Envoys to USA, Germany appointed

King Gyanendra has appointed Kedar Bhakta Shrestha as ambassador to United States of America and Dr. Madan Kumar Bhattarai as ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany, said the press secretariat of the royal palace in a notice issued on Friday.

The appointments were made in accordance with the 1990 constitution. nepalnews.com pd June 26 04

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Army foils major Maoist attack plan; ex-PM’s cousin killed

Security officials have managed to foil what could be been one of the major attacks in the capital, an AFP report said Friday. The report said the army has recovered a cache of explosives from Kathmandu.

According to the AFP, army Brigadier General Netra Bahadur Thapa today showed reporters the confiscated explosives that include 92 homemade bombs. The news agency quoted Thapa as saying the Maoists were planning to use the explosives that were found attached to a motorcycle for a major attack at one of the prominent government installations in Kathmandu.

The army has not, however, disclosed which part of the city the explosives were recovered. 

“The seized explosives could have caused great loss of life and property if they had not been found on time," Thapa is quoted in the report as saying. He further claimed the Maoists were planning suicide attacks.

Meanwhile, suspected Maoists killed former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s cousin known as Ramji Thapa in Dhankuta on Thursday, reports Friday said.

Reports said a group of armed Maoists, who barged into Thapa’s home, killed him by slitting his throat. Details of the incident are yet to come. nepalnews.com mbk June 25 04 

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Udaypur captives freed

The Maoists Friday afternoon freed the remaining workers abducted from the cement factory in Udaypur on Tuesday, reports citing the freed captives said.

According to reports, many of the workers have already arrived at the cement factory, while the rest are on their way back.

The Maoists had reportedly abducted the workers to force them to attend their workers’ conference.

On Thursday, security personnel freed 14 of the workers from a locked house in Bhutar village. The rebels had also released 15 feeble workers of the factory Tuesday night.

The rebels had abducted 140 workers from factory premises at Jaljale on June 22. nepalnews.com pd June 25 04

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Maoists kill soldier, civilian

The Maoists Friday morning shot and killed an army man and a civilian in Morang and Sarlahi district respectively. 

Army man Laxman Bastola, who was stationed at Shrimehar Gulma, was abducted Thursday evening from Hasandaha VDC.

Likewise, Ram Aygya Ray Yadav from Chautal VDC in Sarlahi was shot and killed on the banks of Bagmati river Friday morning. Yadav, son of former VDC vice-chairman Ramashis Ray Yadav, was abducted from his house Thursday evening. nepalnews.com pd June 25 04

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NTB, Jet Airways to promote tourism in Nepal

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Jet Airways will promote Nepal as a tourist destination for Indian tourists. The officials of the both organizations announced this amid a press conference held in New Delhi on Thursday.

NTB is to open sales offices in different Indian cities with the help of Jet Airways. Details of this new venture were unavailable.

Currently, Jet Airways offers a special 4-day package to Nepal for Indian Rs 8,969 per person inclusive of airfare, accommodation and air transfers. nepalnews.com pd June 25 04

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14 Udaypur captives freed by security forces

Security personnel Thursday freed 14 people abducted from a cement factory in Udaypur on Tuesday. Reports citing security officials said a security team freed the workers yesterday morning.  

The reports added that the workers were found locked up in a house in Bhutar village by the Maoists. There are no news of the remaining workers. nepalnews.com pd June 25 04

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Father dies of heart attack  after son marries blind woman

A man in Ilam died of heart attack after hearing that his son married a blind woman.  

According to the RSS, Chhatra Bahadur Gurung attempted to commit suicide when he found out that his son had married a blind woman because he had made her pregnant. His neighbours saved Chhatra from this attempt. However soon afterwards, Chattra died of a heart attack. nepalnews.com pd June 25 04

India’s claim on circus girls dismissed

The Kathmandu based Indian embassy, quoting a report filed by district officials, said that the Nepali girls were working in the Great Roman Circus voluntarily. However, Kailash Satyarthi, a rights activist, has dismissed the claim.

According to a Friday report in The Kathmandu Post, Satyarthi said that the report filed was prepared by taking statements from the children extracted under 'intense threats and pressure'. The report was filed at the State Labor Department.

According to Bachpan Bachao Andolan staff, the children had given a completely different statement to the Indian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the daily added.

Meanwhile, according to reports, senior journalists Kuldip Nayar, actresses Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi and Country Director of Action Aid India Harsha Mandar, are soon leaving for Gonda to express their solidarity to Kailash Satyarthi's campaign to rescue the Nepali children.

This development has increased hope for an early rescue of the minors. nepalnews.com pdJune 25 04

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Indian assistance for schools in Nawalparasi

The Indian embassy has agreed to provide Rs 64.45 million aid for the schools of Nawalparasi district.  

According to the press release issued by the Indian embassy on Thursday, several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between the Indian embassy, the District Development Committee of Nawalparasi district and three schools of the district.

The assistance will be provided for constructing school buildings and strengthening physical infrastructure of Tribhuvan Higher Secondary School, Shree Adarsh Secondary School and Shree Pragati Secondary School, the release added. nepalnews.com pd June 25 04

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Policeman shot dead in Nepalgunj

The Maoist rebels shot and killed a policeman and injured another at the Neplagunj Bus Park Friday morning.  According to HBC radio, the dead policeman has been identified as C. B. Sainjuwal. 

The injured policeman,  Likhuram Chaudhari, is in critical condition and  is undergoing treatment at the Bheri Zonal Hospital. The rebels took a .303 rifle from the incident site. nepalnews.com pd June 25 04

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