Stepped-up campaign against Dalai Lama
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 18 — The Chinese authorities have stepped up their campaign against the Dalai Lama, in Tibet with the aim of ending support for him amongst Tibetans.

Reports received from Tibet indicate the strengthening of the government’s already hardline policies to reduce support for the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The instructions for the imposition of the new directives, appear to have come directly from the highest level in Beijing despite recent international speculation about the possibility of a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Chinese President, Jiang Zemin.

The new campaign has led to the homes of Tibetan officials in Lhasa being searched, for shrines and religious objects and a renewal of the directives to the Tibetan cadres to withdraw their children from the exile schools in India. Search parties have been constituted to inspect the homes of cadres and government workers for shrines, pictures of the Dalai Lama, oil lamps, Thangka paintings and other religious objects. The recent campaign indicates the concern of the authorities at their failure to eradicate the loyalty of the Tibetans towards the Dalai Lama. "The Dalai Lama’s group has certainly not abandoned its disruptive actions in Tibet," Ragdi, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Congress, admitted at a public meeting.

According to the information, party members are also being scrutinised for corruption. They would be investigated for building private housing surpassing the permitted surface area and for using public funds for private housing. The ant-corruption directive appears to be primarily aimed at the Tibetans, because Chinese cadres are less likely to be involved in the construction of houses in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is being felt that the fight against corruption has an added political dimension, since it is directly linked to the campaign against the Dalai Lama. Chairman Ragdi also pointed out that the wider political aim of the intensified Dalai Lama campaign was to protect the "unity and security" of the whole of China. Accusing the Dalai Lama’s group of trying to incite all sorts of social conflicts, he said Tibet was the south-western gate of China and its stability was essential for defence and strategic purposes.

Letters have been received from Tibetans, expressing concern over the anti-Dalai Lama policies. In their letters they point out that though externally the Chinese authorities are saying that they are ready for holding talks with the Dalai Lama, but within Tibet, those who are found possessing his photographs, are facing the threat of losing their jobs. The Chinese are also making it clear that the struggle between the China and the Dalai Lama clique was a long-term undertaking that has to be continued.

The involvement of the higher-ups in Beijing, in the campaign against the Dalai Lama, has led to a feeling amongst the Tibetans that the Chinese leadership was not really serious about the issue of holding talks with the Dalai Lama.

Panel seeks report on custodial death
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 18 — The Human Rights Commission has sought a report on the custodial death of Ramesh Chand at Palampur on Monday.

Taking suo motu notice of the report published in The Tribune today, the Chairman of the HP Human Rights Commission, Mr Justice, PC Balakrishna Menon, ordered the district authorities of Kangra to send him a report on the incident.

Ramesh Chand was in police custody when he succumbed to his injuries at Palampur hospital where he was taken for treatment.

The Superintendent of Police, Kangra, has sent a preliminary report to the commission, claiming that Ramesh Chand had received injuries due to beating by three residents of a nearby village.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jaisinghpur, has been asked to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

The SP has informed the commission that the SHO of Lambagaon, under whose custody the victim was, has been shifted to the Police Lines, to enable a fair inquiry.

The commission also took suo motu notice of another report on the mysterious death of a Norwegian, Lindstorm Tormod, at Nalagarh in Solan district. A report has been sought from the district authorities of Solan in this regard.

Meanwhile, the commission has asked the Secretary, Home to take appropriate action in the mysterious disappearance of 14 foreign tourists in Kulu district.

The commission had earlier sought a report from the district police. The police has so far failed to trace any missing tourists.

Parmar varsity students get bail
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 18 — The District and Sessions Judge, Mr T.N. Vaidya, today ordered eight Parmar University students who were arrested following a violent clash on the campus on November 11 and were later remanded to police custody followed by judicial custody, to be released on bail on their executing personal bonds of Rs 4,000 each with surety of like amount.

The names of the students are Akshay Rathore, Mandeep Singh, Ashwini Chauhan, Munish Thakur, Hitendra Patyal, Suresh Thakur, Sameer Singh Rana and Vijay Kalia.

Another student, Anshul Sharma, who had been named in the FIR but could not be arrested as police failed to trace him surrendered in the court on the District and Sessions Judge yesterday after filing an application for anticipatory bail. His application too was allowed.

The Judge observed that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the arrested students in custody but directed the bailed out students not to indulge in any activity having an adverse bearing on the peaceful functioning of the university.

Meanwhile, hectic parleys between student leaders, senior dons and the Vice-Chancellor, who returned to the campus after cutting his Jaipur tour short on Monday evening, have been continuing.

The two student unions started a chain fast to press their demands yesterday.

A village untouched by development
From Balkrishan Prashar

DEVIKOTHI (Chamba): One of the most interior and backward villages of Churah valley in Himachal Pradesh is Devikothi, about 110 km from the district headquarters of Chamba. It is a verified fact that the village is cut off from the mainstream govt agencies and thus from development, the reason being the absence of a link road.

Devikothi, with a population of about 2,500, is a panchayat comprising about 15 hamlets stretching out to the wooded hillsides. It is one of the farthest villages in Chamba district situated at an altitude of 2350 metres and accessible on foot from Daygran roadhead after a three-hour arduous journey. The area adjoins the Pangi tribal valley.

Devikothi, though a non-tribal belt, is more backward than tribal areas in the state. The residents here have been facing numerous problems. A government middle school, with about 50 students, is being run by a single teacher, while the sole primary school, having a strength of about 176 children, is being looked after by just two teachers.

Unfortunately, residents of this area suffer due to lack of health care. A government health sub-centre here is devoid of staff, including a doctor. There is not even a peon. Likewise, a veterinary dispensary is functioning without trained staff and the peon is running the dispensary.

In the absence of a link road, transportation of goods is carried out by mules. This mountainous area remains covered with snow for six months in a year. The people here have no source of income and live in penury.

A visit to this distant area reveals that there is no sign of tourism though trekking in the area is an enthralling experience with snow-clad mountain peaks and dense green forests. The vast tourism potential in this valley has been an untapped source of the state's as well as the local resident's economy. For boosting tourism, the road to connect Devikothi and Chehni pass is the primary requirement.

Recently, when the Minister of State for Ayurveda, Mr Mohan Lal visited the area, Mrs Gopali Devi a woman pradhan of Devikothi panchayat, apprised the minister of the condition of local residents. The minister assured her that he would take up their problems with the state government so that development schemes, including construction of a road from Daygran to Devikothi, could be put into operation under the Rs 22.39 crore backward area sub-plan, thereby generating employment avenues to the residents.

HP plan for waste management
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 18 — A three-point action plan has been prepared for the management of biomedical waste and garbage in Himachal Pradesh.

The plan was finalised at a workshop organised by the Himachal Pollution Control Board here yesterday. Representatives of local bodies and the administration took part in the workshop which was inaugurated by Mrs Rajwani Sandhu, Secretary, Science and Technology.

The plan also covers the treatment and disposal of domestic waste and sewage, management of municipal solid waste and the regulation of slaughter houses.

A nine-member advisory committee has been nominated by the state government for biomedical management and handling. The Secretary, Science and Technology, will be the chairman of the committee and the member-secretary of the Pollution Control Board, Mr Nagin Nanda, will be its member-secretary.

In her address, Mrs Sandhu emphasised the need for bringing about significant changes in the present system of garbage management and strict enforcement.

IFFCO blamed for NPK shortage
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 18 — An acute shortage of fertilisers has upset sowing for the rabi season in Himachal Pradesh. Reports indicate that farmers are facing a shortage of NPK 12:32:16 and NPK 15:15:15 mixtures of fertilisers.

Himfed, which is the main distributor of fertilisers in the state, claims that the shortage has been caused as IFFCO has not supplied the required quantity of the mixture.

Himfed had placed an order for 9000 metric tonnes of 12:32:16 fertilisers in August. However, only 4000 metric tonnes of the NPK mixture has so far been supplied.

Himfed also placed an order for 3000 metric tonnes of NPK 15:15:15 with Rashtriya Fertilisers and Chemicals, Bombay, in August, but the supply is awaited.

Orders to impound minister's car
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 18 — Chief Judicial Magistrate K L Sharma ordered impounding of a Maruti Esteem car belonging to a Haryana Vikas Party minister, Mr Brij Mohan Singla, for violation of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The vehicle, which was impounded near Dharamapur yesterday, was being driven by Mr Singla's son, Anchal Singla, who tried to drive past a check point with the car siren blaring.

The driver failed to produce the relevant documents before the Magistrate following which the vehicle was ordered to be impounded.