CLOSED DOOR SESSION REBEL MAOISTS START Kathmandu, 17 June: Closed door session of rebel UCPN (Maoist) discussing a split in the biggest party leading the government with Madeshbadi parties began Sunday morning. The three-day national meet started Saturday at Baudha in the capital. nnnn FIRST CASES FOR ACTIONS BASED ON DISCRIMINAION FILED IN SIRAHA Kathmandu, 17 June:: Two persons have been arrested and a case has been filed against them under Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act-2068 in Siraha for thrashing their neighbour, The Himalayan Times reports from Rajbiraj... Siraha is home to the largest number of Dalit settlements in the country, and this is for the first time that a case under Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act-2068 has been filed in the district. Basant Thakur alias Hasant of Chhinamasta VDC-6 and his son Sonu along with three others had beaten up their neighbour Shyamadevi Rajak (36) on May 30 for collecting water from a public tube well. Police arrested Basant and Sonu based on a First Incident Report filed by the victim and a case has been filed against the duo under Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act -2068, said SP Ganesh Bahadur Thapa said. Despite law barring people from discriminating against any person based on his/ her caste, incidents of exploitation and discrimination are rampant in society, but cases are hardly filed against the perpetrators. As per the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act-2068 , a person is liable to a fine of Rs 25,000 or three-year jail term or both if s/he is found guilty of discriminating against people on the basis of caste, religion or language. INSEC Saptari representative Prakash Khatiwada said bringing perpetrators to book will set a good precedent which will help discourage untouchability and caste-based discrimination in the country. nnnn