Nepal lifts emerging nations' cricket cup

Nepal Sunday lifted the three-nation emerging nations' cricket cup by beating Maldives by 166 runs at Kirtipur.

Nepal scored 248 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs after electing to bat on winning the toss. Captain Raju Khadka was top scorer with 70 runs.

Nepal bowled out Maldives in 28 overs. Bhutan also played in the tournament. nepalnews.com br Sept.28

Three footballers missing in Korea

Three Nepali footballers are missing in South Korea, following Nepal's 0-4 defeat with Vietnam in the Asian Cup 2004 qualifiers Saturday, radio reports said Sunday.

The reports, quoting Korean news agencies, said footballers Deepak Lama, Narayan Manandhar and Shukraman Tamang have gone missing.

Nepali officials in Korea said police is looking for the three. Nepal has already lost its match with Oman and has a fixture with the World Cup semi-finalist South Korea. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

Two Maoists killed

Security forces Sunday shot dead two Maoists in a village in Nuwakot, radio reports said.

On receiving a tip from its intelligence, security forces attacked the Maoists who were holding an internal meeting in their hideout. Other rebels managed to escape from the incident site, the reports said.

Meanwhile, a group of armed Maoists Sunday shot dead a Congress activist in Bara. He has been identified as Bhagwan Yadav. 

The dead body of Ganga Maskey was found Sunday at Jaljale in Theratum after Maoists abducted him a day earlier. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

Maoists shoot dead official

Maoists Sunday morning shot dead a government official in Bhaktapur at 6:35, police said.

He was identified as Hari Krishna Sigdel. The attack took place at Galache. There have been no arrests. nepalnews.com br Sept.28

NEPSE inxex slips marginally

The NEPSE index slipped marginally 0.35 points at the end of five-day trading Friday. The market opened at 207.43 points Monday and closed at 207.08 points Friday.

Altogether 42,091 shares worth Rs.9.4 million were traded through 1,254 transactions. Commercial bank shares gained 0.43 points during the week going up to 204.47 points from 204.04 points.

Commercial bank shares captured 57.42 percent of the market. nepalnews.com br Sept.28

UML leader dead

CPN-UML leader Durga Majgaiya died Saturday at Bir Hospital, RSS said. He succumbed to injuries sustained in an attack by Maoists September 13.

He was a lawyer and former member of Dang zonal coordination committee of the parry. nepalnews.com br Sept.28

Five Maoists killed

Police killed five Maoists in an encountr near Biratnagar Sunday, radio reports said. There were no police casualties. nepalnews.com br Sept.28

Serial blasts shake Janakpur

A 95-year-old woman died of shock and the whole city was terrorized when serial blasts took place in five government offices in Janakpur in the wee hours Saturday, published reports said Sunday.

According to reports, the multiple blasts were heard from 2:10 a.m. to 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning. Suspected Maoists detonated blasts at the offices of Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, Land Reform, Nepal Electricity Authority, Customs and Raghukul bus garage, the reports said, quoting police sources.

The blasts have caused losses in millions of rupees. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

IGP Thapa to contest for Interpol executive post

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shyam Bhakta Thapa, who left for Spain Saturday, is filing his candidature for the post of executive committee member of the Interpol on behalf of Nepal and Asia, RSS reported Sunday.

The 72nd General Assembly of Interpol in Benidorom, Spain from September 29 to October 2 will elect the international police's executive committee, the news report said.

On the basis of geographical categorisation, two posts have been reserved for Asia in the Interpol executive committee and IGP Thapa will be fighting for the same, the report added. "The meeting will also discuss international terrorism, organised crime, narcotic drugs, cyber crime and economic crime."

Meanwhile, another news report in The Himalayan Times said the government wants the Interpol to reissue the Red Corner Notice against top Maoist leaders.

"Nepali delegation to the Interpol meeting in Spain will most probably forward its request to the international police for issuance of Red Corner Notice against the Maoists," the daily reported quoting undisclosed security officials. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

Soldiers kill colleague

Dilli Ran Thanet, an army man of First Rifle Battalion at Kawasoti was killed when a security team patrolling Royal Chitwan National Park shot him Saturday, The Himalayan Times reported.

"The incident occurred when Thanet and the security team patrolling the national park mistook each other for Maoists," the news report said. Thanet was a resident of Kumarbarti VDC-4, Chitwan. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

'Parties ready for talks with King, Maoists'

The five agitating parties are ready to hold talks with the King and the Maoists to restore permanent peace, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said Saturday.

In a program Saturday, Nepal said dialogue is the only way to resolve all feuds. He said talk between the King and parliamentarian parties is a must to address the Maoist problem.

Nepal, renewing his stance, called on Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa to quit to give a political outlet. "PM Thapa's efforts to extend his tenure are unfortunate," he said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

Passengers stranded at airports

The poor management of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) to cope up with the huge number of passengers buying tickets to fly to their homes during Dashain, has left many of them stranded in various cities of the country, a published report said Sunday.

Irregular flights of the RNAC to the far-flung districts of the country have further added to the woes of the stranded passengers, who are now living at the airports or hotels in different cities, The Kathmandu Post reported Sunday.

More than 1,000 passengers are stranded alone in Nepalgunj for the last two weeks as all the flights of the RNAC were cancelled during the period, the news report said.

"A significant number of passengers have been stranded at Biratnagar airport because of the irregular flights of the RNAC." According to RB Thapa, chief of Biratnagar office of the RNA, many flights are being cancelled due the lack of adequate aircrafts.

"We have also been compelled to cancel the flights in some districts due to the deteriorating security situation," he said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

Nepali girl raped, killed in Nainitaal

A six-year-old Nepali girl was killed after being raped by four men in Nainitaal, India, a Kathmandu-based broadsheet reported Sunday, quoting Indian media agencies.

"The body of Sushma Bista, daughter of Arjun Singh Bista, a Nepali labourer working in Raj Mahal Hotel was found in a sack in front of her residence in Nainitaal," The Himalayan Times reported.

Four Indian nationals - Babu of Aligarh, Aamir of Bilaspur, Pawan of Mukteshwor, Nainitaal and Arjun of Bengal Colony Khatima - allegedly raped and killed Sushma, the news report said.

The Indian police arrested all the four accused on Thursday night when Sushma's parents informed the police.

When the crime came into light, the local residents of Nainitaal had cordoned off the local police demanding legal action against the rapists and deputy inspector general of Nainitaal police, according to the report. nepalnews.com mr Sept 28

12 Maoists shot dead, other details

At least twelve Maoists were killed in a fresh army-rebel clash in Chhitapokhari, Khotang Saturday afternoon, Radio Nepal said. 

The fighting started when a group of armed Maoists attacked the patrolling security forces, the radio report said, quoting Udaypur-based army sources. 

The five-hour-long crossfire started at 8 a.m. Saturday. No injuries have been reported in the army side, the report said. Security forces seized socket bombs, pipe bombs and other weapons from the incident site, according to the report. 

Another radio report said a Maoist was killed fighting with the security forces in Lumena VDC of Arghakhanchi Friday night.  

Meanwhile, Maoists killed police constable Radha Krishna Rai and a lady passenger Kala Chaudhary near Gaighat in Udaypur district. Rai and other security personnel were on a security check of a bus when a group of Maoists shot him and fled. 

Chaudhary was near Rai when the shooting took place, the report said. Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Purna Giri and traffic police Rajan Dahal were wounded in the incident and were immediately rushed to Dharan hospital. 

In Janakpur Saturday, Maoists blasted a Nepal Telecommunications Corporation transmission tower causing losses in millions. The blast has cut off telephone services in more than 7 districts, reports said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 27

Bus accident kills two 

A passenger bus Saturday veered off the road and plunged into a river in Kavre killing two and injuring 41, various reports said.  

The dead have been identified as Prem Bahadur Shrestha and Sarki Bahadur Damai. The ill-fated bus plated Ba 1 Kha 1657 was Kathmandu-bound when the accident occurred at Kharpachowk village. 

Among the injured, 10 are in critical condition and have been rushed to Kathmandu-based hospitals for treatment, the reports said. nepalnews.com mr Sept 27