APRIL TOURIST ARRIVALS UP 14.3 PERCENT Kathmandu, 3 May: Altogether 59, 415 tourists arrived in April—a jump of 14.3 percent compared to the same period the previous year, TIA Immigration Department said. Overall South Asian arrivals increased 35.4 percent but arrivals from India alone increased 44. 5 percent. Chinese arrivals also increased 42.9 percent. Altogether 207, 961 tourists flew into the country in the first four months of 2012—an increase of 23.1 percent compared to 2011. Nnnn STRIKE CRIPPLES LIFE IN THE EAST AS WELL Kathmandu, 3 May: The Kochila State Struggle Committee has enforced a banda or general strike here Thursday calling for constituting the Kochila State by incorporating the Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts. Life in the eastern region of the country has been affected due to the general strikes enforced by various ethnic organizations demanding guaranteeing their ethnic identity and creation of federal states under their names while federalizing the country in the new constitution. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded as public transport vehicles are not operating since the last three days due to the shutdown. Educational institutions and factories and businesses also remain closed. The daily wage earners have been hit the hardest by the Banda, RSS reports from Bhadrapur. ________________________________________ United Kshetri Brahman Society, Nuwakot, also closed the district bordering the capital Thursday. The Society is demanding the two communities, the two largest, should not be discriminated against. nnnn LAWMAKER SHYAM SUNDAR GUPTA REQUEST REGISTERED ON SUPREME COURT BENCH INTERVENTION Kathmandu, 3 May: Request of lawmaker Shyam Sundar Gupta he be allowed to participate in constituent assembly/parliament proceedings was registered by the supreme court on order of a bench. The court administration previous didn’t entertain the request of Gupta who has been jailed for kidnap for ransom. nnnn