PILOT, ENGINEER OF RESCUE CHOPER KILLED

Kathmandu, 8 Nov.: Pilot and flight engineer of a Fishtail rescue helicopter were killed Sunday morning when it crashed near the base camp of Amadablam near the 8848 meters high Mount Everest.
Two crew members including Captain Sabin Basnet and flight engineer Purna Awale died amid bhat tika celebrations.
The chopper overturned amid winds.
The helicopter was attempting to rescue two stranded climbers.
A team is trying to find the missing pilot and engineer Monday.
All 30 passengers onboard a Yeti Airlines aircraft escaped unhurt when front wheels punctured on landing at Pokhara airport Sunday.
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MORE NEWARS OBSERVE GHAI TIKA

Kathmandu, 8 Nov. More members of the Newar community celebrated bhai tika Monday as well amid differences on reading the lunar calendar.
Government, on demand of the community, extended the tihar holiday by announcing a public holiday Monday as well. Newar.
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PEACE IMPOSSIBLE WITH PARTY WEAPONS: PM NEPAL
RSS
Kathmandu, 8 Nov.: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said Sunday durable peace and political stability were impossible until a political party keeps fighters and weapons in parallel with the government, RSS reports.

Addressing a programme organized by Nepal Bhasha Manka Khala on the occasion of the New Year (Nepal Sambat 1131) at Basantapur Dabali Sunday, Prime Minister Nepal expressed his belief that the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants, return of the seized properties, and implementation of the past agreements could end the present political deadlock.
He further said the serious discussions on the key issues by the top leaders have shown a hope.
"Many agreements were reached in the past, these should be implemented now," he stressed.

The present duties are to lead the peace process to the logical end and write constitution on time, he said, informing that the Constituent Assembly was expediting the constitution writing process.

Moreover, Prime Minister Nepal said the Nepal Sambat initiated by the national luminary Sankhadhar Sakhwa is our original calendar. He also informed that he directed the chief secretary and the minister for culture today to form a commission in order to study various calendars as Shak Sambat, Kirat Sambat, Nepal Sambat, AD, and Bikram Sambat.

The achievements of People´s Movement-2062/063 as democratic republic, federalism and secularism could not be seized as these are for the welfare of the people and the nation, he added.
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NINE INJURED AS MAOISTS, LOCALS CLASH


Kathmandu, 8 Nov.: Nine people have been injured in a clash between the locals and the combatants of the Maoist People´s Liberation Army (PLA) at Kumari VDC-3 in Nuwakot district, RSS reports from Dhading.

Combatants from the PLA cantonments at Shaktikhor and Jutpani attacked locals who were playing dice at the shop of one Kajiman Tamang at Nayabasti, Kumari VDC-3 on Saturday evening. Six locals were injured in the assault.
According to the Area Police Office, Khanikhola, 66-year-old Suryaman Tamang, his son 45-year-old Lalitjan Tamang, 38-year-old Kajiman Tamang, 58-year-old Ammar Bahadur Tamang, 32-year-old Manoj Gurung and 35-year-oldKaji Gurung have been seriously injured.

They were rescued by locals and have been taken to the Bir Hospital in Kathmandu for treatment. Police said they have been fatally injured.

The PLA combatants again attacked the locals on Sunday morning when they were discussing the Saturday evening´s sudden attack by the armed Maoist combatants.

Forty-year-old Raj Kumar Tamang of Kumari VDC-3, Nuwakot district and 19-year-old Samir Gurung and 29-year-old Raju Gurung of Kebalpur VDC- 5, Dhading district, were injured in the Sunday morning´s attack. They have been taken to Kathmandu for treatment, according to locals.

Locals and the victims say that the Maoist combatants attacked them with muzzle-loader, Khukuris and socket bombs.

A police team from the Khanikhola police office reached the Kumari VDC on Sunday morning and took the situation under control as the Nuwakot police could not reach there due to the remoteness of the place from the Nuwakot district headquarters.

Police have arrested 32-year-old Lila Bahadur Tamang and 23-year-old Chandra Tamang from the incident site. Lila Bahadur is the platoon commander of the fifth battalion of the PLA Third Division Dineshramji Memorial Brigade while Chandra is the vice commander of the Third Battalion A company under the PLA Third Division. Both are residents of Kumari VDC-3.

Police also apprehended 20-year-old Raju Tamang, 16-year-old Hira Tamang and 21-year-old Lila Tamang with weapons from the spot.

The security personnel also confiscated two socket bombs, one muzzle-loader, Khukuris, daggers, combat fatigues, the PLA identity card belonging to Chandra Tamang, documents on strategic plans and training certificates hidden near the Kolpukhola stream on the border between Dhading and Nuwakot districts.
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IGP IN DOHA

Kathmandu, 8 Nov.: IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri is in Doha to attend the 79th general assembly of Interpol Chiefs beginning Monday.
The conference concludes Thursday.
He left the capital for the meet Sunday.
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