An inmate has committed suicide at the Morang District Prison, Biratnagar Thursday morning.

Bhakta Maya Rai, 54, a resident of Dhankuta-6, had been jailed for killing her own husband on May 19.

She was found hanging from the ventilation window of women cell’s toilet at 5 am by other prison inmates. She had used the shawl she was wearing to hang herself, Morang District Police said.

The reason behind Rai’s suicide has not been known as she has not left behind any suicide note.

Police said they are investigating how Rai managed to take her own life inside the jail.

Meanwhile, Rai’s body has been sent to Koshi Zonal Hospital for post mortem. nepalnews.com

The government on Thursday tabled a bill for amendment in the Interim Constitution to extend the term of Constituent Assembly (CA) by one more year at the parliament secretariat.

Law minister Prabhu Shah registered the bill at the parliament secretariat soon after the cabinet meeting endorsed it. Health minister Shakti Basnet and education minister Ganga Lal Tuladhar accompanied him to the secretariat.

If the House endorses the proposal, it would be the second extension of CA’s term in two years.

Earlier today, an “all-party” meeting decided to extend the tenure of the CA, which is due to expire on May 28.

Leaders of different political parties including the ruling allies meet at Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s office in Singha Durbar on Thursday, 12 May 2011. The Nepali Congress and Madhesi parties boycotted the meeting that passed the Prime Minister’s proposal to extend the Constituent Assembly’s term by one year. nepalnews.com/ANA

Leaders of different political parties including the ruling allies meet at Prime Minister…
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s office in Singha Durbar after a meeting of the three main ruling parties decided to extend the CA’s term by one year. Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal called the meeting soon after returning to the country after cutting short his Turkey visit.

Nepali Congress, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, MJF-Loktantrik and Sadbhawana Party boycotted the meeting.

At the meeting, representatives of most of the smaller parties suggested the government and the main ruling parties to bring the proposal for the extension of the assembly’s deadline only after working out a clear roadmap of the peace process and the constitution-drafting.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the meeting agreed to come up with a clear road map to complete the peace process prior to May 28 so as to form the basis for the extension of the Constituent Assembly’s term once again.

He said that he also put forth his party’s views regarding the modality for integration of Maoist combatants tabled by Nepal Army.

Emerging from the meeting, UML secretary Yuvaraj Gyawali said that if the CA’s tenure is not extended again then the country may have to face a “major catastrophe”.

In order to avoid such a situation the political parties have agreed to extend CA’s term and take the peace process to a logical end, he said.

However, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati Sumshere Rana, who was also present at the meeting, expressed his objection on the decision taken by the meeting to extend CA’s term.

He was of the opinion that parties should not go for the second extension of CA’s term until a clear cut plan for successful conclusion of the peace process is finalised. nepalnews.com

LP Gas Industry Association has urged the government to take strong action against Sugam Gas Company for illegally refitting the gas cylinders with foot and neck ring.

Organising a press meet in the capital on Wednesday, the association also warned that it will be forced to close down all gas industries if the government fails to take immediate action against the defaulting company.

The association made such remarks citing that such illegal activities could affect all the gas industries and give a bad impression about the sector.

These activities also fall under social crime as refitting of gas cylinder increases danger of explosion, it said.

As the Sunsari District Adminstration Office (DAO) found some 1,500 tampered cylinders during the raid at Nepa Petroleum Trade Link located in Khanar, Sunsari, last week, the association has demanded action against the defaulting company as per the law at the earliest. Shiva Ghimire is the proprietor of both Sugam Gas and Nepa Petroleum.

Though the team has raided and confiscated illegally refitted cylinders, the government has not yet taken necessary actions against Sugam, said the association. nepalnews.com

Normal life has been hit hard in parts of far-western region due to a bandh (shutdown strike) called by the Chhettri Samaj Nepal on Thursday.

Both long and short-route transport services have come to a halt, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in several places along the highways.

The marketplaces, factories, educational institutions also remain closed in the region.

Earlier, Chhettri Samaj had called day-long general strike in Lumbini, Gandaki, Dhaulagiri and Rapti zones with seven-point demand that includes– Chhettris to enlist as indigenous nationalities, reservations in government bodies and timely promulgation of the constitution. nepalnews.com

Tourism Crisis Cell including tourism associations have urged all not to organise any strikes at least during the Nepal Tourism Year-2011.

Organising a press meet in the capital on Tuesday, tourism entrepreneurs requested political parties not to organise strikes as it will adversely affect the economic activities in the country.

The tourism entrepreneurs also said that such strikes would generate fear among the international visitors.

Following the strike called by ethnic organisation, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities on Friday, entrepreneurs urged the strike organisers to withdraw their strike for the success of Nepal Tourism Year.

Tourism Crisis Cell including representatives of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), PATA, Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) among others were present in the press meet. nepalnews.com

The state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) suspended supply of petroleum products to two dealers after they were found creating artificial shortage in the market.

The Corporation said its special investigation team including consumers found Kamakshya Oil Store of Jadibuti, Kathmandu and Modern Amenity Petrol Pump at Banepa of Kavre district were hoarding petroleum products to create artificial shortage in the market.

Following the wrongdoing, we have decided to suspend the supply of petroleum products to these two pumps from Thursday and initiate actions against their owners, said NOC spokesperson Mukunda Dhungel. nepalnews.com

Normal life in Dang has been paralysed due to a bandh (shutdown strike) called by Tharuhat Autonomous State Council in the district on Thursday.

Stating that a recent agreement signed between the government and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) goes against the sentiments of the Tharus, the Council has called for closure of educational institutions and market areas in the district as well.

The strike has brought vehicular movement to a grinding halt in the district since early morning today and several vehicles plying along the East-West Highway have been stranded at various sections of the road.

The strike has also partially affected life in other districts including Rupandehi and Salyan, according to reports.

The ruling parties and MJF recently signed a four-point agreement that paved the way for the latter’s entry into the government.

Among others, the two sides have agreed to settle the issue of autonomous Tarai state through the Constituent Assembly. nepalnews.com

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) condemned the torching of copies of the Kantipur daily of the Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd. by cadres of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).

A statement issued by the Federation said the act of burning newspapers and threatening media persons is against the press freedom, and freedom of speech and expression.

“The act of the MJF cadres is against press freedom and right to expression and that the FNJ condemns the same,” said the statement issued Wednesday.

The Federation further urged the government and the party concerned to end all sorts of attacks against the press and freedom of speech and take action against those involved in such acts at the earliest. nepalnews.com

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal returned home Thursday morning, cutting short his 10-day Turkey trip to attend the conference of Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal being welcomed by Acting Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari at Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival in Kathmandu after taking part in the 4th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries held at Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, May 12 2011. nepalnews.com/rh

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal being welcomed by Acting Prime Minister…
PM Nepal decided to shorten his stay in Istanbul in view of the nearing deadline of the Constituent Assembly, and calls for his initiative for political consensus on the peace process and constitution-drafting.

Organising a press conference at the VVIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport on his arrival, Khanal said he would immediate start talks with parties to forge consensus.

Saying that the current government was formed with the mission of peace and constitution, Khanal said his government would last until the mission is accomplished.

Alluding to the calls from a section of his own party, CPN-UML, and the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, for his resignation, Khanal said he would not step down just because some people want him to.

PM Khanal had left for Istanbul on May 6, leading a 30-member delegation. While in Istanbul, he chaired and addressed the LDC conference that concludes on Friday. nepalnews.com

Speaker of the Legislature Parliament Subash Nemwang has warned agitating lawmakers that serious actions would be taken against them if they attempt to disturb the next sitting of the House called for Sunday.

Legislature Parliament Speaker Subash Nemwang
The speaker issued such a warning on Wednesday after the House session again saw obstruction from five lawmakers.

According to him, discussion on the nature of actions against the five lawmakers has been underway with chief whips of all parties and their top leaders.

Earlier, the chief whips of various political parties had asked Nemwang to take necessary steps in order to compel the agitating lawmakers to end their ongoing disruption and allow the House proceed into normal business.

Meanwhile, the Parliament managed to resume its session amid hullabaloo on Wednesday and unanimously decided to forward the bill on Dalit rights to the statutory committee of the parliament for further discussion.

Minister for Local Development Urmila Aryal tabled the proposal regarding the formation of Dalit Commission for protecting the rights of Dalits.

The agitating lawmakers chanted slogans to bring the House sitting into a halt, but were unable to do so.

Lawmakers Biswendra Paswan, Rukmini Chaudhary, Sardul Miya Haq, Buddharatna Manandhar and Raj Kumar Nalbo tried to disrupt the House session chanting slogans demanding that rights of the minorities should be guaranteed in the new constitution.

Lawmaker Nalbo of the Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Party joined other four lawmakers to disrupt the House session for the first time. nepalnews.com