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New Road-based Glue Star Media Solutions has become the fifth weekly winner of the annual subscription campaign, “Jasle Padchha, Awasya Parchha” launched by Annapurna Media Network across the country.

In the weekly lucky draw held at the Tinkune-based headquarters of Annapurna Media Network on Monday, Glue Star Media Solutions with receipt number 1806-81 became the winner.

Head of Sales and Distribution Department of Annapurna Media Network had picked the name of Glue Star Media Solutions from the lucky draw.

As a winner, the Glue Star will receive the Oppo A3X mobile.

Readers renewing their subscription or becoming new annual subscribers to Annapurna Post and The Annapurna Express will receive guaranteed gifts upon subscribing.

The annual subscription fee for both newspapers is set at Rs 3,400 each.

Annual subscribers will receive a voucher worth Rs 1,500 for Wonderland, where they can enjoy thrilling games, as well as a movie voucher from INI Cinemas.

Alternatively, subscribers can opt for scratch cards offering cash discounts ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,400, along with INI Cinemas movie vouchers and tickets for Annapurna Cable Car.

The campaign also offers exciting weekly and monthly prizes. Weekly lucky draw winners will receive OPPO mobile phones and Rs 5,000 vouchers for Tranquility Spa.

Monthly winners will be rewarded with washing machines and Rs 5,000 Tranquility Spa vouchers. The campaign, which is valid nationwide, will run for four months.

The cold storage warehouse built in Susta Rural Municipality-4, Nawalparasi, during the tenure of the previous local representatives remains unused due to a lack of planning and preparation. Constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 50m, the facility has yet to serve its intended purpose.

The provincial government invested Rs 37m in the project, while the rural municipality contributed Rs 14.4m, bringing the total investment to Rs 55.2m, according to Susta Rural Municipality Officer Bishnu Prasad Dhakal. The storage facility has a capacity of 1,000 metric tons.

Intended for storing potatoes and onions, the cold storage has become a burden on the rural municipality, where sugarcane and bananas are the primary crops. Only a small number of farmers grow vegetables commercially, and most of their produce is consumed in the local market. The prospect of farmers from outside the municipality using the facility is also slim.

Located about 30 km from the highway, the municipality does not attract many traders. This has raised concerns among locals about why such a large investment was made despite the clear lack of agricultural demand for cold storage.

To encourage the production of potatoes and onions, the rural municipality launched a subsidy program this year. A budget of Rs 1m was allocated for potatoes and Rs 4m for onions. However, farmers have shown little interest. Given this lack of response, authorities are now considering leasing the facility to private traders.

“The cold storage has remained unused for a long time, and the rural municipality cannot operate it either. Now, the only option is to find traders and lease it to them,” said Teknarayan Upadhyay, chairperson of the rural municipality. He added that the storage facility, built without long-term planning, is difficult to bring into operation.

“Our main crops are sugarcane and bananas, yet the facility can only store potatoes and onions. Without suitable agricultural produce, it is unlikely to be used. Why was such a significant investment made in the first place?” Upadhyay questioned.

Local residents argue that the provincial government wasted public funds by failing to assess the feasibility of the project before investing in it.

Section 177 of the National Criminal Code Act, 2017, states, “No one shall intentionally kill another person or engage in or cause any act that results in death.” However, on Friday, in the name of a pro-monarchy protest in the Tinkune area, a journalist filming the demonstration was killed by setting the building where he was in on fire. One protester also died.

The Annapurna Media Network (AMN) office was deliberately set ablaze while journalists and staff were working inside. Not only that, private homes were torched and commercial establishments looted. Government offices and vehicles were burned and destroyed.

Destruction was unleashed and criminal activities were carried out under the guise of protest. Legal experts state that seven different laws apply to those engaged in those criminal activities. These include crimes against the state, homicide, attempted murder, arson-related offenses, theft and robbery, and organized crime. 

Police are arresting those involved in the anarchic demonstrations held under the pretext of restoring the monarchy. Cases are being prepared against them. According to police, criminal incidents occurred in Kathmandu’s Tinkune area during a protest led by supporters of former King Gyanendra Shah even though permission was obtained for a peaceful demonstration under the coordination of Nawaraj Subedi and leadership of Durga Prasai. During the protest, private properties, hospitals, media houses, political party offices, business centers and vehicles were vandalized, set on fire, and subjected to other violent acts. During the protests, 52 Nepal Police personnel and 32 Armed Police Force personnel were injured. Thirty-five protesters injured in the course of the protests are receiving treatment in various hospitals.

Senior advocate Satish Krishna Kharel said that criminal acts appeared to have been committed by groups frustrated or dissatisfied with the current system. He said the police should collect CCTV footage and other evidence for investigation.  

Senior advocate Tikaram Bhattarai said violent actions in the name of demonstrations are unacceptable. “The participation of disorganized and anarchic mobs in the protest have led to disastrous consequences. This protest is against constitutional order and the entire constitutional system—it is a crime against the state,” he added. “Since former King Gyanendra Shah appears to have directed these activities, he should be held legally accountable.”

 Police have so far detained over 51 individuals accused of involvement in illegal criminal activities, with further investigations underway. Kathmandu District Police Range has informed the Parliament Secretariat that House of Representatives member Dhabal Shamsher Rana of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has been arrested on criminal charges. Senior RPP leaders including Rabindra Mishra and Swagat Nepal have also been detained.  

Bhattarai said that the government must investigate crimes such as homicide, offenses against the state, destruction of public property, attempted murder and arson.  

The government is preparing to take strict legal action against those who damaged private residences, offices and other properties unrelated to the protest’s cause. Officials from the Office of the Attorney General said they are preparing to prosecute based on the most applicable charges, with at least half a dozen offenses likely to apply.  

Senior advocate Kharel, who is also a criminal law expert, said that the mob’s mentality was clearly riotous. “It appears that a group of individuals frustrated with the current system gathered. Evidence such as CCTV footage must be collected to file cases against each perpetrator accordingly,” he added. 

Potential charges   

Legal experts state that those who systematically attacked, set fires, vandalized, and looted media houses, public and private properties, offices, and businesses could face at least half a dozen charges. 

Charge no. 1: Crimes against the state  

The constitution mandates that every individual must abide by its provisions. Since the protest involved killing a journalist and attacking security personnel, it qualifies as a crime against the state. 

Charge no. 2: Homicide   

Section 183 of the National Criminal Code Act, 2017, criminalizes attempted murder with intent, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 100,000. 

Charge no. 3: Attempted murder  

If a life was not lost but the intent to kill existed, attempted murder charges can be filed. 

Charge no. 4: Arson-related crimes   

Protesters set vehicles on fire, including one belonging to a parliamentary official, and burned other properties. Authorities imposed a curfew in affected areas following increased arson incidents. 

Charge no. 5: Theft and robbery  

Protesters forcibly entered the Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Kotewshwar and looted mobile phones, clothing, alcohol and other goods. 

Charge no. 6: Organized crime  

Vandalism occurred at the law firm of advocate Raj Kumar Suwal. Protesters also stoned the home of CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Senior advocate Bhattarai said the protest was against constitutional order and the entire constitutional system—a crime against the state. He said former King Gyanendra Shah should be held responsible for the incidents. 

The killing of a journalist and terrorizing the media, businesses and the public has been widely condemned. The Federation of Nepali Journalists, Nepal Bar Association, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce, among others, have demanded immediate legal action, compensation for damaged media houses, and enhanced security for journalists, lawyers and businesspersons. They have also called for a thorough investigation into the inhumane incidents and strict legal action against the perpetrators.

Palestinian officials say Israeli forces have killed at least 64 people, including children, in Gaza on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has recovered the bodies of eight medics, five civil defence workers and a UN employee, a week after their vehicles came under Israeli fire near Rafah in southern Gaza, Alzajeera reported.

As stated by Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's war on Gaza has claimed the lives of at least 50,277 Palestinians and injured 114,095 others. About two months ago, Gaza's Government Media Office increased its death toll to more over 61,700, claiming that thousands of individuals missing under the debris are assumed dead, according to Alzajeera.

At least 1,139 individuals were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led strikes on October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were kidnapped.