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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommended action against 66 individuals, including 37 Nepal Police personnel, in the fiscal year 2023/24.

Four superintendents of police (SPs), four deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), five inspectors, seven sub-inspectors, four assistant sub-inspectors, five head constables and three constables are among the police personnel that the national rights body has sought action for violation of human rights. 

The NHRC has also recommended action against one Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, four Nepali Army personnel, one National Investigation Department personnel and 12 civil servants, including seven chief district officers and four prison chiefs.

The rights body has also found 10 leaders and cadres of the erstwhile CPN (Maoist) guilty of human rights violation and recommended needful action. 

The NHRC published the list following investigation into 117 complaints, including those pending from the previous fiscal year. According to the half-yearly report of the watchdog, it took final decisions on 44 complaints and recommended concerned authorities for action and compensation on 37 cases. It also awarded a total compensation of Rs 1.47m to 21 victims and recommended action against 12 individuals.

The NHRC said that it conducted work sessions with high-ranking officials from relevant government ministries and civil society representatives during the period to discuss the implementation of recommendations. Likewise, separate discussions were held with the secretaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to ensure effective execution of its recommendations.

The Aarti Sah murder case was one of the significant cases of human rights violation that was studied in the review period. Although the incident was initially labeled as suicide, the NHRC study found that the police investigation into the case was not inadequate. Police officers Bishwa Raj Khadka, Bed Prasad Gautam and Dinesh Adhikari were found guilty of reckless negligence while investigating the case.    

Since Aarti’s family members were also assaulted in police custody, the NHRC ordered the government to pay a compensation of Rs 150,000 to Aarti’s sister Manisha, Rs 100,000 to Aarti’s mother and Rs 50,000 each to Aarti’s brother and maternal uncle.

In another case related to reproductive health rights, the NHRC ordered the concerned authority to dismiss the official who denied maternal leave to differently-abled employee Sumitra Kautwal of the National Federation of the Disabled. The rights body also asked the federation to provide 90-day maternal leave to Katuwal and also pay her a compensation of Rs 100,000 for violating her right to reproductive health.

It also decided to write to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, chief ministers of all seven provinces and chief district officers of all 77 districts to monitor the implementation of laws related to reproductive health in government and non-governmental offices.

Likewise, the NHRC has recommended the government to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to Dr Ranjit Kumar Yadav who was arrested by Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on a false charge of possessing fake license of the Nepal Medical Council. It also drew the attention of the Nepal Police and the Council to prevent similar incidents in the future.

It also recommended to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, and the Nepal Rastra Bank to implement policies for sanitation of banknotes and currency before they are circulated in the market.

The NHRC also asked the Nepal Police to compensate 10 sexual minority individuals who were subjected to inhumane treatment by police personnel. It also asked the Nepal Police to communicate with all its units to respect the honor and dignity of sexual minorities. 

The Westerly wind has its influence in Nepal at present. The weather is partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region of the country, including in Sudurpaschim and Karnali Provinces, and fair in the rest of the regions.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division stated that moderate snowfall along with intermittent to light rainfall is taking place at many places in the Sudurpaschim Province, at a few places of Karnali Province and at one or two places of Lumbini Province at present. Fog has occurred at a few places in the central and eastern Tarai region of the country.

Meteorologist Rojan Lamichhane said it would be generally cloudy in the hilly region of the country including in Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces while it will remain partly to mainly fair in the rest of the regions.

Sporadic to light rainfall is taking place at present at a few places of Gandaki, Lumbini, and Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces and at one or two places of the hilly region. According to Lamichhane, light to moderate snowfall is taking place at present at some places of the high-hilly and mountainous region of Sudurpaschim, Karnali and Gandaki Provinces, and at a few places of the high-hilly and mountainous region.

The present atmospheric temperature in Kathmandu is 12 degrees Celsius and visibility 2,500 meters, according to the Division.  The minimum temperature in Kathmandu this morning was 5.3 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature will be between 15 to 17 degrees Celsius.

The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region of Sudurpaschim and Karnali Province and will remain fair in the rest of the regions tonight. There are chances of traces of light rainfall at one or two places of the hilly region, and light snowfall at a few places of the high-hilly and mountainous region of the country tonight.

It has been snowing in Jumla since this morning. Snowfall took place late this year compared to previous years. About half a foot of snow has accumulated across the district, including the headquarters Khalanga.

It is the first snowfall of this year's winter season.

Parvati Budha, a local resident of Tila Rural Municipality-1 in the district, shared that the farmers who planted winter crops were happy after the snowfall.

The farmers were worried that there would be a drought as there was no snow this winter so far.

According to the Agricultural Development Office, the farmers who planted barley and wheat crops were greatly relieved by the snowfall. Gopal Rokaya, an agricultural entrepreneur, says that the snowfall will help the planting of apple and walnut trees.

Meanwhile, due to the snowfall in Jumla and Upper Karnali, air services have been disrupted.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the alarming situation of brain drain from the country should be stopped.

Addressing the 7th Assembly of Rajarshi Janak University here today, the Prime Minister said that the exodus of intellectuals can be prevented through full utilization of the University's dedication, capacity and creative initiative for the intellectual nourishment of the students.

Stating that every graduate of Rajarshi Janak University carries the present picture and the future of education in the country, the Prime Minister emphasized that the education system should be reformed accordingly. The production of human resources capable of leading the nation is today's major priority, which requires qualitative improvement in teaching and learning activities.

There is a need to qualitatively improve the policy, curriculum, pedagogy and working style of the universities considering the impact of globalization in the education sector. "Competitive education based on innovation should be emphasized," he said.

The Prime Minister also lauded the University for conducting undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs in the fields of medical education, management and computer technology in a short period of its establishment.

He also assured that the difficulties faced by the University due to the lack of land and building infrastructure will be addressed gradually with the improvement of the economy.

On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal said under the federal structure, the government's policy is to develop the entire Madhesh province as a center of knowledge. "The opening of a university in the name of Rajarshi Janak for the purpose of lighting the lamp of knowledge is a profound faith towards ancient civilization, culture and cultural heritage".

Emphasizing on the need for policy and academic guidance considering the rationale and need of the University, the Prime Minister said the present government has taken various initiatives to build the dignity and academic prestige of the universities.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 500 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 119, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 700 per tola on Sunday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 118, 650 per tola. It was traded at Rs 118, 150 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,410 per tola today.

The Traffic Police has taken action against 39,272 people for driving under the influence of alcohol in the last six months in the country. During the period, 242 people were also found driving under the influence of drugs and penalized.

Of them, those found driving under the influence of alcohol include 18,627 from Kathmandu Valley, 2,524 from Koshi Province, 2,021 in Madhesh, 1,098 in Bagmati, 8,923 in Gandaki, 2,773 in Lumbini, 1,264 in Karnali and 2,042 in Sudur Paschim Province.

During the period, 81 people in Kathmandu Valley, 28 in Koshi, 88 in Gandaki, 20 in Lumbini and 25 in Sudurpaschim Province were penalized for driving under the influence of drugs.

Nepal Police Central Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General of Police Bhim Prasad Dhakal shared that Rs 40 million was collected in revenue from the fine imposed on the traffic violators. He said that priority has been given to check drivers for alcohol and drug consumption so as to ensure safety of passengers, vehicles and the road.

Statistics show that the tendency to drive under the influence of alcohol especially during long-distance journeys leads to sudden and serious accidents. Low presence of traffic police and areas with limited access to CCTV are found with more traffic violators.

"Every driver must drive the vehicle in the right condition in order to save his/her life and the lives of passengers from accidents. said DIG Dhakal.

Two Bhutanese nationals died in a jeep accident in Helambu Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchowk, Nepal.

According to the District Police Office, Sindhupalchowk, two Bhutanese nationals— 33-year-old Abgey and 71-year-old Wangmu—died when a jeep (Ba 2 Cha 4450) they were traveling in met with an accident at Doring Cliff in Helambu Rural Municipality-1 of Sindhupalchowk district.

Police said five persons including a Nepali national were injured in the incident.

The injured have been identified as jeep driver (Nepali national) Ram Chandra Bhandari (41) of Helambu Rural Municipality-2 and Haiz (74), Phupa Chhiring (42) Guchi (65) and Fang (56) of Bhutan.

They have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment, Helambu Rural Municipality Chairman Nima Gyaljen Sherpa said.

He said that the Bhutanese nationals came to Nepal to visit Helambu.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by -21. 67 points to close at 2,097.93 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by -3. 08 points to close at 378. 63 points.

A total of 14,777,120-unit shares of 313 companies were traded for Rs 5. 29 billion.

Meanwhile, Samling Power Company Limited (SPC) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 87 percent. Likewise, Menchhiyam Hydropower Limited (MCHL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 5. 87 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 29 trillion.