World War II veteran celebrates 100th birthday

ROHIT RAI
DHARAN, March 3: World War II veteran Lal Bahadur Lohorung Rai, known for his war heroics, celebrated his 100th birthday at his ancestral home at Loke Pangma village in Kadhbari municipality, Sankhuwasaba on Saturday. Rai fought several major wars during his service in the East India Company.

Well wishers, neighbors, family members, and ex-Gurkha servicemen had gathered at Rai´s house to greet him on his birthday Saturday afternoon.

“I want to thank everyone for their warm wishes and pray for their prosperity and healthy life,” said Rai.

To celebrate Rai´s birthday, his son Krishna and daughter-in-law Priya along with his five daughters had reached their ancestral home. As a birthday gift, Krishna and Priya, who had arrived from the United Kingdom, had offered their father a gold ring and Rs 100,000. “He had never asked for a penny from us until now. So taking advantage of this wonderful occasion we compelled him to accept our gift,” said Krishna.

Krishna shared that his mother Yasoda had passed away while his father was 72. “Currently, my sister Ambika´s son and daughter-in-law have been taking care of father while my elder sister visits the house now and then to enquire about his heath,” said Krishna.

A team of ex-gurkha servicemen affiliated to Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen´s Organization (GAESO) and representative of GAESO Women Committee were also present to felicitate Rai. “I feel proud to be a part of this celebration. Rai has always been a war hero for me,” said master sergeant Ramesh Rai.

Unlike other elderly people, Rai does not have health complications. “I still walk to and from Mani Bhanjyang to Khadbari market. This is all because of God´s blessings,” said Rai. Khadbari municipality is at a distance of 4km from Mani Bhanjyang village.

Krishna informed that his father used to smoke till the age of 40 and has now quit smoking. “He eats on time and has good appetite. However, he drinks home- made liquor at home,” said Krishna.

After being recruited in the army in the year 1934, Rai along with his battalion was sent to fight in the Pakistan and Kabul war. Unfortunately, he was captured in Burma by the Japanese soldiers. “We were around 20 and we had run out of bullets. We had to surrender,” said Rai. “But I succeeded in escaping from captivity,” added Rai.

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Maternal uncle among 3 arrested in Delhi siblings murder case

Three men have been arrested in connection with the killing of minor siblings in the national capital, police said Sunday. Among those arrested is the maternal uncle of the children.

The decomposed bodies of Mansij and his sister Yashvi, aged seven and five respectively, were recovered from near the railway track in front of Pragati Maidan power station at around 9.30 a.m. Saturday morning.

The maternal uncle of the children, identified as Amit, and two other men, Pankaj and Shivam, have been arrested in the case.

The children had been missing from their school, Mother Convent School, in the Mandawali area of east Delhi since February 26 afternoon.

The bodies were decomposed, and animals seem to have bitten away some parts, police said.

Both the children were in school uniform, and the bodies were identified by their dress.

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Retrial of Egypt's Mubarak and sons set for April 13

CAIRO, MAR 03 - An Egyptian court set the date on Sunday for a retrial of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak , his sons and top aides, ordering the politically fraught hearings over the killing of protesters to start just nine days before parliamentary elections next month.

Mubarak, who was toppled in a popular revolt in 2011, was jailed for life for ordering the killing of demonstrators, but was later granted a retrial by a Cairo court. The 84-year-old is now being treated in a military hospital.

His sons and other figures have also faced charges of corruption and squandering public funds, due to be reheard.

"Samir Abu el Maati, the head of the Appeals Court has set April 13 as the retrial date for former President Hosni Mubarak , his two sons Gamal and Alaa and his interior minister Habib el-Adly and six of his top aides ... on charges of killing of protesters during the January 25th revolution," MENA state news agency said.

The retrial could raise tensions at a time of political and economic turmoil in Egypt, which has seen waves of street unrest throughout the two years since Mubarak stepped down. New Islamist President Mohamed Mursi accuses his supporters of fomenting some of the unrest.

The hearings are likely to overlap with the parliamentary vote, which begins on April 22 and will be held in four stages until late June.

Many opposition parties say they will boycott the elections called by Mursi. Mubarak was ousted in February 2011 after 30 years in power and was the first Arab ruler to be brought to court by his own people.

Businessman Hussein Salem, convicted in absentia in 2011, sentenced to seven years in jail and fined more than $4 billion for money laundering and profiteering, is also due to be retried for selling cheap gas to Israel and squandering public funds.

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Hubby kills wife

CHITWAN, MAR 03 -

A person has murdered his wife at Bharatpur in Chitwan district on Sunday morning.

Mohan BK living in a rented house at Bharatpur Municipality-13 killed his wife Maya by attacking with a lumber following a dispute.

An eyewitness said that Maya died on the spot in the incident.

Mohan has been absconding after the incident and a search is underway to nab him, according to the District Police Office, Chitwan.

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Application filed against SC's rejection of contempt of court case

KATHMANDU, MAR 03 - An application was filed at the Supreme Court against the apex court administration's rejection of a contempt of court case against Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi.

Applicant Sunil Ranjan Singh maintained that the grounds on which his case was rejected were invalid.

Hearing on the application has been scheduled for Tuesday.

Applicant Singh had tabled a case at the apex court on Wednesday, two days after the court issued a press release on CJ Regmi's behalf, saying that he was 'positive' on assuming the post of the executive head to lead an election government and provide outlet to the current political impasse.

Singh argued that Regmi's statement contradicted the principle of separation of powers and compromised the independence of the judiciary, in addition to violating the code of conduct for justices. The application was under consideration at the SC administration before being rejected on Thursday.

Furthermore, Singh argued that CJ Regmi's statement clearly states his intention to take up the post of the executive. In last Monday's statement, CJ Regmi had indicated a positive stance but had said that he would await the SC's decision on a petition challenging the proposal to form a poll government under the CJ. The court, which has already sought clarifications from the government, has scheduled a special bench hearing on the writ on March 7.

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