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US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson called on the newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, today.

In the meeting that took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they held discussions on various topics of bilateral interest, said Ministry Spokesperson Amrit Bahadur Rai.

Discussions were also held on timely completion of the development projects operated in Nepal with US assistance.

On the occasion, the US Ambassador congratulated the DPM Shrestha and also extended to him his best wishes.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava has paid a courtesy call on the newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha today.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they discussed various topics of bilateral and mutual interests, said Ministry spokesperson Amrit Bahadur Rai.

He added that during the meeting DPM and Minister Shrestha and the Indian ambassador talked on further strengthening the ties between the two countries and timely completion of development projects being run in Nepal with the assistance of India, among other topics.

On the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava congratulated and extended best wishes to Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has  pointed out the need of making legal and institutional arrangements to curb financial crime.

Addressing the Crime Investigation Review Seminar organized at National Police Academy, Maharajgunj, today, DPM Shrestha mentioned that necessary legal and institutional arrangements would be made as well as technical and capable human resources developed for the investigation of financial crimes. 

"Information has been received that the dealing of billions of rupees is being done through crypto. The government has considered it illegal. Transaction of foreign currencies is being done in a new way. A new trend to open letter of credit (LC) has been seen," he shared, adding it has created problems in the economy and use of crypto was also seen in the recent gold scam.

Underscoring the need to prepare capable human resources to investigate the crypto currency, the Home Minister said the government has realized the lack of legal provisions for the same. 

Cases of financial crime and cheating are increasing in the society after the cooperative turned into financial institutions being deviated from its main purpose, explained Home Minister Shrestha. He further said the government has made preparations to formulate laws to control cooperative fraud.

The Deputy Prime Minister informed that a process to take action against cooperative owners involved in financial crime and cheating and to give justice to cooperative victims, adding "The government to give justice to cooperative victims and cooperative will be forwarded as backbone of economy." 

Similarly, Attorney General Dr Dinmani Pokharel said a specialized structure should be made to investigate the financial crime at a time when cases of financial crime are increasing in recent periods. 

He laid emphasis on the need of strengthening investigation, prosecution and justice based on scientific, objective and reliable evidence.

Likewise, Inspector general Basant Bahadur Kunwar shared that police have started homework to establish a specialized bureau to investigate financial crime, adding Nepal Police was serious towards crime investigation.

Deputy-Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, stressed the need of capacity building of Nepal Police to face challenges created by digital crime.

She shared that the KMC is going to impart training on scholarship thinking that capable human resources related to cyber security should be developed.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong.

DPM Shrestha was welcomed by Ambassador of Nepal to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and the high-level officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, according to a press release issued by Nepali Embassy in China.

DPM Shrestha will be attending the opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

He will address the High-level forum on Green Development “Green Silk Road for Harmony with Nature” at the National Convention Center on October 18.

He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese Minister of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangsi; and Member of the Secretariat of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Xiaohong, during his stay in Beijing.

Similarly, DPM Shrestha is to meet Chinese Minister of International Department, Liu Jianchao.

The Nepali delegation led by the DPM will return to Kathmandu on October 20, the press release added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the government has prioritized the rebuilding of flood-damaged Kagbeni settlement in Mustang.

During his inspection to the flood-ravaged Kagbeni settlement at Varagung Muktichhetrai Rural Municipality-4 in Mustang today, the Deputy Prime minister pledged to undertake the reconstruction efforts targeting the village with high priority.   The settlement experienced significant damages from the flooded Kaagkhola stream on August 13.

Moreover, according to the Minister, the government will seek ways to minimize risks from the water-induced depositions on the bank of Kaligandaki River.

He said that the matter about operating the Korola checkpoint along the Nepal-China border will be an agenda of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's upcoming visit to the northern neighbor.

In addition to this, the government is working on possibilities to ensure uninterrupted transport service along the Beni-Jomsom-Korola road. He also assured of convening the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure including roads, bridges, and drinking water, electricity and irrigation projects promptly.

On the occasion, the Minister had held discussions with the local government, administration and security bodies about the post-disaster situation at Kagbeni.

The flood damaged roadways, motorable bridges, monasteries, temples, community buildings, police posts, hotels and river embankments.

Properties worth over Rs one billion were destroyed in the flood.

Over 50 houses were significantly damaged by the flood, resulting in property losses exceeding Rs 520 million, according to the local government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has urged one and all to keep up the inter-caste and religious tolerance.

Addressing a press conference organized by Press Centre Nepal, Parsa chapter here today, he called for maintaining the unity in diversity since Nepal's identity is a nation with multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-cultural identities.

The DPM and Home Minister warned that the government would take action in accordance with the existing laws and the constitution against those undermining the social harmony and disturbing its unity. He also urged one and all to stand in favour of social goodwill and national unity along with tolerance towards each other's religion, culture, customs, faith, sentiments and traditions.

Stating that the government is committed to maintaining good governance in the country by eliminating corruption, DPM Shrestha also pledged to take the gold smuggling scam and the Lalita Niwas land grab scam to its final conclusion and to bring to justice all the culprits.

"In the beginning, the Department of Revenue Investigation carried out an investigation into the gold smuggling case and now the Nepal Police's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) is looking into this. We will also go for a high-level investigation process after carrying out the legal and structural and associated probe and reaching to a conclusion once the CIB completes its investigations," the Home Minister said.

According to him, CIB has already conducted its investigation into the Lalita Niwas land procurement scam and submitted its report to the Government Attorney Office. The Attorney Office will also move ahead with the prosecution process soon, he added.

The National Youth Federation Nepal, youth wing of the main opposition CPN-UML, took out a torch rally in the Capital on Friday demanding stern action against those involved in the gold smuggling.

During the torch rally organized in New Baneshwor, the youth leaders demanded resignation of Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Saying that the gold is being smuggled from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), they chanted slogans against Home Minister Shrestha demanding his resignation on moral grounds.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, assured that security agencies would remain independent of any political influence, power centers, or money game while discharging their duty.

In a meeting held today with former senior officials of security agencies to discuss the ‘strengthening of peace and security,’ the Minister said that the Ministry and its subordinate bodies would strictly adhere to the Constitution, laws, and their designated responsibilities.

“We are devising comprehensive plans to enhance the overall performance of the Home Ministry and its subordinate bodies,” he stated. Furthermore, he said the Ministry has asked the Nepal Police and an investigation unit for ensuring impartial, independent, and efficient investigations into any incident. He said, “Police investigations are guided by laws, facts and evidence.”

He revealed that during the course of investigating cases of corruption and crime, complaints from respective areas are received.

When someone involved in irregularities in the political, administrative, or business sectors is on the verge of being brought under the purview of the law, there may be protests from people within their respective sectors, according to the Minister, who questioned, “Is it possible to promote the rule of law in such a situation and is the law applied only to the general public?”

“The culture of groupism has deeply affected the Nepal Police institution,” he said, adding that the government was actively working to intervene and eradicate such detrimental practices from the organization.

He hoped that security bodies would find a pace if intervention from the political leadership, power centers, the economic influence is prevented by promoting the rule of law.

As he said, he had proposed to the Parliament to remove the provision for 30-year service in the police administration, he said the provision will be discontinued by law. The Inspector General of Police is highly positive about the proposal, he said, adding that he was told that the IGP was ready to sacrifice for the removal of the provision.

Expressing his determination to implement the provision of voluntary retirement of police Constable and Head Constable completing 16 years of service and Assistant Sub-Inspector and Sub-Inspector completing 18 years of service, getting the pension in 20 years, the DPM and Home Minister said the matter is being discussed with the Ministry of Finance.

As he said, the Home Ministry is taking the initiative as to how the morale of police constables, head constables, and sub-inspectors could be boosted and how they can be made to work.

“The police have to work 24 hours; how can we work with a ‘depressed force’? Discussion is on with the Public Service Commission to make the promotion of the police constables and the junior officers regular,” he asserted.

Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal’s former Inspectors General and Additional Inspectors General lauded the steps initiated by the present government in controlling corruption and the promotion of good governance.

On the occasion, they had given suggestions for policy and structural reforms, timely increment in the pay and facilities, paying attention to the career development of police personnel, making the transfer, promotions, and foreign training predictable, dissuading impunity, and bringing the National Investigation Department under the Home Ministry.

Home Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai, Inspector General of Nepal Police Basana Kunwar, APF Nepal’s Inspector General Raju Aryal, high-level officials of the Ministry, police former chiefs, and police former high officers were present in the interaction.