Kerosene paucity dogs Janakpur

-By a Post Reporter

JANAKPUR, Jan 15 - Shortage of kerosene still continues in the remote villages of Dhanusha district.

Kerosene is being sold at the black-market in Janakpur at 18 rupees and even up to 20 rupees per litre in the remote villages. Customers have to flatter the dealers even to buy kerosene at this exorbitant rate.

 The  Nepal Oil Corporation had reduced the supply of kerosene by 25 percent saying that it was smuggled out to India. However, it has resumed supply of kerosene here like before  in the previous quantity. Customers have not understood why the scarcity continues to persist even today when there is normal supply of kerosene, a consumer, Shridev Kapar said.

General Secretary of Janakpur Zonal Petroleum Association Ganesh Silwal said the corporation is supplying according to the quota of last year but the number of people has already increased. That is the reason why there is still shortage of kerosene. The corporation has been asked to raise the quota this year.

One consumer said the shortage of kerosene had resulted because the customers had started to stock the kerosene while another consumer said dealers had created artificial shortage to earn extra benefit.

Maoist dies in encounter

-By a Post Reporter

DHANGADHI, Jan 15 - A Maoist worker died in an encounter between the police and the insurgents at Khopa Gaon of Pahalmanpur VDC-9 in Kailali district on Friday.

Following the increasing activities of the Maoists in Kailali district over the last few days, one police striking team was sent to the northern belt and another to the southern side. In the process of inspecting local people’s houses, the police team came to know that two Maoists were hiding in the house of Mohan Lal Chaudhari of the VDC. As the police were searching the house, the insurgents opened fire from inside the house, according to Superintendent of Police Sharada Bhakta Ranjit.

The police then counter attacked the Maoists. After a brief encounter, one Maoist died on the spot while the other escaped jumping from the window, SP Ranjit said.

The victim was identified as Mangal Prasad Chaudhari of about 45 to 50 years. He was reported to be engaged in selling medicines. Police have found a 12-bore gun, two khukuris, 5 or 6 cartridges, pad of donation receipt and some medicines at the site.

Police have arrested two members of the house and are investigating the case.

‘Govt throttling free press’

-By a Post Reporter

MORANG, Jan 15 - President of Nepal Journalists’ Federation Suresh Acharya has said, “ The constitution of the country is not a barrier for free press after the restoration of multi-party government, but it is the government which has been occasionally working as a barrier.”

Speaking at the interaction programme of Morang branch of the federation on Friday, Acharya said the state was investing very small amount of money in journalism sector and consequently, the press today was unable to survive by publishing merely the facts and authentic news.

On the other hand, journalists are arrested and threatened while  the government raids the press when it disseminates the genuine   information regarding the wrong-doings of the government, he said.

Journalists have failed to distance themselves from political creed and the political language used by such journalists,except professional ones, has helped the politicians to have their views published free of cost. Some political parties have even purchased the journalists and are expressing their views through these journalists, Acharya added.

“Journalists should obey the code of conduct and be able to show their professional ethics”, Acharya said adding  the whole press had lost its credibility due to the political creed of some journalists. “That is why the government has been occasionally assaulting the press on this basis, he remarked.”

Bus with contraband kerosene held

-By a Post Reporter

BHADRAPUR, Jan 15- The Kakarbhitta Area Police Office has arrested a passenger bus which had arrived here from Dharan on the charge of illegally carrying 2 thousand 400 litres of kerosene for smuggling purpose.

The bus with plate No Ko. Kha. 231 has been handed over to the Mechi Customs Office. According to the information given by Inspector Dipesh Lohani over the telephone, various initiatives are being taken to control smuggling of kerosene from this point at a time when there is shortage of this commodity in the country. The bus was arrested as part of this initiative, he added.

Mechi municipality has enforced coupon system under which one person and one hotel receive 5 and 15 litres of kerosene per week respectively while kerosene is being sold on the basis of coupon in other municipalities and VDCs also.However, the smuggling of kerosene has not stopped altogether due to the open border between Nepal and India. Across the border, ration card holders receive up to 5 litres of kerosene at 3 rupees per litre but it is not found in the petrol pumps. Therefore kerosene smuggled out from Nepal is sold at prices ranging from IC 12 to 14   per litre.

Group wedding planned

MORANG, Jan 15 (PR)- Marwari conference and group marriage programme is scheduled to be held in Biratnagar from January 29 to February 1 under the auspices of Marwari Sewa Samiti, Biratnagar.

Up to 25 couples are expected to participate in the group marriage which will cost 3 thousand 500 rupees for the bridegroom’s side and 2 thousand 500 rupees for the bride’s side, according to the programme coordinator.

Priority will be given to widow, widower, divorced and disabled people. Indian youth will also participate in the group marriage programme. At a time when marriages have become so costly and unaffordable, this type of group marriage is believed to be suitable for all the common public.

Dhakal steals show at FM music awards

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 15 - For singer Ram Krishna Dhakal there is now no limit to his music.

After stealing the show here in all his three nominations at the Hits FM Music Awards today, Dhakal said youngsters have been encouraged to excel in their fields due to the awards instituted presently by various organizations.

Dhakal, better known for his melancholic numbers, snatched the trophy for Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Male Vocal Performance, leading all the other nominees. Lyricist Kali Prasad Rizal’s Man paraune hazar, a song also sung by Dhakal was announced as the Song of the Year.

Kunti Moktan was awarded Best Female Vocal Performance for her song Yo manama katakata, whereas the husband and wife duo of Uday and Manila Sotang was declared Best Vocal Collaboration for their song Maya namara.

Nabin K Bhattarai maintained his dominance in Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) for his song Dobato. He shared the award this year, however, with singer Deepak Bajracharya for Samaya.

Television anchor Reema Gurung won Best Pop Vocal Performance  (Female) for her song Launa ni.

The six-member band of 1974 AD,who enthralled the audience with their remarkable performance that launched the show, was awarded  Best Performance by a Group for their song Samjhi baschhu.

Rajan Ishan, the singer with a soft-spoken vocal and a fashion- conscious music video, was declared Best New Artiste.

In the category of Best Song for a Motion Picture Soundtrack, Nhyoo Bajracharya snatched the award for his popular number Lagi deu lagi deu from the movie Desh Pardesh.

Singer, lyrisist and composer Koili Devi was honoured  with Life Time Achievement Award today. Devi, hailing from Makwanpur and known as the Nightingale of Nepal, is the first lady to have recorded a devotional song for Radio Nepal.