SP Dilli Raj Bista’s surrender to police in the Nirmala Pant Murder Case has received significant attention on all newspapers along with the student unions’ padlocking of offices of IoM dean and TU vice chancellor. News of police opening fire on cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal at Roshi Rural Municipality in Kavre on Tuesday evening has also been featured on Wednesday’s papers.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
CPN cadre arrested
Kantipur, Nepal Samacharpatra, Nagarik, Naya Patrika and The Himalayan Times report that police opened fire on cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal at Roshi Rural Municipality in Kavre on Tuesday evening.
According to a source at the district police office, a police team deployed from Kathmandu had to retaliate in self-defence after the CPN cadres, who were on the run, reportedly started firing. At least two cadres have been arrested.
CIAA interrogating Pathak
Republica reports that the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has started interrogating its own former commissioner, Raj Narayan Pathak, on Tuesday, over allegations of his involvement in a bribery scandal involving Rs 7.8 million.
A police team deployed by the CIAA arrested Pathak from his Shantinagar house early on Tuesday morning. Pathak was subsequently taken to CIAA headquarters, Tangal, for interrogation. Photos widely circulated on social media show a black Bolero jeep taking him to an unknown place. A special team, formed to investigate into the scam, took Pathak to the CIAA and brought him back.
The interrogations are not over. Pathak had reportedly responded in writing to queries. He is still under police surveillance. His interrogation, according to sources at the CIAA, will resume Wednesday.
Dahal to face no trouble despite FBI case
Republica reports that Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal will face ‘no trouble’ in the US even as a complaint has been filed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against him as a ‘terrorist’.
Sources told the paper that filing of a complaint with law enforcement agencies including the FBI does not mean that anything will be done.
Sources said the US authorities have separately issued a ‘no investigation’ circular concerning Dahal — the former rebel leader who led the Maoist armed insurgency in Nepal—to ensure that he does not face any trouble during his stay in the US.
Ignored
Student unions padlock offices of IoM dean and TU vice chancellor
The Himalayan Times reports that activists of All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary), All Nepal National Independent Students Union and Free Students Union of Institute of Medicine padlocked offices of Tribhuvan University vice-chancellor, registrar and rector and dean of Institute of Medicine, demanding action against medical colleges for seeking additional fees and barring MBBS students from taking exams.
The unions are accusing the IoM of remaining mute while Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Centre of Pokhara and Kist Medical College of Lalitpur were fleecing students and playing with their future.
Twenty-two students of Kist Medical College were unable to take exams of the MBBS first year as they did not pay additional fee demanded by the college. One of the students of Kist Medical College said on condition of anonymity that the college had demanded additional Rs 90,000 under various headings.
Government-announced incentives not reaching mothers
The Kathmandu Post reports that thousands of women and their newborns are at risk as government-run health centres and hospitals across the country have stopped providing cash incentives for months due to lack of funds and coordination among government officials and ministries.
According to officials at the Family Welfare Division of Department of Health Services, the Safe Motherhood Programme is reeling under a financial crunch and an additional budget of Rs 700 million is needed immediately.
As per the programme, women in the mountainous, hilly and Tarai regions should get Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively.
Sajha GM Sharma’s resignation accepted
Nagarik reports that a meeting of the management board of Sajha Prakashan held on Tuesday approved the resignation of Dolindra Sharma as general manager. Sharma, who has been accused of irregularities at the government publishing house, has been deputed to Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.
A management board meeting held on March 12 had decided to seek clarifications from Sharma. But he tendered his resignation on March 15 instead of furnishing the clarifications, according to Sajha Prakashan officials. The management board had asked Sharma to furnish clarifications within three days concerning allegations that he had been working against the interests of the 105-year-old Sajha Publication.
Interesting
Secret talks held between former king and Indian ambassador
Rajdhani reports that a secret talk has been held between former king Gyanendra Shah and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri. According to a government source, the two met in Janakpur on Saturday for around 45 minutes. A source said that the two talked about Shah’s forthcoming trip to India. The Cabinet has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for details as ambassadors need permission from the Ministry before meeting high ranking officials.
Nepal Army enters Kalikot looking for Biplav’s cadres
Annapurna Post reports that Nepal Army has started searching for Netra Bikram Chand and his cadres. Nepal Army along with officers from the Armed Police Force is patrolling Kalikot area which many believe is an area where the Chand-led group is most active. Locals in the area fearing another war is incoming.
Major projects given to Nepal Army to avoid CIAA action
Kantipur reports that the government has been awarding major construction projects to Nepal Army. Many believe that this has been happening because the CIAA cannot take action against the army. The government has been holding talks to award the remaining Melamchi project and Chure area conservation to the army. The constitution states that the CIAA cannot investigate financial irregularities in the army.
