FAR-WEST CLOSED DOWN FOR 7TH STRAIGHT DAY Kathmandu, 3 May: Opponents of a Maoist plan to divide nine districts of the far-West into several provinces closed down the poorest party of the county continuously for the 7th day Thursday inconveniencing people. Maoists and adbashis came out publicly Thursday favouring the (UCPN Maoist) proposal. Tharus in the region—they live mail in Dang. Banke and Bardiya-- are also demanding a bifurcation Janakpur, where persons were killed and more than 30 injured Monday during demands for a Mithila state—was closed down Thursday. Supporters of Bithila rahya disrupted movement if vehicles at Dhalkehar on the Mahendra Highway, Nnnn NALIN MANDIRATTA GM OF SOALTEE CROWNE PLAZA Kathmandu, 3 May: Nalin Mandiratta has been appointed general manager of Soaltee Crowne Plaza. He will focus developing a robust training plan for development of hotel staff ad continue product development. Mandiratta is associated with InterContinental Hotels Group and has more than 20 years experience in hospitality industry. He was previously general manager of Crowne Plaza Rohini, New Delhi. nnnn MEDIA GOOGLE “I have already given telephone numbers used to threaten me to the prime minister, speaker and security chiefs. But I continue to receive threats.” (Chitra Bahadur KC, Chief of Rashtriya Janamorcha opposed to a federal structure, Republica, 3 May) nnnn NP UPGARDING TECHNOLOGY Kathmandu, 3 May: Aiming at better crime control and overall security management, Nepal Police (NP) has begun work to upgrade its technological prowess, The Kathmandu Post reports. For maintaining a solid and uninterrupted communication chain within personnel on the field, the police force is all set to introduce Digital Radio Trunking System in walkie-talkie use. As per the new system, walkie-talkie radio users have been divided into various “talk/sub groups”. Police officials divided in groups will be able to communicate with more than one user at the same time by sharing a common channel and radio frequency. According to Nepal Police Spokesman DIG Binod Singh, since the new system enables frequency-sharing, it will also help increase the frequency spectrum efficiency. The system functions as normal mobile telephone equipment and enables the exchange of both voice and data. After the introduction of new walkie-talkie sets, there will be no need for dumping conventional sets that are in use now. By upgrading their technology, current sets can also be digitised, DIG Singh said. The process of procuring new handsets is in its last phase, he said, adding that an agreement has been reached among the police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Finance and the Chinese Embassy. According to him, the first consignment of 1,800 digital walkie-talkie sets from China is expected shortly. The police institution has also installed Corporate User Group facility in mobile telephone communication for works within the department. CSU is a mobile telephony technology that reduces tariffs in normal communication within the assigned group. Nepal Police has also emphasised on surveillance technology with the installation of CCTV cameras at various places. According to DIG Singh, CCTV surveillance reduces 50 percent manpower required to maintain security at a given place. Some 331 CCTV cameras were installed in the last Nepali year. Forty-four, 70, 19, 1 and 197 cameras were installed in the eastern, central, western and mid-western regions, and the Kathmandu valley, respectively. nnnn