Release of journalists demanded nationwide

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KATHMANDU, June 10- Condemnations against the arrest of the editor and publishers of the Kantipur national daily are pouring in from across the country on the fifth day of their detention, Sunday.

In Damauli, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists and Nepal Press Union submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Chief District Officer, demanding the immediate release of the arrested journalists.

In their joint statement, the organisations condemned the arrest as a direct interference with press freedom which is likely to send a negative message to the general public at the time of national tragedy.

Likewise, in Syangja, representatives of political parties, human rights activists, businessmen and the general public have expressed their serious concern over the arrest of the journalists. All of them have demanded their immediate and unconditional release.

The Chairman and Vice-chairmen of the District Development Committee, Ram Bahadur Thapa and Lakshmipati Poudel, Mayor of the Putalibazar municipality, Umeshchandra Thapa, former Chairman of the District Congress Committee, Shri Prasad Gharti, Chairman of the Landless Squatters’ Problem Resolution Committee, Bishwa Prem Adhikari, secretary of the CPN(UML) district committee, Prem Narayan Poudel, leader of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, Mahesh Kumar Shreshtha, human rights activist, Sashi Kumar Upadhyaya, lawyer Tulsi Giri and entrepreneur Janak Aryal, among others, have condemned the arrest of the journalists, and demanded their immediate release.

Body cremated without post-mortem

INARUWA, June 10 - The body of an unidentified woman was found near Sunsari Khola between Bhutaha and Basantpur VDCs, close to the Indian border.

The body belonged to a woman aged about 20 to 22 years. As the body was naked, it was suspected that she was murdered after a sexual assault on her. As the woman was not identified, the body was cremated in the presence of Bhutaha VDC office bearers, according to police.

According to ASI Prem Bahadur Katuwal, there was a wound only at the neck. A child’s clothing was also found near the body but the body of the child was not found. The body of the woman, who looked like an Indian national, was cremated without post-mortem because the body was decomposed.

Police have started a massive manhunt for the culprits on the suspicion that she might have been murdered after a gang rape, according to police.

EC extends tributes, congratulations

KATHMANDU, June 10 (RSS) - The special meeting of the Election Commission(EC) held today has expressed deep sorrow over the unimaginable, unantiticipated and untimely passing away of Their Majesties King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya and other members of the royal family on June 1 and prayed to Lord Pashupatinath for eternal peace to the departed souls of the royal family.

Paying tributes to the departed souls, the election commission states that the keen interest taken by His Majesty King Birendra for free and fair elections has been a source of inspiration for the commission and demonstrates His Majesty’s faith in democracy.

The meeting also condoled the untimely demise of His Majesty King Dipendra and prayed to Lord Pashupatinath for eternal peace to the departed soul.

The election commission has congratulated His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on his accession to the Throne of the kingdom of Nepal and wished His Majesty’s long life, good health and long reign.

The meeting also prayed to Lord Pashupatinath for speedy recovery of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Journalist forum extends felicitations

NEPALGUNJ, June 10 (RSS)- A meeting of Nepal-India joint journalists forum held at Nanapara in Bahariech district of India Saturday extended heartfelt congratulations to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on his accession to the throne of the Kingdom of Nepal.

The meeting chaired by the forum’s convenor for Indian Journalists Binaya Sri Vastava also expressed profound sorrow over the untimely death of His Majesty King Birendra, Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the royal family and observed a two-minute silence praying for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Likewise, the meeting also wished for speedy recovery of the members of the royal family and royal relatives injured in the incident that took place at the royal palace.

A demand was also made by the meeting that His Majesty’s Government immediately release editor of Kantipur Daily Yubaraj Ghimire, managing director Kailash Sirohiya and director Binodraj Gyawali.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Magistrate of Bahariech district of India and police chief of Narapara Rajesh Kumar Saxsena said Nepal and India have been enjoying a very deep and cordial relations and that Indian people have also been grieved by incident that took place in Nepal.

Convenor of Nepalese Journalists at the Forum Purnalal Chuke expressed gratitude to India for the respect shown by India towards the Nepalese Monarchy and sympathy expressed to the people of Nepal, and declaration of a three-day national mourning in the country.

His Majesty felicitated

KATHMANDU, June 10 (RSS) - On the occasion of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev’s Accession to the Throne of The Kingdom of Nepal, various institutions have extended hearty congratulations to His Majesty and wished for his Majesty’s long life, good health and success in governance.

The institutions extending best wishes to Majesty The King are Nepal Maithil Bramhan Samaj, Akhil Nepal Himali Boudha Sangh, Nepal Chartered Accountants Association, Nepal Drug Entrepreneurs Association, Balaju Technical Tranining Center, Siddheswore Mahadev Mandir Byawasthapan Samiti, Nepal Ekikrit Netraheen Bikash Sangh, Rotary Club of Janakpur, Shree Akhanda Mahayagya Kailash Ashram Swargadwari, Newa Deyu Dabu, Women Vocational Training Center, Bhaskarkirti Mahavihar, Dhobighat Magar Kalyan Kosh, Nepal Public Health Association, Panchakumari Mahila Bikash Kendra, Health Manpower Development Center, World Acupuncture Services Association, Nepal, Siru Boudhik Samaj, Bhaktapur, Moonshine Boarding School Family, Ekta Pariwar, Bhabak Abhiyaaan Nepal, Shanta Atma Satsang Samiti, Dilli Bazaar Kanya Campu, Layaku Educational Service Center, Kirtipur. rss

Meanwhile on the occasion of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev’s accession to the Throne of The Kingdom of Nepal, the recent emergency meeting of Kathmandu district development committee has extended best wishes to His Majesty and wished for His Majesty’s good governance.

A resolution passed by the meeting states that the DDC has been deeply grieved by the sudden and untimely passing away of the symbol of national unity His Majesty King Birendra, Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra, HRH Prince Nirajan, HRH Princess Sruti and other members of the royal family.

The meeting observed one minutes’ silence for eternal peace to the departed souls of the members of the royal family and wished for speedy recovery of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and other members of the royal family undergoing treatment at the Birendra Military Hospital.

Two minors commit suicide

ITAHARI, June 10 (RSS) - Two minor girls have committed suicide resulting due to a simple debate over distribution of responsibility to household chores.

Daughters of Bhim Bahadur Basnet, a resident of ward no-7 in Prakashpur VDC of Sunsari district, are reported to have hanged themselves when their parent were working in the nearby field.

Bhagawati Basnet,19, the elder sister hanged herself from a tree next to their house and Kalpana Basnet,17, followed soon after her sister died. she hanged herself from a beam inside the house.

Both the sisters have been cremated following completion of necessary legal procedures, it is stated.

UML leader enters forest with maoists

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JAJARKOT, June 10 (RSS) - Subanauli VDC vice-chairman Sher Bahadur Khadka, who was elected from CPN (UML), has entered the forest along with the Maoist workers by wielding a gun given to him by the Maoists.

Ilaka Police Post Badaban Dashera told The Kathmandu Post that Khadka had declared that he had entered the Maoist Party voluntarily and went to the forest carrying the gun given to him by the Maoist Jana Sarkar chief Paras.

The CPN (UML) district committee has charged that the Maoists had forced vice-chairman Khadka to join their party.

400-year-old monastery found in Olangchung Gola

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KHANDBARI, June 10 - It has been found that the Dikicholing monastery in Olangchung Gola VDC of Taplejung district is 400 years old.

Researcher of Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS) Dr Ramesh Kumar Dhungel has confirmed that documents found about the monastery have proved that the monastery is 400 years old. It takes seven days’ walk from the district headquarters to reach the monastery located at an altitude of 3,200 metres.

Similarly, some documents have also been found to prove that the clay stutues painted in natural colours in the monastery of Dhunsa, also in Taplejung district, were also painted 400 years ago, Dhungel added.

Dhungel gave the information to The Kathmandu Post here on Sunday when he arrived here after completing his studies of monasteries including ancient art and culture of Taplejung district and southern belt of Sankhuwasabha district.

Researcher Dhungel said Taplejung and Sankhuwasabha districts were very important from the viewpoint of art and culture, but adequate studies have yet to be conducted.

He said many studies in Nepal are conducted from Kathmandu itself, without visiting the concerned sites. Visiting the proper sites to conduct the study is very important to find out more facts about the objects being studied, he added.

Another member of the study team, Bhup Mani Dahal, said that they had visited about 25 monasteries in the two districts during their month-long programme and had found about 60 important lalmohars ( royal decrees).

The lalmohars were issued in different periods and kings of different dynasties including ‘Makwanpuare and Mustange raja’ and the kings of Shah dynasty.