11 terrorists killed in operations

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct 17: At least 11 terrorists were killed in security operations conducted in different parts of the country since the last one week, according Defence Ministry statements.

Security personnel killed five Maoist terrorists in Naubasta of Banke district and two other in Rampur Bilaspur of Kanchanpur on October 13.

In the course of the search operations, three terrorists were shot dead in Ramechhap - two in Duragaon and one in Bijulkot on October 10, the Ministry said, adding that one more was killed in Bahunban, a border area of Jhapa and Ilam districts on October 11.

The forces seized food grains, socket bombs, explosives, pistols, two guns, bullets of rifles, combat dresses, megaphones, amplifiers, equipments used in setting up ambush and terrorist literature from the sites, the Defence Ministry stated.

A bomb disposal team of security forces deactivated an ambush planted by the terrorists at Bhatte of Dadeldhura on October 12.

The security forces on Saturday rescued a local in Sandhepani Village Development (VDC) Committee of Kailali who had sustained injuries in Maoist attack. He has been taken to the Seti Zonal Hospital for treatment.

The army men also rescued a person at Sudadevi VDC of Achham and took to the nearby health post. The person was severely beaten by the Maoist terrorists on Saturday
Explosives, food grains, communication equipment and logistical materials were recovered from otalpur of Kailali on October 13.

Court to be prayed for justice

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct.17: The Nepal Film Producers' Association has decided to go to the Supreme Court against Jana Aastha, a vernacular weekly, on charges of libel for publishing an obscene photograph and slanderous report about actress Shrisha Karki, which allegedly led to her death.
The noted actress committed suicide on Monday following the publication of the photograph and a news report which tried to assassinate her character.

The vernacular tabloid on its October 9 issue had run a story with the objectionable photograph saying that the actress was licentious in her character. It even said that she was having an affair with a businessman, without naming him. The photograph had shown a woman in a crouching position totally nude.

The association also said that they would launch a movement with a seven-point demand to protest what they call totally 'yellow' journalism. They said they would meet with the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Federation of Nepali Journalists and other professional organisations to pressure for action against the responsible persons.

The National Motion Picture Coordination Committee has dubbed the death of Ms. Karki as a planned murder carried out through the weapon of yellow journalism. "The photograph and the accompanied story is the culmination of misleading, baseless and fictitious reporting and yellow journalism" said a statement issued by the committee Thursday.

"The death of Karki was the result of the defamatory photograph made through trick photography," the state said.

The committee has charged Jana Aastha editor Kishor Shrestha and his colleagues Bishwamani Subedi and Yadav Prasad Pandey for the "murder committed with the misuse of pen" and demanded prompt actions against the culprits.

The forum of cine artists has appealed all to cooperate with the movement. The seven-point steps to be put into motion by the protesting artistes include submitting a petition for justice before His Majesty the King, proceeding with legal steps and staging a demonstration against the alleged practice of yellow journalism.

Other measures are to hold interaction with organisations of journalists, women and political parties. The artistes will also meet with the Prime Minister, Home Minister, the Army Chief, Inspector General of Police and Chief District Officers and seek actions against those responsible. The committee said it has already filed complaints before the Nepal Press Council and the Federation of Nepalese Journalists.

The Jana Aastha editor, reported to have gone to hiding is under manhunt of police. "Had the alleged been taken into custody in time, the death of the actress would not have occurred," says the statement of the cine artists' body. According to the committee, both oral and written complaints had been lodged at the district police office Kathmandu just after the publication of the insulting materials.
Karki, 24, had hanged herself with a shawl in her room at Maijubahal, Chabahil. Family members reportedly said the actress was under stress since the photograph and the report was published.

Govt to work to restore peace, says Thapa

RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct. 17: Emotional tributes were paid to the police personnel who laid their lives during the course of discharging their responsibility for the sake of nationalism and national security.
Minister for Home Dharma Bahadur Thapa, Inspector General of Police Pradeep Shumsher JB Rana and senior police officers offered floral tributes to memorials installed at police headquarters in memory of late police personnel.

Family members of the late police personnel also paid tributes to the memorials.

A salute was presented and one minute's silence observed in honour of late police personnel.
Addressing the gathering, Minister for Home Thapa said His Majesty's Government would left no stone unturned to lift the country from the present crises compounded by murder and violence.

Minister Thapa highly valued the competency and experiences of Nepal Police on ensuring peace and security in the country and pointed out that police personnel should be accountable to the police organisation instead of being accountable to any particular individual.

His Majesty's Government is ready at all time to extend every possible co-operation to the police force so as to boost its morale.

The Minister for Home also presented letters of appreciation to the family members of the police personnel who attained martyrdom.

IGP Rana said the responsibility of police force has increased at present moment as a result of murderous activities throughout the country.

Nepal Police is capable of Safeguarding National Integrity and lives of the people, he added.
Altogether 760 police personnel have attained martyrdom as of July 22, 2002.

Dashain celebration in Bangkok

RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct. 17: Bada Dashain festival was celebrated in Bangkok on 12 October 2002 by organising Durga Puja, a fun fair and a cultural programme. On the occasion, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Thailand Janak Bahadur Singh shed light on the importance of the Bada Dashain festival to the Nepalese people.The programme was jointly organised by the Royal Nepalese Embassy and AIT Nepali Samaj at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok.About 300 Nepalese people working or studying in Thailand attended the function.On the occasion of Bada Dashain festival the Royal Nepalese Embassy offered festive Nepalese food to Nepalese inmates serving long-term prison sentences in Bangkok. There are about 50 Nepalese prisoners at different prisons in Bangkok.

'Work together to safeguard democracy'

RSS

GAUR, Oct. 17: General Secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has spoken of the need to expose those hurting the aspirations and the fundamental rights of the Nepali people who have faith in democracy.

Speaking at a programme organised by the CPN-UML Rautahat district committee to exchange greetings on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami-2059 here today, General Secretary Nepal expressed the view that it would be bad luck for the country if constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy enshrined in the Constitution were not protected.

Pointing out that all the political parties need to give up party interests and work for the protection of democracy as the country is passing through a critical phase at present, he said the need of the day was to consolidate the foundation of democracy by maintaining law and order in the country and defeating fascist and autocratic mentalities.

He further said that in a democracy only the political parties can participate in day-to-day politics.
The programme was presided over by CPN-UML district secretary Ram Kumar Bhattarai.