Fake certificate racket busted
MANDI, Aug 30 — The police here has busted a racket of sale of fake certificates and arrested three persons in this connection more arrests were likely.

"Withdraw" recommendation for probe against Virbhadra
SHIMLA, Aug 30 — Mr Rajeshwar Negi, general secretary of the state Youth Congress, has urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to withdraw his recommendation to the Prime Minister seeking a CBI probe into the charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Legislature Congress Party

HP teachers to observe "protest day"
SHIMLA, Aug 30 — The Himachal Government Teachers Union will observe Teachers Day on September 5 as "protest day" to express resentment over the indifferent attitude of the government towards its demands.

Devotees take holy dip
CHAMBA, Aug 30 — Nearly 30,000 devotees of Lord Shiva had a holy dip in the Manimahesh lake on the occasion of Shri Radha Ashtami this morning.

Mother, son succumb to burns
MANDI, Aug 30 — Meena Devi and her son, Chandan, (3½), died of 90 per cent burns while her second son Nishant (6), survived with 10 per cent burns. She had bolted herself and the children in a room, sprinkled kerosene and set fire yesterday in Padal colony near police station.

Ugly fall-out of red tape
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Aug 30 — Need for simplifying bureaucratic procedures and reducing red-tape, came into focus when an applicant for the lease of a sand quarry lost patience and indulged in the unlawful act of assaulting the Mining Officer concerned right in his office.

Keshwa Ram, a resident of Basal, near here, had applied for the lease of a sand quarry 10 months ago. A committee headed by the SDM and having the Executive Engineers of the PWD and the IPH representatives of the State Pollution Control Board, Department of Tourism and State Geologist's office; the Divisional Forest Officer and the General Manager of the District Industries Centre, as its members, inspected the site proposed to be taken on lease by the applicant nearly three months after the filing of the application.

This inspection committee raised certain objections and accordingly the Mining Officer directed Keshwa Ram to remove those. The committee also invited objections from the public, if any.

After due course, Keshwa Ram obtained the requisite "no objection certificate" from the Panchayat under whose jurisdiction the proposed quarry site fell, and furnished it to the office of the District Mining Officer. Thereafter, the District Mining Officer forwarded Keshwa Ram's application to the State Geologist along with his recommendation for the issuance of the necessary licence to the applicant, Keshwa Ram.

The State Geologist, overriding the recommendations of the District Mining Officer which were based upon the high powered mandatory inspection committee report, reportedly raised some more objections. The Mining Officer, accordingly informed Keshwa Ram asking him to take necessary action for the removal of State Geologist's objections.

Keshwa Ram, who by now was fed up with the red-tape, lost patience and assaulted the Mining Officer, who later filed an FIR with the police post at the Mall. A medical examination showed some bruises near the eyes and some other parts of the Mining Officer's body. A case of attacking a public servant on duty had been registered against Keshwa Ram.

Harassment of Muslims decried
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 30 — Maulana Mumtaz Ahmed Qasmi, president of the Tanzeem Aimma, Himachal, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, has condemned the state government's attempt to "tarnish the image" of holy madarsas in Himachal.

In a statement here today, he said a detailed report regarding the functioning of these madarsas had already been placed before the Cabinet by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

He strongly condemned the militant activities in the peaceful state but criticised the government move to defame madarsas and terrifying common Muslims in the wake of the Chamba killings. The authorities had been found harassing the people wearing caps and sporting beards.

By harassing Muslims in the state, the present government was fomenting communalism. He appealed to the government to check this practice. The police should be instructed to conduct a deep and informal inquiry into the conduct of doubtful elements instead of harassing common people of a particular community in public places and buses.

He said he had received reports from various parts of the state regarding harassment of Muslims by police officials.

Fake certificate racket busted

MANDI, Aug 30 — The police here has busted a racket of sale of fake certificates and arrested. three persons in this connection more arrests were likely. Mr Sanjay Kumar Kundu SP said this evening that a break through was made when Jitender Kumar son of Tarlochan Singh applied for admission in 10+2 (non-medical) in Maharaja Laxman Sen College Sundernagar on the strength of a "fake" 10+2 certificate.

Examining the certificate college Principal, Suraj Pathak got suspicious of its veracity and informed the police.

After thorough investigations the police raided Him Printing Press Sundernagar and recovered a large number of "fake" certificates. Owners of the Press Papu Kalia, Prashant Aggarwal and Jitender have been arrested, said Mr Kundu.

He said mastermind of the gang Prashant Aggarwal used to charge Rs 800/- for a certificate.

A case has been registered under Sections 420, 468, 467 and 470 of the IPC.

Plea to withdraw recommendation for probe against Virbhadra
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 30 — Mr Rajeshwar Negi, general secretary of the state Youth Congress, has urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to withdraw his recommendation to the Prime Minister seeking a CBI probe into the charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Legislature Congress Party, as investigating the allegations which had already been dismissed by various courts would tantamount to subverting the legal process.

Addressing newspersons here today, he said it was a politically motivated move aimed at tarnishing the clean image of Mr Virbhadra Singh. He said if it was necessary to investigate some of the charges, which had not been adjudicated in courts, these should have been prepared independently, without interference or involvement of any group or individual with vested interests. The move was also repugnant to the institution of Lokayukta specifically constituted to investigate such charges.

Mr Negi expressed shock that the probe had been recommended under pressure from Mr Sukh Ram, President of the HVC, who was being prosecuted by the CBI in four cases of corruption. A charge sheet compiled by such a person lacked credibility. Mr Sukh Ram, Mr Negi said, was out to settle political scores with Mr Virbhadra Singh.

He demanded that cases against Mr Sukh Ram should be expedited by setting up an independent monitoring committee, as suggested by the Supreme Court.

Mr Negi advised the BJP Government to concentrate on governance and not on ordering inquiries. The prices were spiralling and the crime rate was increasing and urgent steps were required to control the situation.

HP teachers to observe "protest day"
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 30 — The Himachal Government Teachers Union will observe Teachers Day on September 5 as "protest day" to express resentment over the indifferent attitude of the government towards its demands.

Mr Ram Lal, chairman of the action committee, said the dharna organised outside the Vidhan Sabha during the recent monsoon session had no effect on the government which was using dilatory tactics. The Education Minister had been reluctant even to hold a meeting with the union to discuss the demands.

He said the union would organise rallies and demonstrations on September 5.

Devotees take holy dip
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Aug 30 — Nearly 30,000 devotees of Lord Shiva had a holy dip in the Manimahesh lake on the occasion of Shri Radha Ashtami this morning.

A number of pilgrims hailing from the Bhaderwah region in Jammu and Kashmir also visited the pilgrimage centre.

Mr Tarun Kapoor, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, who is also chairman of the Manimahesh Pilgrimage Committee, said no untoward incident had been reported during the pilgrimage. As many as 40,000 pilgrims visited the holy centre this time.

Mother, son succumb to burns
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Aug 30 — Meena Devi and her son, Chandan, (3½), died of 90 per cent burns while her second son Nishant (6), survived with 10 per cent burns. She had bolted herself and the children in a room, sprinkled kerosene and set fire yesterday in Padal colony near police station.

On hearing cries of the children family members broke open windows and put out the flames. The three were rushed to the zonal hospital where Meena and Chandan succumbed to their burns.

Mr Sanjay Kumar Kundu, SP, said police party headed by a DSP reached the hospital immediately and recorded Meena's statement.