- Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Khandbari, June 12: A person died and two others got injured in a landslide occurred at Chichila rural municipality-3 of Sankhuwasabha district. They were buried in the landslide on Tuesday night.
The deceased has been identified as Ganga Ram Tharu of Ghorabhitta of Kakadvitta who was working as a labourer at the Arun III Hydropower Project, police said.
Similarly, injured in the rain-triggered disaster were Umesh Karki and Govinda Tharu of Makwanpur district, added police.
The incident took place when they were sleeping.
Among 14 rooms built for the workers’ shelter under the Project, 3 were buried in the landslide, it was shared.
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08- Nepalis at home and abroad lose billions to online scam- HyperFund
Kathmandu, June 12: On December 25, 2021, Baburam Kandel from Butwal was suggested by his friend from his village to join HyperFund, an online networking business.
Without thinking much about the new trade, he joined the bandwagon of digital business – only expecting the windfall.
Initially, Kandel invested 1,000 US dollars (equivalent to Rs 135,161.80 as per the current foreign exchange rate) but just in the next four months, he was drawn deeper into the scheme.
Kandel could draw some returns in the beginning which provided him a ground to engage further in the business. It evidently grew his enticement.
The people in the nexus would arrange Zoom meetings frequently with promises of more returns in case of more investments. The man who has turned 40 ended up investing personally around 10,000 USD in the Fund (equivalent to Rs 1,351,618.00).
It did not take a long time to result into the carrot and stick: He was encouraged in the beginning but gradually got bound to lose his savings to the scam. He conned his down line members as well.
Kandel reports that such scammers are now busy spreading their tentacles in the name of other online networking such as ‘SBG global’, MMIT, V-TABS, V-LIFE, and so on.
Kandel, who is currently living in the Maldives, talked to RSS in a virtual conversation. He shared that a large number of victims are hesitating to come forward to speak up about the fraud for fear that police would apprehend them for their involvement in the scam.
In the same light, Ranjana Shrestha, a Nepali nurse who has been living in the UK for over 18 years suffered multiple setbacks- economic, mental, and social- after losing millions of rupees. She squandered the money even from family members, friends, and colleagues to the business that turned into a disastrous scam. She was convinced by a friend of her spouse to invest in the fund on August 5, 2021, believing in his sincerity. Unaware that it was a scam, she persuaded her family members in Nepal to invest as well, hoping for rewarding proceeds.
Additionally, she also managed to persuade her colleagues to invest, and due to her reputable standing, she recruited several people and down liners. Gradually, she managed to persuade more of her family members and relatives to pour in money with full trust. Whenever she checked the website, she felt reassured as she tallied her deposits, believing that she would withdraw and use them at her convenience and need in future.
However, she and her down liners have not taken out any of the investments they poured in.
Horror struck, she said she is a part of a community that has also fallen victim to the scam and is hopeful for the support of the Nepal Police to recover their investments. “Although the financial loss can be quantified, the emotional, psychological, and social impact is immeasurable,” she shared the plight.
She and others in similar situations aim to raise awareness to prevent others from becoming victims of illegal financial schemes. The individual, in collaboration with her spouse, regularly attends meetings with other victims of this scam to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. “I am dedicated to supporting all affected down line members and will be with them until achieving justice for all victims,” she said.
Such stories of gullibility and playing Russian roulette do not cease. DB Thapa, who has the experience of working at the civil engineering department for an airport in Dubai for 20 years, recently approached the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) with a complaint against the HyperFund operators. Thapa reportedly lost Rs 1.95 million including of his family members in the scam. He joined the scheme in August 2021 and came to know that it was just a ‘Scam’ after facing obstruction to access the withdrawal in April 2022.
The withdrawals were suspended and we (he was referring to his group members) realized that it was a Scam. As he said, they were told that their investments were safe till 2025 and the company was offering the biggest IPO.
He alleged that Nepali national Devi Pokhrel aka Roshan Pokhrel was engaged in sharing with the Nepalis about the shedloads of income from the scheme and it was Lalit Kumar Neupane, one of the masterminds, behind duping the Nepali citizens.
The UK-based networking business has its cabals globally. He accused the involvement of some other people such as Yogendra Milan Chhantyal and Kumar Gurung in luring and duping the Nepalis.
Thapa estimated the total loss suffered by Nepalis globally to exceed Rs 700 billion, leading to significant mental, social, and economic shocks on the victims.
Victims coming together
The people who have suffered at the hands of the HyperFund operators meet through Zoom meetings regularly, share their pains, and console each other with the determination to make the public aware of the scammers’ machinations and business. Kandel says we need cooperation from the Nepal Police and Nepali media so that we can get justice. He wants the Nepal Police to check on all sorts of ‘illegal transactions’ from Nepal to the countries, which, as he argued, may be taking place in the form of legal online wallets.
Option for lodging complaint Online
Spokesperson and Information Officer for the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati, says they have so far apprehended one person Nanu Ghimire aka Kajal from Lalitpur who is accused of orchestrating fraud under the guise of HyperFund.
It has been reported that scammers would approach victims through Zoom meetings, luring them to invest just 1,000 US Dollars with the promise of returning over Rs 300,000 (3,000 US dollars) promptly in Nepal. The fraud is assisted by blockchain technology.
To date, the CIB has received complaints from 56 people of fraud over 79.05 million USD (79,538,651). As Bogati said, the website HyperFund would present high ratings by provoking people to like it more and more.
He urged the alleged victims to visit the official website of CIB https://cib.nepalpolice.gov.np/ and lodge a complaint via the Gmail ID that is featured on its site. “The CIB has provided an online option for registering the complaint.”
According to Bogati, though joining an illegal online business is an offense and punishable by law, the Nepal Police assures that they will not be treated as defendants.
Understanding the circumstances, we have acknowledged that the alleged victims were duped into the scam and thus will not be held liable.
However, the Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank regulator, has issued a statement mentioning clearly that all kinds of virtual currency, cryptocurrency including stablecoins, network marketing and HyberFund are illegal in Nepal, and any kind of transaction, use, involvement, membership, investment, ownership and mining are subject to legal action.
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09- HoR meeting: Stress on maintenance of suspension bridge in Karnali
Kathmandu, June 12: A parliamentarian has called for the earliest maintenance of suspension bridge in Karnali Province, stating that local residents in Dailekh and Achham districts had been facing sheer inconvenience in movement.
In the emergency time of the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting today, Sita Kumari Rana shared that Dailekh District Administration Office had decided to shut down schools within the district due to risks of broken suspension bridge.
Rana, a representative of Dailekh district in Karnali Province, expressed her concern that the decision had badly affected students’ study.
Recently, 13 mules were trapped in the suspension bridge due to its sorry state. A steel wire rope used in the bridge was snapped.
Rana cautioned that human casualties could occur if the bridge is not repaired on time. “The government should repair the suspension bridge at the earliest, sending a technical team,” she insisted, warning that natural disasters could further aggravate situation there. “The local residents in Karnali should feel the presence of government,” she asserted.
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10- President Paudel reaches Geneva
Kathmandu, June 12: President Ram Chandra Paudel has reached Geneva. He is currently on a visit to Switzerland and Germany.
Nepali Ambassador to Switzerland, Ram Prasad Subedi, and embassy officials welcomed President and his entourage at Geneva Airport, according to President’s secretariat.
President Paudel is scheduled address the inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice on June 13. He will also hold bilateral talks with his Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd on June 12.
Paudel is scheduled to hold official talks with his German counterpart on June 17, the Ministry added.
ILO Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo is paying a courtesy call on President Paudel on June 13.
President Paudel will leave Geneva for Berlin on June 15 for an official visit to Germany at the invitation of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
During his stay in Germany, the President is visiting the Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, German Research for Geo Science, and Telegraphenburg Campus.
The German Chapter of Non-Resident Nepali Association is felicitating the President. President Paudel will address the Nepali diaspora during the felicitation on June 16. Similarly, on June 17, the industrialists associated with German Trade and Investment will call on the visiting President.
The President’s spouse Sabita Paudel has accompanied the President during the visit. President’s Foreign Affairs Expert Dr Suresh Chandra Chalise, Secretary at the Office of the President, Foreign Affairs Secretary and Nepal’s Ambassadors to Switzerland and Germany are other members of the delegation.
The Head of the State returns home on June 19.
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11- Civil employees, lawmakers univocal on concluding Federal Civil Service Bill soon
Kathmandu, June 12: The civil employees and lawmakers have underlined the need for finalizing the proposed Federal Civil Service Bill by ensuring wider ownership of it.
Airing their voices at a programme entitled “Federal Civil Service Bill: A Dialogue Workshop” organised by the Nepal FM here today, the speakers argued it would be too late if the Bill was not forwarded on time. They were against any sort of unwanted hassles in advancing the document to a conclusion.
Giving his presentation on the issue, former secretary Gopinath Mainali said 1,583 proposals were reportedly registered to seek amendments to the Bill. It is pressing need to endorse the Bill promptly, he added.
As per his evaluation, the Bill highlighted the need to acknowledge that the governance system has already switched to a federal structure and this shift should be reflected in the draft of the Bill. He advised subjective criteria for the transfer of employees, equal treatment to all services instead of privileges to some specific services, training opportunities for all, a focus on career enhancement of employees, a liberal approach in the promotion system, and recognition of criticism or feedback of service recipients and seekers in the promotion of an employee.
Professionalism, progressiveness, techno-friendly public institution and at least one year stay of an employee of special class in an office can build image of civil service, according to him.
In his view, present civil service seems more focused on the management of employees, so the issue of civic service management needs to be focus. “‘Golden definition’ of civil service employees warrants reflection in the federal document,” Mainali asserted.
Compensation to a citizen who is denied services on time and to those coming up with genuine complaints of unsatisfactory service delivery could be new provisions in the Bill.
Trade unions’ role vital in civil service
Trade union activists, including Janak Rawal, Lekhnath Koirala, and Prakash Rai, viewed whether the role of trade union movement is recognized in the Bill counts much.
They expressed readiness to embrace any provisions aimed at systematising and regulating trade union activism through a healthy mechanism. “We are prepared to correct any performance weaknesses among employees under the banner of trade unions,” they affirmed. Moreover, they called for due acknowledgment of local and provincial structures in the Bill to ensure widespread acceptance and advocated for boosting employee morale through the Act.
They advised the government to ensure that trade union leaders in the Civil Service fulfilled their duties and responsibilities through rules without marginalizing their roles. They called for establishing the civic-centric Civil Service and pledged cooperation with parliament for its reinforcement.
The trade unionists argued that the Federal Civil Service Act would not gain widespread acceptance without acknowledging the presence of local and provincial levels. They advocated for keeping the existing age limit (35/40 years) for civil service recruitment unchanged.
On the occasion, lawmaker and former Minister Dilendra Prasad Badu urged the promotion of good governance in the civil service, emphasizing cleanliness, promptness, and impartiality.
Ranju Kumari Jha, Deepa Sharma, and Thakur Gaire urged civil service employees to recognize their increased role in serving the citizens and states. They said they were open to addressing issues of trade union rights in the Bill.
The Bill is currently under discussion in the State Affairs Committee.
Committee President Ramhari Khatiwada affirmed the commitment to addressing civil employees’ concerns to ensure the document’s wide acceptance.
As he said, the Committee wants to make the document consolidated without making it confusing but substantial and acceptable.
The event was supported by the UN Parliament Support Project.
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12- Agreement on marketing of organic produces
Arghakhanchi, June 12: The organic goods produced by farmers in Arghakhanchi district will fetch good price and a get a market, thanks to the agreement for facilitation between the local government in the district and the Janata Agro and Forestry Limited Kathmandu.
Sandhikharka municipality and Panini rural municipality signed an agreement with the Janata Agro and Forestry Limited Kathmandu as per which the company will market the organic products of the two local levels at support price.
Rajendra Bhattarai, Chief of Sandhikharka Municipality’s Agriculture Department, shared that the company will purchase the local organic produces at a reasonable price.
Groups of farmers have been formed at various local levels to promote cultivation of organic vegetables and fruits and to move ahead in the direction of earning livelihood and boosting local production, said Krishna Prasad Shrestha, Mayor of Sandhikharka municipality.
Mayor Shrestha, Panini rural municipality’s Vice-Chairperson Narmada Poudel and Paban Kumar Golyan, Chairperson of the Company, signed the agreement which is expected to encourage local farmers to produce organic items, thereby contributing to the sustainable livelihood for farmers.
The company has also expressed interest in buying turmeric, zinger, Sichuan pepper, coffee, chhurpi (hardened cheese), walnut and cow ghee among other food items, said Bhoj Bahadur Shah, Vice-President of the Company.
The company also aims to use local raw materials, promote local products as well as native crops, added Shah.
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13- Dented economy demands drive: Chair Nepal
Lekhnath (Kaski), June 12: Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, has said the national economy which is dented for some years demands a drive. For it to happen, contribution from various sides is imperative, he added.
Addressing a press meet organized by the Kaski chapter of Socialist Press Organization Nepal in Pokhara today, the former prime minister viewed, “Stability and credibility of loktantra hinges on robust economy which is linked to political stability, change and good governance.” He also warned against the forces against loktantra, so it is time to make economy vibrant.
He further said the prime minister could make economy stronger by taking suggestions from the former prime ministers and consulting economic experts. “Government must identify the problems in politics and assure change to people,” he underlined.
The regressive forces deserve defeat, as they are still rearing heads.
On a different note, he made it clear that his party was for forging collaboration for democratic values. He was not insisting for becoming the prime minister.
According to him, a 27-member draft committee was formed for the preparation of party’s general convention, which is being taken place in the first week of Asar.
The general convention will discuss political and organizational agenda in addition to socialism and party statute.
Chairman Nepal further clarified that CPN (Unified Socialist) would not split as rumoured.
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14- Fertilizer, idle airports and hassles at hospitals feature at HoR meeting
Kathmandu, June 12: In a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, lawmakers drew the attention of the government towards various issues of public concerns such as short supply of fertilizers, airports staying idles, and hassles at hospitals.
Airing their views in a zero session of the House, Man Bahadur Gurung put his queries over the non-operation of international flights in Pokhara International Airport. He urged the government to take the initiative to operate the airport internationally.
Mahesh Kumar Bartaula said it is unfortunate that patients have to line up for several months for general surgery in the federal hospital.
Madhav Sapkota spoke on urgency to enrich the National Disaster Risk Mitigation and Management Authority and security agencies with resources.
Menaka Kumari Pokharel drew the attention of security bodies to mitigating growing offenses in Dang.
Ranendra Baraili demanded government’s activism to curb cases of caste-based discrimination taking place in the country.
Manish Kumar Jha, Mukta Kumari Yadav, Metmani Chaudhary, Maina Karki , Raghuji Pant, Ranju Kumari Jha, Rajendra Kumar KC, Ramkrishna Yadav,Ram Kumar Rai, Ramnath Adhikari, Ram Shankar Yadav, Ramhari Khatiwada, Rupa Shoshi Chaudhary, Roshan Karki, Laxmi Tiwari, Lal Prasad Sawa Limbu, Lalbir Chaudhary and Lekhanath Dahal were among those airing their views in the session.
Ranju Kumari Jha urged the government to respond to concerns raised during the zero hour.
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15- Gurung proposes downsizing federal ministries to 12
Kathmandu, June 12: Deputy Secretary General of CPN (UML), Prithvi Subba Gurung, has proposed to reduce the number of federal ministries from existing 25 to 12.
Taking part in the deliberations on the Appropriation Bill, 2081 BS in a meeting of the House of Representatives today, the leader said the number should be downsized, implementing the report of the Administrative Reform Commission.
“Various ministries, subordinate department and district coordination committees need to be scrapped,” he said, underlining the need of increasing the development expenditure.
NC lawmaker Ram Krishna Yadav accused the Urban Development Ministry of failing to work as per its objectives, proposing to cut off its expenditures.
CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Purna Bahadur Gharti Magar said the Finance Minister was not able to live up to his promises that budget would not be allocated to projects of less than 30 million from the federal government. There are 117 projects worth Rs 500 thousand under the Urban Ministry for the upcoming fiscal year, he added.
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16- Former CJ Shrestha informed about RSS services
Kathmandu, June 12: Former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha today visited the RSS central office, Bhadrakali, and acquired information about the RSS services and news dissemination system.
The former chief judge received information about the RSS news production: from reporting to translation, editing and dissemination. The officials, including Executive Chairman Dharmendra Jha and desk editors made aware the visitors about different services.
Meanwhile, he viewed the photos put on display under the theme of “Accomplishments of Democracy: Base of Prosperity” organised on the occasion of the Republic Day.
Commenting on the photo exhibition, he said the exhibition was a testament to highlight the republic that led to the exploration of multiple avenues in infrastructure developments.
The exhibition features 90 photos.
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17- ‘Wildlife-friendly infrastructures prerequisite to biodiversity conservation’
Kathmandu, June 12: A total of 47 species of wild animals in 20 protected areas died in the last fiscal year, 2023/24 owing to various reasons including in accidents, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks.
The prominent reasons behind the death of wild animals were natural death, road accidents, smuggling, electric shock, drowning, trap in fences and rabid dog’s bite, among others.
Reasons of the death could not be ascertained in 29 cases, it was reported.
The increasing deaths of wild animals are spurring concerns among the life conservationists, environmentalists and representatives of organizations working on wildlife and environment conservation who recommended constructing wildlife-friendly infrastructures.
While constructing linear physical infrastructures in the habitat areas of wild animals, it is recommended that a proper feasibility study be conducted and either ‘underpass’ or ‘overpass’ infrastructures be made.
At an interaction organized by the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) here today, WWF’s representative Sandesh Singh Hamal stressed that infrastructure development and environment conservation bid should be taken forward together.
Of the 118 kinds of ecosystem existing in Nepal, 80 are in the Protected Areas (PA) at present. PAs such as national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas are one of the important methods of conserving biological diversity worldwide.
Similarly, Dr Soni Baral Gauli, Assistant Dean of the Institute of Forestry, said that they had included wildlife-friendly infrastructure policy and plans related subjects in the curriculum of Masters Degree with an objective to support in wildlife conservation bid.
Likewise, Sushil Bahadur Bajracharya, Assistant Dean at the Institute of Engineering, expressed his confidence that the curriculum related to wildlife-friendly infrastructures and the practical work included in the curriculum would make it easier for the engineers to deliver in the field keeping into account the wildlife conservation efforts.
NEFEJ President Roshani Adhikari shared that they organized the interaction on the topic to orient journalists towards this pressing need of time. —
