UPDATE UML, NC DEFECTORS LANCH NEW PARTY Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Defectors who espouse a federal republic with identity Thursday launched Federal Socialist Party Nepal. The party has 98 ad hoc committee members Ashok Rai as chairman. The party has eight vice-chairmen, a general secretary and three deputy general secretaries. The vice-chairmen are: Bijay Subba, Durgamani Dewan, Prem Krishna Pathak, Bir Bahadur Lama, Rakam Chemjong, Hemraj Rai, Mohammad Rizwan Ansari and Gopal Thakur. Ajambar Rai, Radha Timalsina and Norsang Sherpa are deputy general secretaries in the committee. Meena Gurung, Horilal Chaudhary, Karna Bahadur Budhamagar, Ram Singh Yadav and CB Nepali are secretaries. Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar is central advisory committee and Ranadhoj Kandangwa chief of central disciplinary committee. Raj Kumar Rai is heads of the central electoral committee and Sushila Shrestha chief of the central auditing committee in the new party. nnnn . MANANG LINKED BY ROAD WITH REST OF COUNTRY Kathmandu, 22 Nov : Manang district, which is known as the district beyond the Himalayas, is linked with national road network formally from Thursday, RSS reports from Manang.. Chief of Army Staff, Gaurav Shamsher JB Rana inaugurated the 62-kilometer-long Besisahar-Chame Highway at the Manang district headquarters, Chame, today. With Chame linked with road network, now 73 districts except for Dolpa and Humla of the country have been linked with the road network. The highway was constructed by the Nepal Army at a cost of Rs. 766.6 million. Three army personnel and seven general public had lost their lives in connection with the construction of the road. The road with 5.5 meter width has reached Chame by crossing the Mahabharat hill and Himalayan range. The NA had got the responsibility of constructing the road in 2058 BS. Temporary permission was given to test operate public vehicles since October 17. A bailey bridge has been installed and three other bridges are yet to be constructed along the road. Chief of the Karyagan Battalion, which was deputed on road construction, Indiwar Gurung, said that they are happy on the completion of the first phase responsibility given by the government despite facing various difficulties. Transport fare from Besisahar to Chame has been fixed Rs. 1,000 per person. Mahindra and Sumo jeeps are in operation along the road section as public vehicles. Nnnn THREE ARMED INDIANS ARRESTED IN KAILALI Kathmandu, 22 Nov.: Three Indian nationals were arrested with arms in Bhajani of Kailali district on Thursday, RSS reports from Kailali. A team from Area Police Office, Bhajani, seized a home-made pistol, a gun, one round bullet for it and a bullet-case from them early this morning. The arrested are Buda Munsuri, 30, of Lakhimpur Khiri, Suraj Loniya, 22, and Rajkumar Thakur of Singhi, India, said Police Inspector Padam Bahadur Bista. Police arrested them while they were running away after shooting at Janak Bahadur Chaudhary, 40, of Khurhuriya from Khailad Ward No. 4, Kailali district. Chaudhary received a bullet injury below his ear and is undergoing treatment at Bhajani Primary Health Center. Nnnn