MAOIST LEADER SHRESTHA DEAD Kathamandu, 28 Jan.: Central General Convention Organising Committee Member of the UCPN- Maoist and peasants' leader Dil Bahadur Shrestha passed away this morning at Norvic International Hospital. RSS reports. He was 78. kong suffering from cancer of the lungs, leader Shrestha had joined politics since 1954. Born in Thaiba of Lalitpur district, Shrestha, who led the peasants' movement of the Kathmandu valley, had struggled unabatedly for the liberation of the farmers. His body will be kept at the UCPN- Maoist party office at Parisdanda from 2:00- 4:00 pm today for paying final tributes. Then his body will be kept for tribute at Fulchowki Higher Secondary School, the party said. His funeral will be performed this evening. Meanwhile, UCPN-Maoist Spokesman Agni Sapkota in a press communique said Nepal's communist movement has suffered an irreparable loss from his demise. Nnnn FIGHT BREAKS OUT AT MAOIST MEET Kathmandu, 28 Jan.: Scuffles were reported in the secret district meeting of the UCPN- Maoist in Sunsari district, RSS reports from Itahari. In the meeting organised in Itahari of Sunsari for selection of representatives to be participated in the UCPN-Maoist General Convention, police had to be called as situation of scuffle arose during selection of representatives in the second day even if held secretly for two days. Police was called as there was a situation of attack by cadres dissatisfied with Kochila State Committee Convenor and former minister Gopal Kiranti who was chief guest of the meeting concealed from media person. Chairs were thrown and vandalised in the meeting held at Rijal's Vision Hall after militant youth leaders were not selected and the venue got tense. As there was no situation of equal selection of representatives loyal to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, PM Baburam Bhattarai and DPM Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the cadres were angered with Kiranti. A total of 22 representatives were to be selected from Sunsari district on the basis of party membership. nnnn