32 policemen killed in Salyan terrorist attack

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 22:Thirty-two policemen, including two inspectors, died when armed Maoist terrorists attacked the Shitalpati area police post in Salyan district last night.

According to the Defence Ministry, among those killed included three sub-inspectors and three assistant sub-inspectors.

Four policemen were seriously injured, while four others sustained minor injuries in the terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, security forces killed four terrorists and seized large quantities of weapons and explosives in search operations across the country during the last 24 hours.

The Defence Ministry, in a press release today, said two armed terrorists were killed in Hasulia area of Kailali district on Thursday.

A terrorist named Ram Bahadur B.K. of Phalate area of Surkhet and another from Pala area of Baglung were shot dead in separate encounters between the security forces and the terrorists.

The forces recovered weapons, bombs and equipment from the site.

The security forces also foiled the attacks of terrorists on different security posts in Salyan, Rukum and Kailali districts.

The armed forces also seized 12 guns and one pistol in Godavari area of Kailali and five muskets from Malakheti area of the same district. They have also recovered one gun from Rakam area of Dailekh and 49 units of gelatine, three binoculars, one high frequency radio set, one Motorola set and a compass from Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City of Kaski district.

The security forces have taken 12 suspects into custody from Kathmandu, nine from Sunsari, three from Hasuriya and two from Ambassa of Kailali district and one from Arghakhanchi for necessary investigation.

In another report, the local residents of Palpa have collected five guns and handed them over to the security forces.

A bomb disposal unit of the army defused one of the two bombs kept in the garbage container in Chabahil, Kathmandu. A person sustained serious injury when one of the hidden bombs exploded in the same place.

The Ministry has appealed to all to be alert against possible acts of terrorism and to immediately inform the nearest security forces if they see any suspicious objects. It has also requested the general people not to touch such objects.

The Ministry informed that the security forces caused heavy damage to the terrorists who were moving towards the base camp of the security forces at Karthalidanda near Bahrabise of Sindhupalchowk district last night.

The security forces attacked the large number of terrorists, who were marching towards the base camp with torches in their hands, and firing guns and explosives.

Six dead bodies of the insurgents were recovered from the area. Also recovered were weapons, pistols, socket bombs, equipment and documents.

‘Media has great role in preventing TB, AIDS’

Kathmandu,Feb.22 (RSS): A three-day international conference on "TB, HIV and Media" began here today with the objective of raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS and TB so that the lives of many youths of the world could be saved.

A total of 150 persons including representatives of various NGOs’ from 15 countries, donors, experts and mediapersons are taking part in the conference.

Health Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari inaugurated the conference jointly organised by TB NET, National Tuberculosis Center and the SAARC TB Center.

Stating that media has a great role to play in raising public awareness about such infectious diseases as TB and HIV/AIDS in Nepal which is already facing the problems of backwardness, poverty and illiteracy, Mr Bhandari said Nepal is determined to control TB and HIV/AIDS’ and the dots method for TB treatment is underway.

The Health Minister also promised that the government will implement the suggestions coming out of the conference with high priority.

Minister of State for Health Mohan Bahadur Basnet, from the chair, spoke of the need to take precautions against TB and HIV/AIDS.

Director of the National Tuberculosis Center and SAARC TB Center Dr. Dirgha Singh Bam remarked that the media have a greater role to play in preventing people from dying an untimely death.

Correspondent of BBC World Service Peter Gill spoke about the contributions made by the media to the control of TB and aids and chief of the Geneva-based office of the World Health Organisation l. Vorgan about the present state of these two diseases.

TB/HIV patient Goma complained of the treatment they are meted out by doctors.

Chairman of TB NET Dr. John Dickinson, director of the HIV/AIDS and STD control center Dr. Shyam Sunder Mishra and Dr. Shanta Bahadur Pandey of TB NET also spoke at the function.

During the second session of the conference, BBC World Service Correspondent Gill presented a working paper on "Media in TB and HIV" and editor of Nepali Times Kunda Dixit on "Media".

Armed persons loot property in Banke VDC

Nepalgunj, Feb. 22 (RSS): There has been a rise in incidents of Maoist terrorists looting people’s property, misbehaving with women, manhandling people and mentally torturing people.

A band of armed persons wearing masks robbed property of some 12 families of Bageshwari VDC-9 in Banke district and attempted to sexually assault women on February 18.

Forty-year old Parvati Nepali, narrating her tales of woes before a team of human rights activists and journalists who set out on an on- the-spot inspection on Thursday, said that as the intruders found only Rs. 50 after rampaging her house, they tried to assault her.

According to the victims, a group of people who backed the Maoist terrorists who pasted pamphlets on the wall in the village recently are believed to have been involved in incidents.

"I had pleaded several times before them to take away all my belongings but not to misbehave with me. They turned a deaf ear to my pleading even after I begged mercy. As I had no way out except to shout for help, they locked at me in a room and left," she recalls. The armed bandits also looted Rs. 9,000 from the house of Hasta Bahadur Mahatara who had saved the amount for her daughter’s wedding, Rs. 4,000 from the house of headmaster Dhan Bahadur Pathik, Rs. 800 from the house of Shankar Thapa and Rs. 200 from Gaura Ruchal.

As the unidentified persons had left the house without taking all the cash, they cannot be dacoits or robbers but only Maoists, the victims claim.

After the inspection, the human rights organisations have issued a joint press statement warning that if such misconduct is repeated in the future, the consequences will not be good.

The organisations have appealed to the government to beef up security measures for the protection of the people.

All the political parties should be sensitive towards such incidents and start a programmes for safeguarding the people, the statement reads.

Political parties urged to cooperate with army

Kathmandu, Feb. 22 (RSS): The Nepali Congress has called upon all the democratic political parties in the country to provide possible cooperation to the army and the police who are fighting and putting their lives at risk to protect all the Nepalese and defend the country against becoming the target of terrorist criminal activities.

A communique issued today by the party states that it is also the responsibility of the democratic forces to boost the morale of the army and the police which are dedicated to preventing violence and terrorism and restoring law and order in the country by diluting the very grave and disintegrative activities of the terrorists.

Holding in high esteem the brave patriots who have laid down their lives in the campaign to defeat terrorism, the Nepali Congress has wished speedy recovery to those security personnel who have been severely injured in that connection.

The Nepali Congress has also called on all its district committees and sister oganisations as well as friendly organisations to undertake blood donation programmes for the assistance of those injured in terrorist attacks.

The Nepali Congress also stated that murdering security personnel and the common people, setting off bombs and the barbaric killing of unarmed people are most heinous and abominable acts committed by the terrorists.

Normal life in capital affected

Kathmandu, Feb. 22 (RSS): Normal life in the capital was affected by the Nepal bandh, today.

Passenger vehicles did not ply due to fear of being vandalised, but motorcycles, bi-cycles and rickshaws were seen moving on the streets.

Shops in the main throughfares of the city were closed whereas most shops in the inner parts of the city were open.

Meanwhile, life in Janakpur remained normal today despite the bandh called by the Maoists.

Most of the shops in Janakapur Municipality were open and people were busy buying and selling things.

Most private and public schools were also open, the district education officer said.

Pre-exercises to formulate budget of ADB/N

Kathmandu, Feb. 22 (RSS): Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Prithvi Raj Ligal has said that the role of the Agriculture Development Bank will be crucial in the formulation and implementation of various plans concerning poverty alleviation and agricultural development.

Vice-chairman Ligal was giving directives at a three-day seminar concerning pre-exercises for the formulation of the programme and budget of 2002-03 for the Agriculture Development Bank organised by its planning and projects department.

He gave directives to formulate the budget for the next fiscal year by taking into consideration the direct participation of the bank in programmes such as poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, overall development of the agriculture sector and maximum utilisation of information technology.

Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Rambabu Pant and chairman cum general manager of the Agriculture Development Bank Devendra Pratap Shah also expressed his views on the occasion.

Attending the seminar are senior officers of the head office of the Agriculture Development Bank, and officers of all its supervision and control offices.

5 passengers killed as bus set on fire

By Basanta Parajuli

Chitwan, Feb 22: Five passengers, including an 8-year-old girl, were charred to death when Maoist terrorists hurled a petrol bomb at their bus near Narayanghat in the wee hours of Friday morning.

The bus (Plate No. Na 2 Kha) was heading from Kathmandu to Birgunj, in south central Nepal, when it was attacked by a group of terrorists at Bhandara Village Development Committee (VDC), east of Narayanghat, on the East-West Highway.

The bus was totally destroyed in the arson attack that took place at 3:45 in the morning. According to the Chitwan district police office, those killed in the incident include Hussein Ansari, 35, Sabir Miya Ansari, 28, Zakir Ansari, 30, Sulman Ansari, 20, and 8-year-old Kazol Khatun. Their bodies were charred beyond recognition.

Four passengers injured in the attack are undergoing treatment at Bharatpur Hospital.

Friday was a Nepal bandh called by the Maoist terrorists.

According to the injured, the terrorists suddenly hurled the petrol bomb and refused the driver’s plea to allow the passengers to step down. They smashed the windowpanes before fleeing.

The bus was carrying about 40-50 passengers. It took the nearby Bharatpur Fire Brigade nearly an hour to bring the fire under control.