at a “people’s awareness” program organised by the Nepali Congress at Chipledhunga, Pokhara to mark the 5th Loktantra Diwas.
Koirala claimed that the Maoists are the main hurdle for the failure of the constitution draft and requested all the people to pressurize the government for the peace process and the promulgation of the constitution.

The former prime minister and CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said the term of the CA should not be extended indefinitely in the name of statute drafting at a programme organised to mark the fifth Loktantra Day, by the party in Thimi, Bhaktapur. He has accused the Maoists of being the main hindrance in peace and statue drafting processes

Paras Shah found guilty, acquitted on condition

Apr 28, 2011 @ 00:17

The District Administration Office (DAO), Chitwan, on April 27 concluded the Tiger Tops resort firing case by declaring former Crown Prince Paras Shah guilty but acquitted on the condition that the he has to present himself before the DAO within the next 35 days to provide a written commitment of not to repeat such activities in future.

Chief District Officer Basanta Raj Gautam passed the verdict as per Article 2 (6) of the Public Offence Act 2007 after hearing the accounts of both litigant and defendant.

A Public Offence Charge was lodged against Paras at the DAO after he allegedly opened fire at Bangladeshi national Rubel Chowdhury, son-in-law of Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala, following a verbal exchange in December last year.

Vehicular movement halted till 3 PM owing to bandh

Apr 28, 2011 @ 00:24

The bandh called by Newa Tamsaling Joint Struggle Committee in capital Kathmandu and surrounding districts Kavre, Dhading, Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk today has ended earlier than expected.

The bandh organisers organized a mass assembly at Basantapur of Kathmandu and formally announced the end of the day-long strike from 3 p.m. They also claimed that the strike was successful.

Following the announcement, vehicles started to appear on the streets and the market also opened slowly.

Earlier, vehicles were remained off the road and major marketplaces closed in all three districts of Kathmandu valley and the surrounding districts. Educational institutions and many offices also remained closed today. However, vehicles of emergency services like ambulance, press, human rights and diplomatic agencies were allowed to move without any restrictions.

Around 31 agitators were arrested from various districts for obstructing the public transport. The arrestees will be released after investigating them, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement Wednesday.

The committee imposed the bandh demanding the promulgation of the new statute within May 28 and guarantee of rights of the indigenous communities in the new constitution.

Similarly, the Sudoor Paschim Jagaran Manch has called a bandh in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Accham, among other districts. They demanded all districts in the far western region be grouped as a single federal state during the division process.

Transportation in the farwestern districts is reported to have come to a halt owing to the bandh.

Concert “Notes of Love” for Japan

Apr 29, 2011 @ 23:33

A concert ‘Notes of Love’ is going to be held for the survivors of the Japan Tsumani of March 11.

Date: – April 30, 2011 (Saturday)

Time: – 2 pm onwards

Venue: – Army Officers’ Club Auditorium, Sundhara, Tripureshwor

Performers: – Ani Choying Dolma, Kutumba, Scatmandoos, Akafuji Daiko, a cellist from Korea, violinists from Japanese School choir

Tickets: – Rs 500 per adult, Rs 300 per children under 12 (ticket available at all Bakery Cafe outlets, Ambassador Hotel, Cafe U, Fuji Bakery, Banu’s Fitness, and Casa de Cass)

According to the organizers, volunteers from the Japanese Playgroup and Lincoln School Parents’ Association, the fund raised from the ticket sales will be handed over to “Ashinaga,” a non-profit organization in Japan that supports orphaned children.

Top three leaders agree to accelerate statute drafting when the deadline is going to expire

Apr 29, 2011 @ 23:42

Top leaders of the main three parties – UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) – have agreed to accelerate the constitution-drafting process when there is only less than a month left for the extended deadline of the Constituent Assembly to expire.

The meeting was convened by CA chairman Subas Nemang in Singha Durbar Friday evening. Along with Nembang are Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel in the meeting.

Maoist chairman Dahal informed reporters after the meeting that the parties would engage in bilateral and multi-lateral negotiations to settle the debatable issues concerning the new constitution and accelerate the works on the statute.

Dahal, who is the coordinator of the subcommittee formed to resolve the debated issues relating to constitution drafting, further added, a discussion among the members of sub-committee under the Constitutional Committee has been scheduled for May 1.

Warning received to blacklist Nepal

Apr 30, 2011 @ 16:50

Dr Gordon Hook, Executive Secretary of Asia Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering issued warning to blacklist Nepal during his meeting with Speaker Subas Nembang on Friday if it fails to meet its commitment regarding anti money laundering and terrorist financing by June 23.

Nepal is an APG member. APG is the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body for the Asia/Pacific region. FATF is an inter-governmental body whose purpose is the development and promotion of national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Nepal has committed:

Ø  To get two international UN conventions—Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and International Convention of the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism—endorsed by Parliament.

Ø  To pass laws including Anti-Money Laundering Act (First Amendment), Extradition Bill and Bill on Organized Crimes.

To avoid the possibility of being blacklisted, Nepal should pass at least two bills—Mutual Legal Assistance and Anti-Money Laundering Act (First Amendment), Dr. Hook said.

Government officials said Nepali banks will have to face difficulty in international transactions if Nepal is blacklisted.