MAOIST CHIEF, PM HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH PLA COMMANDERS

MAOIST CHIEF, PM HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH PLA COMMANDERS
Kathmandu, 14 April : Chairman of the Unified CPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai held talks with the PLA commanders.

During the meeting held at the Prime Minister´s Official Residence in Baluwatar, on Saturday, the leaders held discussions with the commanders about the process of integration, rank harmonization, and the conditions of the PLA cantonments after the entry of the Nepal Army.

According to the Chairman Dahal´s Press Coordinator Santosh Paudel the Maoist commanders demanded to begin the integration process immediately and settle the disputed issues appeared during the peace and constitution writing process.

"All the process for the army integration should be resolved immediately instead of only saying the environment of confidence has been forged," quoted Dahal´s Press Coordinator Paudel as saying by the commanders with party the leaders.

On the occasion, Chairman Dahal assured the commanders that the political parties will finalize the issues including the setting of General Directorate and fixing training period, bridge course and others soon. Then, the constitution writing process would be forwarded.

Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai informed the PLA commanders about the integration process.

PLA Chief Nanda Kishor Pun, Spokesperson and Deputy Commander Chandra Prakash Khanal, and other commanders available in the capital participated in the meeting.
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CULTURE OF PLAYING WITH MUD DISAPPEARING

Kathmandu, 14 April: The customary practice of playing with mud as part of the Jud-Shital festival is going out of practice here these days, RSS reports from Gaushala.

People of the Madhesi community in Mahottari observing this traditional festival used to frolic in the mud, applying the mud on each other, as part of this festival that commemorates brotherhood and love.

It is customary for the younger brother-in-law and the elder sister-in-law to play with the mud and enjoy by throwing the mud at each other and to tease, make jokes and pranks at each other as a part of this festival.

But the people of the younger generation seem to be losing interest in this tradition these days.

This festival is celebrated on the second day of the Nepali New Year, thus heralding the beginning of a fresh year ahead.
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CRIME RATE DOWN IN CAPITAL
Kathmandu, 14 April: Number of criminal cases reported in Kathmandu in 2068 BS (2011 mid-
April to 2012 mid-April) has registered a decline compared to the previous year, if official statistics are to be believed, The Himalayan Times reports.

Cases of heinous crimes such as murder, kidnapping and trafficking in women saw a large drop with 27, 7 and 10, respectively, in 2068 against 53, 16 and 48 cases the previous year.

According to official figures, 64 persons were charged with murder, kidnapping and hostage taking and trafficking in women against 165 the previous year. The number of property-related crime — robbery and theft — also dropped to 156 from 214.

Crimes under the Explosives Act were almost identical in number with 13 in 2068 against 12 in the preceding year. However, the year 2068 outdid the previous year in terms of attempted murder cases with 49 and 25 cases reported respectively in each year.

Likewise, reported incidents of attempted kidnapping, possession of illegal arms and drug crimes were down to 10, 24, 91, respectively in 2068 from 21, 39, 170 in the previous year.

According to the statistics, as many as 436 charge-sheets were submitted to the Government Attorney’s Office and District Administration Office in 2068.

A total of 594 persons were indicted on various charges in 2068 against 901 in 2067.

All reported crimes were found to have been committed by those in the 16 to 50 age group in both the years. SSP Rajendra Shrestha, Kathmandu police chief, attributed the decline in crime to pro-active policing and tighter vigilance.

“Revised and updated security measures based on threats analysis are key assets of law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime,” SSP Shrestha informed.
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