OFF THE BEAT

Showing work
This scribe was never convinced with them when a bunch of men clad in blue-jersey tried to give him the impression the other day that the customs office in Kathmandu was shifted to open streets. But for your kind information, it was just true. So don’t ask further question when local cops demand to open your bags, including the purse and a toffee pack you may be carrying home for your kids from one of your brief shopping errands outside your own houseyards. On Thursday evening, those blue cops were busy doing the same at New Baneshwar Crossroads. Guess how much they might have added to the public revenue. -(CK)

Hollow claims
Working on a newspaper desk, this scribe is sometimes impelled to make a review of news coming on different dates in the past. One of the topics featuring recurrently is the concern over the Bhutanese refugees. UML’s KP Oli was claiming to resolve the issue as back as five years ago. Foreign Minister Dr RS Mahat has claimed to do the same within a month now. I for one claim the real solution is not forthcoming unless ministers complete the cycle of hollow claims in this regard. What say you? -(KC)

Charismatic Kedia
Give him anything and he is going to give you something in return. Controversial businessman Shankarlal Kedia is known to be allegedly involved in ISI activities. He is keeping in close touch with Pakistan.

But what is common in Kedia’s active involvement in education and terrorism? Perhaps he can only unearth it. If not, give him some more time and see Kedia ko charismatic karishma!   -(DPR)

Wagging tail
Any one expecting change in government, please take note that the KP’s tail is wagging superbly in the current “trying” series. The contest is between veteran batsman (ask Ms AK) and someone who got out hit wicket once (1994) and had to pack up before the innings got underway the second time around (Koirala had to leave the field open to KP after the elections). Fielders (Deuba and others), if I need to tell, are people who drop catches and throw matches. With crowd impatient and umpires yet to come to decision, the outcome stands wide open.-(DL)

Mum Manisha
A leading Indian journal a few days ago published the century’s 100 sexiest women. I’ve nothing to say on the list ranging from Madhubala to Madhuri and Priyanka to Indira Gandhi. But one name -- that of Manisha Koirala -- in the list has kept me agape. Are our big bros so possessed by Manisha magic that they have even forgotten Manisha belongs to Nepal? Even surprising is that so far Manisha has kept mum about the issue.- (ASH)

Yet to learn?
The recent Indian media hype has not awakened CAN. With such embarrassing match conclusions, the country’s only cricket association seems to have pulled backward the local media here to its pell-mell standard. Can’t you sports persons stop depending upon steroids provided by such media?

It’s high time we stopped believing on TV channels, especially when the Indian Ambassador to Nepal has started to claim his model of TV is different from others. What say you CAN?  -(SJS)

Whither match fixing?
Both are not in sound health. PM KP Bhattarai and ML leader Bamdev Gautam are said to be ill, thanks to the weather.

But whether it is natural weather or political weather that has brought them to bed is to be seen.

Why is it then other parties are doing good? There is something hidden in it. Or is it that the two are in the look out of some match fixing?- (DJ)

Surprise packet
The much awaited ‘surprise packet’ of Sports Minister surprised everyone but did not make anybody happy. Hold on! The real surprise from the minister is yet to come. Now that he has decided to act in a movie, that too as a villain, is certainly a bigger surprise but again may not be for all those SAF awardees who consider him a real villain. But watching him getting beaten by silver screen heroes may provide them with a sense of poetic justice.-(AP)

Wrong choice
Actor-turned-producer Bhuban KC is in to feature Culture minister Sarat Singh Bhandari as a villain in his upcoming venture, Superstar. The ageing ‘playboy’ (as his first wife once announced publicly) is sure to present himself and his second wife in this new venture’s lead roles. But one thing Bhuban did not take into consideration is that if he could hire the House-in minister BB KC, it would have been much better. The latter’s experience in breaking into woman’s houses would prove an added asset for him. What do you think?  (LYNX)

Attention!
The arrest of Indian cops initially sounded as if the Nepal cops had arrested dreaded terrorists or operatives about to launch another offensive within a fortnight of IC-814 drama. But it did not take long to learn that they were “renegade” railway cops blissfully ignorant of terrain. But is it the end of the story in real connotation of the word? The arrest should be exciting to the people who have failed to smell the presence of a terrorist and litter of lamas, who hijacked a plane and sneaked into India, respectively. May Pashupatinath bless us all! -(DB)

Deforestation by Bhutanese refugees rampant

-By a Post Reporter

BIRATNAGAR, Jan 21 - Bhutanese refugees living at Pathari Shanischare in Morang district resorted to massive deforestation having failed to receive kerosene.

The Morang District Forest Office has not initiated any action against them despite that refugees have encroached on the dense forests in the vicinity of Pathari Sanischare camp in Morang district.

Even in the past while kerosene was plentiful and refugees still encroached upon the forests, the district forest office took no steps to halt the destruction.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, a Bhutanese refugee, Ram Bir Chhetri who had just fetched a load of firewood from the forest said, “There is no kerosene and it is not available to us. How can we cook food? There is no other alternative than firewood.”

The forest guards who have been assigned the task of protecting the forest have played the role of silent spectator to the destruction of forests by Bhutanese refugees. They have directly or indirectly given permission to the refugees to openly destroy the forests on the basis of some commission received by them from the Bhutanese refugees, Assistant Sub-Inspector Krishna Prasad Dhakal of Pathari said.

Office-bearers of Pathari and Shanischare VDCs drew the attention of 10 members of the Upper House to the problem but they have yet to yield any positive results.

Representatives of the local VDC complain that the local administration, police and forest office have failed to stop the encroachment on forests which is taking place no matter whether kerosene is available or not.

Maoist workers severely injure an active NC member

DAILEKH, Jan 21 (PR) - An active member of Nepali Congress Dinesh Hamal was beaten up severely by Maoist activists.

According to a report received here from Dullu, Hamal, a resident of Dullu VDC ward No 5, was going to his father-in-law’s house at Rawatkot on Wednesday evening when he was attacked by the Maoist workers. 

The Maoist workers were coming out of a school after completing a cultural programme when they came face to face with Hamal. He was first taken to a short distance and then beaten up severely, according to eye-witnesses. Hamal said they had assaulted him because he held th  belief that threatening the people with weapons and looting them would not help win any political battle.

KMC to celebrate martyrs week

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 21 - The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) will be organizing a series of events to celebrate Martyrs Week starting next week from Jan 24-30.

At a meeting held today, KMC officials said condolence meetings for Martyrs Sukra Raj Shastri and Dharma Bhakta will be held at Teku Pachali and Shifal on Jan 24 and 27 respectively. Both the meetings are scheduled to be held at 8 a m in the venue where the two martyrs were killed.

Another condolence meeting for Martyrs Gangalal and Dashrath Chand will be held at Bishnumati in Shobha Bhagwati on Jan 29. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 9 a m where the two martyrs were killed.

Similarly, a procession will be held from Sahid Gate to Martyrs Memorial at Lainchour on Jan 30 at 9 a m. A gun salute will also take place at noon in Tudikhel where traffic will also be held at a standstill for a minute in honour of the martyrs.

KMC has established a 501-member main organizing committee comprising municipality officials from five districts as well as other government and non-government agencies. A five-member committee comprising KMC Mayor, KMC Deputy Mayor, KMC Executive Officer, Bhuvan Lal Pradhan and Hari Krishna Shrestha was also established today to activate the Martyrs Day Celebrations in coming years.

Terror of wild elephants in Morang

-By a Post Reporter

MORANG, Jan 21 - Local people of Mrigouliya, Sundarpur and Indrapur VDCs located in the northern belt of the district have been terrorised by two wild elephants over the past month.

The wild elephants have so far killed Jivan Bhandari, resident of Mrigouliya VDC and destroyed 16 houses of Mrigouliya VDC, 15 houses of Indrapur VDC and 3 houses of Sundarpur VDC, chairman of Mrigouliya VDC Ishan Kumar Rai told The Kathmandu Post.

Chairman Rai added that the elephants have destroyed paddy, maize, wheat and sugarcane crops causing a damage of about 1.5 million rupees.

Attacks from the wild elephants continue unabated while the local people keep vigil throughout the night and drive them away with fire torches. Forest Officer Gyanendra Mishra says Ialka Forest Office Salakpur and Ilaka Police Office Belbari are extending their cooperation to drive away the wild elephants.

Chief District Officer Tulsi Prasad Bhattarai admitted that the wild elephant menace continues in these VDCs and that the administration would be compelled to kill the wild elephants if the local people found it futile to drive them away with the help of fire torches.

Smugglers arrested

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 21 - Three smugglers were today arrested at Yatkhatole at the heart of the capital with tiger hide, said police.

According to the Valley Crime Investigation Section, the sneakers have been identified as Kul Prasad Pandey,65,  Badri Pathak, 49 and Madhav Pandey, 27, all of Baturali Village Development Committee-3 of Nuwakot.

They were arrested with a tiger hide measuring four feet and one inch in length and one foot and one inch in breadth.

They have been handed over to the Area Forest Office, Lainchour for necessary investigation.  

Shepherd inspects army parade

KATHMANDU, Jan 21 (PR) - John Shepherd, a top British Government trade official who is visiting Nepal, today attended a passing-off parade of recruits selected to join the British Army in Pokhara, says a press release issued here by the British Embassy.

Shepherd was accompanied by British Ambassador Ronald Nash where the recruits demonstrated their newly taught military skills at the short parade.

Speaking at the function, Brigadier Mervyn Lee, Colonel of the Queen’s Gorkha Signals Regiment and the Inspecting Officer, praised the 230 recruits on their performance and congratulated them on their selection for service in the British Army. He said there was a special bond between Nepal and England, best exemplified by the strong links with the Brigade of Gurkhas, forged over a considerable period of time.

Around 500 spectators, majority being proud relatives of the recruits who had travelled considerable distances to witness the historic moment, met and talked to the British officials. The recruits fly to the United Kingdom shortly to start further recruit training after which they will join their various regiments, adds the release.

Sherpa national convention begins

KATHMANDU, Jan 21 (PR)  - The foundation of the nation will weaken if its nationalities are weakened, said President of the ruling Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala today while inaugurating the Second National Convention of Nepal Sherpa Association (NSA) here.

Various political leaders such as Standing Committee Member of CPN (UML) Jhal Nath Khanal, Central Committee Member of CPN (ML) Rajendra Shrestha and President of RPP (Chand) Rajendra Devkota also attended the function who praised the effort of the Sherpas in uplifting the pride of the nation.

President of NSA, also known as Yambhu Sherwa Chichong in the native language of the Sherpas, Gip Chiri Sherpa urged the government to stop the transmission of news in Sanskrit every morning and demanded equal rights for the Sherpas.