Maoists kill ex-DSP, attack police post

RSS

DHANGADI, Nov. 17: Former Deputy Superintendent of Police and RPP central council member Harihar Adhikari was shot dead by a group of Maoists at Manikapur of Tikapur Municipality-4 on Saturday afternoon.

65-year-old Adhikari was kidnapped from his home and was later found dead at a sugarcane field in Manikapur.

Similarly in Chautara, the underground Maoists' guerrillas on Saturday night blasted a bomb inside the empty post of the Area Police Office in Melamchi of Sindhupalchok district.

According to local residents, temporary posts constructed at the office were destroyed in the bomb blast.

Citing security reasons, the post with 60 policemen had been recently merged into the district police office at the district headquarters.

Meanwhile in Kapilvastu, the Maoist terrorists vandalised and set fire to the Shivagadi VDC building of Kapilvastu district on Saturday night.

All official documents and furniture were gutted in the fire and the building was totally damaged, it is stated.

Prior to this, the Maoists had vandalised and set ablaze 30 different VDCs office buildings in the district.

In Nuwakot, a group of Maoists took Ram Shrestha, RSS' Nuwakot district representative, under its control for some time for questioning and later released him.

Shrestha, who had gone to local Kharanitar on private business, was stopped by the Maoists at Barrafedi of Ganeshsthan VDC on his return journey, alleging him of providing his motorcycle to the security forces mobilised against the Maoists.

However, Shrestha denied the charges levelled against him by the Maoists.

Later, the Maoists had asked Shrestha to give his identity and show his identity card. They had let Shrestha go after he showed his identity card.

In Mahottari, armed Maoist guerrillas have set fire to the Small Farmers Development Project office under the Mahottari District Agricultural Development Bank branch at local Hattilet VDC-9 at 2:30 a.m. Last night, according to the district police office.

Rafting, Kayaking to mark jubilee festival

RSS

KATHMANDU, Nov. 17: On the occasion of the Sagarmatha Golden Jubilee Festival, an international level "Peak UK Himalyan Whitewater Challenge Nepal-2002" is to be organised in the Balefi and Bhotekoshi rivers of Sindhupalchok district from November 23 to 25.

Some 150 persons from within and outside the country are expected to take part in the event organised with the objective of publicising the river adventure in Nepal.

Some 70 participants from the United States, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Britain have already arrived for the event, said the Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) at a press conference organised here today.

Rafting and Kayaking are the main events in the whitewater challenge which comprises Rodeo, Kayak down river race, Kayak Slalom, raft event, raft Slalom and raft down river race.

Participants coming out first, second and third in the above events will receive goods worth 1000, 700 and 500 US dollars.

Adventurous river events began in Nepal in the 1970s but it was opened for tourism purpose in 1976.

Some 75 rafting agencies are currently involved in this sector providing direct and indirect employment to around 10,000 people.

Shakya Foundation holds cultural programme

RSS

KATHMANDU, Nov. l7: Shakya Foundation Nepal organised a grand gathering and cultural programme here yesterday to exchange greetings on the occasion of the Nepal Era New Year ll23.
Speaking on the occasion, chairman of the Foundation Dev Kazi Shakya said the objective of the Foundation was to facilitate inter-relations within the Shakya community throughout the country and foster its social, cultural and educational upliftment.

Other speakers stressed that solidarity among the Shakya community would endure only if they could base themselves on the humanitarian religion propounded by Lord Buddha and that the foundation would see continuity if financial resources could be mobilised through public display of the art, culture and music of the Shakya community.

Those speaking on the occasion included senior economic advisor at the Finance Ministry Dr. Rabindra Kumar Shakya, Dr. Bajra Raj Shakya, tourism entrepreneur Karna Shakya, former MP Asta Laxmi Shakya and former minister Marshal Julum Shakya.

During the programme attended by representatives from Shakya communities in various districts, students from the academy of sacred heart presented Pancha Buddha, Tamang, Manjushree and Rajamati Dances.