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Former Prime Minister and Joint Coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Madhav Kumar Nepal has expressed concern over the recent incident at Sapgada of Gaur Municipality-6, Rautahat.

Issuing an appeal today, the Joint Coordinator Nepal urged both communities to exercise restraint in order to end the dispute between Hindus and Muslims.

Stressing on the importance of embracing religious tolerance and respecting each other's religion, culture, and festivals to live together with cooperation and collaboration, he made it clear that communal violence is unacceptable under any circumstances.

Former PM Nepal urged the government to ensure the protection of life along with the safety arrangements for the local people.

Leader Nepal, who has long represented his home district Rautahat in the federal parliament for long, appealed to both communities to exercise restraint, considering that the current problems can only be resolved through mutual dialogue.

Nepal, the NCP Joint Coordinator who is a candidate for the March 5 House of Representatives elections from Rautahat-1, stated that he is discussing with the Home Minister at the center to normalize the 'curfew' imposed by the administration following the increase in incidents of arson, vandalism and pelting of stones by one community against the other.

A curfew has been imposed to control the situation after a dispute that began as a minor argument between the two communities in Gaur three days ago escalated into communal riots.

The local administration in Baitadi has exercised stricter measures on the sales, distribution and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the district in view of the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives.  

The restrictions are enforced in the district to ensure that the upcoming elections are conducted in a free, fair and fearless environment.

According to Bhoj Lal Tharu, Administrative Officer at the District Administration Office, Baitadi, the sale and distribution of alcohol have been prohibited after 7 pm starting from February 21 until the elections are over.

He stated that the decision to tighten regulations on the sale, distribution and transportation of alcoholic beverages was made after holding discussions with business operators to manage and regulate their sale and consumption.

Administrative Officer Tharu further informed that during the silence period, the sale and distribution of alcoholic products will be completely banned. 

Furthermore, the local administration decided to prohibit transportation of alcohol from February 23 to March 8.

He shared, “After discussions with business operators, we have decided to regulate the sale, distribution, and transportation of alcoholic products."

He warned of action against those violating this provision in accordance with the prevailing law.

Altogether 11 candidates are contesting from Baitadi for the upcoming elections.

As the election campaign for the House of Representatives to be held on March 5 is accelerating, the local administration has removed about 20,000 publicity materials that were installed in violation of the election code of conduct. 

The Dhanusha District Administration Office has removed leaflets, pamphlets, banners and posters that were pastedhaphazardly by various candidates within the Janakpurdham municipal area.

According to the administration, the materials pasted in violation of the code of conduct have been removed from public places, electricity poles, government buildings and roadsides. 

The administration had given candidates and political parties a day's time on Thursday to remove the materials that violate the rules. However, when the materials were not removed within the specified time, the administration took the initiative to remove them.

Dhanusha Chief District Officer Prem Prasad Luitel said that the publicity materials pasted haphazardly at various placesin Janakpurdham violated the election code of conduct, and hence removed as a measure of action. Legal action will be taken if such materials are pasted again. 

The administration has reiterated its call to parties and candidates to follow the election code of conduct whilecampaigning.

The Election Commission continues with the voter education program nationwide with the aim of making the election more participatory and reducing the percentage of invalid votes.

The voter education program also informs the general public about the importance of voting rights and the voting process. 

The Commission has stated that one voter education volunteer has been deployed in each of the 6,743 wards of 753 local levels across the country from February 15 to March 1.

The Commission has mentioned that the volunteers are reaching the settlements and doorsteps of the general voters and informing them about the importance of the election and the voting process through sample ballot papers. 

The Commission has also appointed the focal point at the local level as the monitor of the election voter education program, and the orientation program has also been completed.

Similarly, the Commission is making maximum efforts to monitor individuals who provide false and misleading information and hate speech in violation of the election code of conduct and to bring individuals and organizations that commit illegal acts under the ambit of the law in collaboration with regulatory bodies. For this, the Information Ethics Promotion Unit under the Election Information Dissemination and Coordination Center is functional.

Meanwhile, 290 content producers and communicators who produced and disseminated harmful information have been reported to the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police for action under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063. Similarly, 11 have been recommended for action to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority under the Telecommunications Authority Act, 2052. 

Similarly, 65 have been recommended to the Press Council, Nepal for action under the Press Council Act, 2048 and one for action under the Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076, the Commission stated.