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Mahendranagar: At the age of 19, Kalawati Panta, hailing from Pariphanta in Shuklaphanta Municipality-8, Kanchanpur district, embarked on her journey into the world of kabaddi when she was a ninth-grader at the local Dharma Janata Secondary School. Ganesh Dhami, the school’s sports teacher, served as her mentor and encouraged Kalawati to pursue kabaddi as her profession. Within three years of taking up kabaddi at school, Kalawati had already risen to prominence in the sport.

She played a pivotal role in the Nepali Women’s Kabaddi team during the recent Asian Games held in China, where the team secured a bronze medal. Out of the 12 players on the team, seven were from the Sudurpaschim province. In contrast, all other players, except for Kalawati, represented different departmental teams back home. She was the lone player selected from the Sudurpaschim province to participate in the Asian Games.

Kalawati shared her perspective, saying, “Players affiliated with departmental teams receive regular training and various facilities. However, for me, it is an exceptional achievement to have the opportunity to play in the Asian Games while simultaneously pursuing my college studies and managing household responsibilities.”

During her time in school, Kalawati served as the captain of the girls’ kabaddi team and took part in numerous school-level competitions, where her team often emerged victorious. Her debut in national competition occurred in Janakpur a few years ago, and she also led the Sudurpaschim women’s kabaddi team in the Ninth National Games held in Pokhara.

Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree, Kalawati expressed her desire to continue her sporting career by joining a departmental team while also working for one of the country’s three security forces: Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force Nepal, or the Nepali Army. These sports clubs associated with the security agencies are referred to as departmental teams.

Reflecting on the recent Asian Games in China, Kalawati said, “It has shown us that significant progress in sports is possible when the government invests in it and provides consistent training to athletes.”

Before participating in the Ninth National Games, Kalawati underwent a three-month intensive training program at the Kabaddi Training Centre in Mahendranagar.

Hailing from a modest-income family, Kalawati’s father, Bikram Panta, serves as the sole breadwinner for his family, working as a daily wage laborer in India. As the youngest of three sisters among five siblings, Kalawati emphasized the importance of the government’s support for talented players from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Lewiston: A man shot and killed at least 16 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes.

A police bulletin identified Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest in the attack that sent panicked bowlers scrambling behind pins when shots rang out around 7 pm. Card was described as a firearms instructor believed to be in the Army Reserve and assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.

The document, circulated to law enforcement officials, said Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. It did not provide details about his treatment or condition but said Card had reported “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” the military base. A telephone number listed for Card in public records was not in service.

Lewiston Police said in an earlier Facebook post that they were dealing with an active shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away.

One bowler, who identified himself only as Brandon, said he heard about 10 shots, thinking the first was a balloon popping.

“I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon—he was holding a weapon—I just booked it,” he told The Associated Press.

Brandon said he scrambled down the length of the alley, sliding into the pin area and climbing up to hide in the machinery. He was among a busload of survivors who were driven to a middle school in the neighboring city of Auburn to be reunited with family and friends.

“I was putting on my bowling shoes when when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours,” he said.

Melinda Small, the owner of Legends Sports Bar and Grill, said her staff immediately locked their doors and moved all 25 customers and employees away from the doors after a customer reported hearing about the shooting at the bowling alley less than a quarter-mile away. Soon, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer eventually escorted everyone out of the building.

“I am honestly in a state of shock. I am blessed that my team responded quickly and everyone is safe,” Small said. “But the same time, my heart is broken for this area and for what everyone is dealing with. I just feel numb.”

After the shooting, police, many armed with rifles, took up positions while the city descended into eerie quiet—punctuated by occasional sirens—as people hunkered down at home.

The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released two photos of the suspect on its Facebook page that showed the shooter walking into an establishment with a weapon raised to his shoulder.

Two law enforcement officials told that at least 16 people were killed and the toll was expected to rise. However, Michael Sauschuck, commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, declined to provide a specific estimate at a news conference, calling it a “fluid situation.”

The two law enforcement officials said dozens of people also had been wounded. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

On its website, Central Maine Medical Center said staff were “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event” and were coordinating with area hospitals to take in patients. The hospital was locked down and police, some armed with rifles, stood by the entrances.

Meanwhile, hospitals as far away as Portland, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the south, were on alert to potentially receive victims.

An order for residents and business owners to stay inside and off the streets of the city of 37,000 was extended Wednesday night from Lewiston to Lisbon, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away, after a “vehicle of interest” was found there, authorities said.

Gov Janet Mills released a statement echoing instructions for people to shelter. She said she had been briefed on the situation and will remain in close contact with public safety officials.

President Joe Biden spoke by phone to Mills and the state's Senate and House members, offering “full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack,” a White House statement said.

Maine Sen Angus King, an independent, said he was “deeply sad for the city of Lewiston and all those worried about their family, friends and neighbors” and was monitoring the situation. King’s office said the senator would be headed directly home to Maine on the first flight possible.

Local schools will be closed Thursday and people should shelter in place or seek safety, Superintendent Jake Langlais said, adding: “Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them."

Wednesday's death toll was staggering for a state that in 2022 had 29 homicides the entire year.

Maine doesn't require permits to carry guns, and the state has a longstanding culture of gun ownership that is tied to its traditions of hunting and sport shooting.

Some recent attempts by gun control advocates to tighten the state’s gun laws have failed. Proposals to require background checks for private gun sales and create a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases failed earlier this year. Proposals that focused on school security and banning bump stocks failed in 2019.

State residents have also voted down some attempts to tighten gun laws in Maine. A proposal to require background checks for gun sales failed in a 2016 public vote.

AP

Kathmandu: The body of one more among the 10 Nepali students who were killed due to the attack by Hamas militants in Israel on Oct 7 has been brought to Nepal today.

The mortal remains of Ganesh Kumar Nepali of Jayaprithvi-6, Bajhang district were brought here today on a Fly Dubai Airlines plane , said Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharad Raj Aran. 

Out of the ten Nepali students killed in Israel, the bodies of five have been brought to Nepal so far and the DNA of the relatives of the remaining five has been collected and sent to Israel for verification and these bodies will also be brought soon to Nepal after completing the necessary process, Joint Secretary Aran said.

The bodies of Nepali, Lokendra Singh Dhami of Malikarjun-4 and Dipesh Raj Bista of Lekam-5, Darchula; and Narayan Prasad Neupane of Ghodaghodi-4 and Ashish Chaudhary of Bauniya-3, Kailali have been brought home so far, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The ten Nepali students had gone to Israel under the 'Learn and Earn' program of the Far West University. 

Other students killed in the attack in Israel include Ananda Saha of Sapahi-6, Dhanusha; Rajesh Kumar Swarnakar of Nadhuwan-1, Sunsari; Rajan Phulara of Pachanali-3 and Padam Thapa of Lamikhal-8, Doti and Prabesh Bhandati of Sarada-3, Salyan. 

Bipin Joshi of Bhimdatta-3, Kanchanpur district has gone missing since the attack.

A team comprising Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud had rescued 254 students and brought them to Nepal from Israel some days back.

Kathmandu: People continue to visit the homes of their senior relatives for receiving the Dashain tika, jamara and blessing from them even on the second day of the Bada Dashain festival today. 

This trend continues until the day of Kojagrat Purnima, the fifth day from the day of Bijaya Dashami. This year the Kojagrat Purnima falls on Oct 28 as per the lunar calendar. People observed the Bijaya Dashami yesterday. On the occasion of Bijaya Dashami, people receive tika, jamara, Prasad and blessings from their parents and seniors in their family. 

Tike is a mixture of red vermillion powder, curd and rice grains that the family seniors put on the forehead of the junior members of the family. Jamara are the barley or maize shoots that are germinated on the day of Ghatasthapana of the 10-day Dashain festivities which are put behind the ears while Prasad are the fruits, sweets, dry fruits, cookies and other delicacies that are offered to the Goddess Nawa Durga. 

Tika symbolizes victory and good omen, jamara is considered auspicious and prasad is taken as the sanctified edibles gifted by the goddess. The people eat the Prasad after receiving the tika and jamara along with blessings from the elders in the family.

People who could not make it yesterday on the day of Bada Dashain visit the homes of their senior relatives today until the Kojagrat Purnima.

The federal capital, which saw very little movement of people and activity for some days during the Dashain festival period as many people left for their ancestral homes in outside districts, will see somewhat increased movement of people from today onwards.