Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu Valley on Thursday have given priority to a host of issues from political, sociocultural and financial spheres. Controversies regarding the death of two abduction suspects killed in an ‘encounter’ in Bhaktapur on Monday continues to be one of the most discussed issues in the press today as well after families of the killed filed a complaint at the National Human Rights Commission demanding a fair investigation into the case. Meanwhile, the government’s preparations to amend existing citizenship law and implement new criminal and civil codes have also been key focuses of the newspapers today.
The arrest of former minister Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma has also been featured on the front pages of many newspapers today.
Important
NHRC launches probe into ‘fake encounter’
Almost all newspapers have reported that families of Gopal Tamang and Ajaya Tamang went to the constitutional human rights watchdog, National Human Rights Commission, demanding the probe into the deaths of Tamang duo in an incident which police have called an encounter.
The Kathmandu Post highlights that the constitutional body launched a probe into the case by summoning Acting Chief of Metrpolitan Police Commissioner’s Office, DIG Manoj Neupane, to inquire about the incident.
The report quotes Commissioner member Sudip Pathak to say, “We are treating this as a suspicious incident and investigation will be done accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the Commission has formed a five-member committee to look into the case, according to Republica. No deadline has been fixed for the panel considering the need to conduct in-depth investigation into the case, according to the report.
Govt amending citizenship law
The government on Wednesday registered an amendment proposal to the Citizenship Act in a bid to address concerns raised by Madhesh-centric political parties and non-resident Nepali leaders, according to stories in Kantipur, Rajdhani and The Himalaya Times.
If the government’s proposal gets endorsed by the legislative body, the children of people with citizenship by birth, who acquired the citizenship before the promulgation of constitution, will not get the citizenship by descent, according to Kantipur.
The report adds that around 2.1 million persons had acquired the citizenship by birth before the promulgation of Interim Constitution 2007.
Meanwhile, the amendment will let non-resident Nepalis get citizenship though they do not have political rights, explains Rajdhani in its lead story. A new category of citizenship will be added to implement this provision.
Four rape cases recorded every day last year
Lead stories in Naya Patrika and Republica highlight increasing instances of rape in the country.
According to Republica lead story, police units across the country have recorded 1,480 rape cases last fiscal year. It means there had been four cases every day on average.
Naya Patrika says a case regarding the rape of a woman in Baitadi district of western Nepal is pending at the Supreme Court for last four years. The case has been scheduled for hearing for 21 times on the court’s cause list. But, the victim’s family still awaits the final verdict.
Ignored
Authorities not interested to probe Sikta Irrigation anomalies
The lead story in Nagarik reports that all concerned authorities have shown their reluctance to investigate into reports of irregularities in construction works under the Sikta Irrigation Project. Irregularities were suspected around three weeks ago after a canal collapsed during an experiment; but National Vigilance Centre, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Ministry of Irrigation among others are silent about the issue.
NAC violated rule during President’s state visit
The national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation has violated its own standard operating procedure while conducting a special flight for President Bidya Devi Bhandari while she flew to Bangkok from Kathmandu for her state visit to Sri Lanka last year, according to Annapurna Post anchor story.
The procedure has it that an instructor pilot should lead the crew of flights involving VVIPs, but the Corporation assigned a pilot to lead the team, according to the report.
Police to reopen 33.5 kg gold smuggling probe
After a committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs failed to identify major people involved in smuggling of gold via the Tribhuvan International Airport, the Metropolitan Police Crime Division says it will launch another round of investigation into the infamous 33.5 kg gold smuggling and disappearance case, according to Rajdhani.
SSP Dhiraj Pratap Singh, Chief of the Division, says police want to make the investigation result-oriented. He claims the probe is being launched upon the directive of the Ministry itself.
Neel Kantha Uprety out of ambassador’s race as govt fails to authenticate its own decision
The Kathmandu Post reports in a four-column story that the Council of Ministers failed to authenticate its own decision of recommending former Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety for the position of Nepali Ambassador to India, thereby automatically nullifying the decision.
Likewise, the recommendation of Udaya Raj Pandey for the Nepali Ambassador to Malaysia has also been nullified.
It has been learn that the Cabinet will recommend new names soon.
Interesting
Scribbling banknotes may drag you behind bars
The anchor story in Kantipur reports that the new civil code that comes into effect from August 17 has a provision of handing down a jail term of three months and a penalty of Rs 5,000 to persons who scribble banknotes.
Meanwhile, the central bank of the country has already informed banks and financial institutions to control scribbling on banknotes.
