Outage hours up

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Nepal Electricity Authority has increased load shedding hours to 48 hours per week from 35 hours, effective from Monday. Stating that the monsoon this year did not bring adequate rainfall, NEA said water level at the all-important Kulekhani dam was below normal for this time of the year. It also said amount of power imported from India has also been cut. As per the new schedule, there will be seven hours of power cut daily for four days and six hours for three days in a week.

PM to meet Iran prez

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is leaving for Tehran on August 29 to participate in the 16th summit conference of non-aligned countries to be held on August 30-31. PM’s daughter Manushi Yami will accompany him. During the visit, PM Bhattarai will meet Iranian President Mahamoud Ahamadinezad and other heads of state and governments, said Chief Protocol Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nirajan Man Singh Basnet. The PM will return home on September 1. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayankaji Shrestha will leave for Tehran on August 27 to take part in the minister-level meeting of the conference to be held on August 28-29.

APF chief’s directive

KATHMANDU: Inspector General of Armed Police Force (APF), Koshraj Onta, on Sunday directed all APF unit chiefs to do their jobs well and give people a sense of dedication. At a special function organised at the APF Headquarters, Halchowk, he asked the senior officers to boost the morale of their juniors by setting an example. “APF always sticks to its principle and the performance of each employee is merit-based,” said IG Onta reminding all about the zero-tolerance policy against corruption. He further warned them to stay away from gender violence and molestation.

Two held with cannabis

KATHMANDU: Police on Sunday arrested Anil Thapa (18) of Dolakha and Anil Thapa (29) of Lalitpur with 0.5 kg cannabis from Kapan. Investigators said they were involved in using and peddling cannabis in the area. Police are probing the case.

Hooch sellers caught

KATHMANDU: Police on Sunday held Sunita Lama (40) and Nirmala Lama (30) of Sundarijal with 80 litres of hooch. Officials said they were on their way to sell the liquor to pubs when police in civvies arrested them from Jorpati. They are in the custody of the Metropolitan Police Circle, Bouddha.

House burgled

LALITPUR: Unidentified people broke into the house of Pratikman Pradhan in Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, and made away with valuables worth Rs 3.13 lakh on Saturday, police said. According to a complaint, two laptop computers, a wrist watch and a mobile phone set were burgled.