Software that simulates
war
SHIMLA, Sept 30 — "Shatranj", the latest computer software developed by the Army Training Command, the thinktank of the Army, will put the country on a par with advanced countries like the USA in simulated warfare technology.
Saviours turn savages
SOLAN, Sept 30 — A group of local youths allegedly gang-raped a minor girl, from a remote village, Lanha Chabiul, in Pacchad town of Sirmour district here yesterday.
Foundation stone of contention
SUNDERNAGAR, Sept 30 — Foundation stone laying of an Irrigation and Public Health building has surprised many as the site earlier was approved for the construction of shopping-cum-tourist complex.

• HPTDC takes over Peterhof
• Woman found dead

Software that simulates war
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — "Shatranj", the latest computer software developed by the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), the thinktank of the Army, will put the country on a par with advanced countries like the USA in simulated warfare technology.

Stating this at a press conference organised on the eve of the 8th raising day of the Artrac here today, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, GOC-in-Chief, said the integration of emerging technologies and doctrines into the structuring of the Army was essential for facing the challenges of the 21st century. It had been an endeavour of the command to develop computer-aided training programmes which enabled to simulate future battle scenarios without a shot being fired.

He said "Shatranj" was a division-level wargame which would help carry out a battle exercise in a room which otherwise would have taken at least two months and involve about 1 lakh troops and 1,000 tanks in field situation.

This was a cost-effective method of training. In the next stage, the command would develop a software to simulate wargame at the corps level.

Another major decision to improve the training was to set up a junior leaders' academy on the pattern of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy to impart training to junior commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers. The new academy would start functioning at Goa from October but its permanent headquarters would be at Bareilly.

A vanamahotsava was organised here in August in which 800 saplings were planted.

As part of its raising day celebrations, the command would organise a programme on the Annadale ground on October 5. Skydiving, horse show, dog and band display would be held.

Saviours turn savages
From Romesh Dutt

SOLAN, Sept 30 — A group of local youths allegedly gang-raped a minor girl, from a remote village, Lanha Chabiul, in Pacchad town of Sirmour district here yesterday.

The girl had come to this town to buy medicines for her ailing grandfather sometimes in the forenoon.

Being her first visit ever to any town she started making nervous enquiries about the "medicines sellers shop", from passers-by in a small market where no chemist shop was located.

A group of three local boys spotted her unusual behaviour and offered their help in whatever 'mission' brought her to the town. When the girl told them she was looking for a chemist's shop and that she was in a hurry to get back to her village, the boys offered to help hire her an auto-rickshaw to reach the chemist shop. It would help her return to her village quickly.

The unsuspecting girl gratefully accepted the boys offer. Whereupon, the boys took her to an isolated house "Himalaya Cottage", situated on the Forest Road here. When the girl showed some alarm at being taken to the house they reassured her by saying that they would soon resume the journey to the chemist's shop after a 'little rest'.

The girl was later spotted in a semi-nude state by a police patrol comprising of an assistant sub-inspector and a head constable on the forest road, Mr Himanshu Mishra told newspersons here today.

The hapless girl, on being taken to the police reporting room said that the three boys had taken her into the house and raped her. They were later joined by three more boys who appeared to be their friends. One of the latter three also raped the girl. The two others also appeared to have the same intentions but the girl managed to flee outside.

Mr Mishra said that one of the police parties detailed to nab the culprits soon succeeded in arresting three boys, who were identified by her as her rapists. A hunt for the three other suspects was on.

Cases under section 376 IPC have been registered against all the accused.

Foundation stone of contention
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Sept 30 — Foundation stone laying of an Irrigation and Public Health building has surprised many as the site earlier was approved for the construction of shopping-cum-tourist complex. It has also brought out the factionalism in the BJP and created misgiving between the local units of the BJP and the HVC ( Himachal Vikas Congress).

Mr Roop Singh, Himachal Forest Minister, laid the foundation stone of proposed IPH building on Monday. Estimated to cost Rs 27.5 lakh, top officials of the I & PH department attended the function. Attendance in the function was poor, as all municipal councillors (except one) absented from the function which was hurriedly arranged and the I & PH department did not intimate its minister about the function. Sources from the office of I & PH Minister said that the minister was having information neither about the function nor was he informed by the officials of the department had taken such decision without the approval of the Minister. Normally either the department asks its minister for inauguration or seeks permission if another minister is to be called as chief guest. A senior officer when asked about it remained silent over the matter.

One of officer-bearer of the BJP on anonymity said that the stone laying was the result and factionalism in the party.

Neither residents nor HVC workers hailed the decision. As this site is situated in the heart of the town near National Highway 21 and adjoining bus stand. So earlier this site was approved for the construction of a shopping- cum-tourism complex.

The complex comprising 78 shops which were set aside to be constructed with state government's and central government's help at a cost of Rs two crore. It was to have hotel, parking etc. under the scheme of Integrated Development Small and Medium Town.

According to Mr S.P. Singh Keshri (HVC), president, Sundernagar Municipal Committee had spent Rs 75,000 on the foundation of boundary wall on the spot. But it is surprising that the land has been given to I & PH department without even seeking no-objection from the committee. The committee has passed resolution that this site be given to the committee and intimated it to the DC, Mandi and the Chief Minister and hopeful that the committee will be allowed to construct shopping complex here.

The committee has suggested an alternative site for the construction of I & PH office, which already has been fenced by the department.

Mr Sher Singh, ex-MLA, criticised Mr Roop Singh, forest Minister, laying the foundation stone at the site which already was selected for a shopping complex, he said that the decision was against the wishes of public of this sub-division,he further added since one BJP worker had encroached on a part of the land which is near this site and he has to be evicted so that site has been allotted to I & PH department.

Kulu Dasehra a mirror of HP culture
From Subhash Sharma

KULU: The social and commercial life of the local people revolves around numerous 'jatras' (fairs). Dasehra happens to mark the climax and is now recognised as an international festival.

It provides an occasion to the people living in hills and dales of the valley to socialise and trade handicrafts and farm products. In addition to the local importance, the festival attracts hundreds of other industrialists and traders from other parts of the country to display and sell their products.

During the week-long festival, transactions worth crores of rupees take place. Kulu and Kinnauri shawls, handicrafts, carpets and even strikingly beautiful items of everyday use attract tourists and locals. A big cattle fair on the southern end of Dhalpur Ground conducts business valued at Rs 30 lakh to 40 lakh.

This year the business aspect will be better as the apple and other fruit crops in the valley have fetched a good response. The green peas and seed potato cash crops of the adjoining Lahaul and Spiti districts are also very promising.

In addition to the trade fair, Kulu Dasehra is a blend of the rich cultural heritage and colourful attire of people from all states. It can be termed as a seven-day national integration camp where one can see the basic features of India's unity amidst diversity.

Folk dances and cultural programmes by various states and abroad, fill the atmosphere and provides a feast for the eyes. Folk dance competitions are arranged at an open air theatre named after Lal Chand Prarthi, a pioneer in folk dance competitions. The open air theatre on the south-western corner of the Dhalpur Ground, is indeed a fabulous place and has excellent settings for dances. The performance of many international cultural troupes such as Romanian belles, Russian folk dances, Thai Ramayana belles and African folk dances remain fresh in the minds of the people.

Dasehra in Kulu mirrors Himachali culture in its entirety. Dhalpur Ground comes alive with gaily dressed and good-humoured crowds. Local people in their colourful costumes participate in community singing and dancing. The atmosphere vibrates with shehnai and drums beating to the tapping feet.

Raghunathji (Lord Rama), the chief deity of Kulu, and more than 100 devtas with their processions and bands, arrive on the first day at Dhalpur Ground. For the next six days, gaiety holds sway over Kulu. On the sixth day of Dasehra, all the "devis" and "devatas" assemble at the Raghunath temple to signify their presence for the killing of Ravana, the next day. Later descendants of Raja Jagat Singh (Maheshwar Singh and Karan Singh), who brought Lord Rama's idol from Ayodhya, perform Durga Puja to please the goddess and take blessings for their victory. And on the last day, Goddess Kali is worshipped by sacrificing animals to mark the culmination of the festival. Finally Lord Raghunath's idol is taken back to his resting place — Raghunathpur Temple — in a colourful procession.

Dhumal promoting regionalism: HP Congress
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — Mr Harsh Mahajan, vice-president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, has alleged that the BJP-HVC government was sowing seeds of regionalism in the state by shifting various offices and opening new institutions on political considerations.

In a statement here yesterday he said Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister Himachal, was giving preferential treatment to his home district was evident from the shifting of some important offices to Hamirpur. The Chief Minister should remember that Hamirpur was not the entire Himachal, but only a part of it.

He said on the other hand Rampur, the area of Mr Virbhadra Singh was being given a raw deal. The government had ordered mass transfers of employees leaving schools, hospitals, dispensaries and other institutions in the area without any staff. As many as 14 out of the total 20 lecturers of Sarahan senior secondary school had been shifted to schools in lower hills. Mass transfers had brought development activities in Solan, Sirmaur and Shimla districts a halt.

He alleged that the scheme to appoint "Vidya Upasak" and ayurvedic doctors as pharmacists had been formulated with a view to providing jobs to the RSS and BJP workers.

The administration had been politicised and some heads of the departments virtually function like BJP workers.

Trust a friend, lose a house
From Our Correspondent

NANGAL, Sept 30 — "Let no man be trusted". This adage has come true for Mr Mehanga Ram, General Secretary, Ropar, of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). The house of Mr Mehanga Ram who dedicated most of his life to the cause of labourers got auctioned today. He had to pay the price for helping a local businessman, Rajinder, at the behest of close friend.

Mr Mehanga Ram had given the papers of his sole property, a house, as guarantee in the bank, in order to help Ravinder secure a loan for starting a factory for manufacturing ice cream cones. Mr Ravinder, however, defaulted on the loan which left the guarantors in a lurch. The bank, with the order of court, today auctioned the house of Mr Mehanga Ram. The property of another guarantor, Mr Anil Nayar is also to be auctioned within a few days.

The factory of Mr Ravinder, however, couldn't be auctioned as the bank couldn't find any buyer to pay the official rate of Rs 7 lakh.

While talking to this correspondent a dejected Mr Mehanga Ram said that he had stood guarantor for Ravinder with sole aim of helping a person in distress. But now the person refuses to come to my aid, he added.

While addressing labourers who had come to his house, to express solidarity with him, he advised them "never trust a person".

Storm hits traffic in Hamirpur
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 30 — A heavy squall lashed Hamirpur town and interiors of the Bamsan areas of the district this afternoon for more than three hours causing widespread damages to standing crops, trees, houses and television antennae. Roofs of many houses were blown away and power supply and telecommunication services remained affected for more than five hours.

The accompanying rain was one of the heaviest rainfall of the season.

Road traffic on the Hamirpur-Shimla highways was also affected due to uprooting of trees, which blocked the road. Several hundred passengers were stranded on both sides of roads braving heavy rain and inclement weather. Traffic was restored only when nearby people came to roads alongwith their axes and cut the trees into pieces.

Reports say that power supply was hit by the falling of trees on the main lines and damaging transformers. At many places water supply was also affected due to failure of the power supply.

Further reports from interiors of the district were still awaited.

Irregularities in schemes detected

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — Mr Ramesh Chand Chaudhary, Himachal Irrigation and Public Health Minister, said yesterday that many irregularities had been found in various schemes launched during the Congress government. He was inspecting implementation of various schemes in different parts of the state.

In a statement Mr Chaudhary said an inquiry would be held by an appropriate agency to probe these irregularities and action taken against those officers found guilty. He said action would be taken under the CCI (Pension) rules against those guilty officers who had retired from government service.

The minister said while inspecting Jawalamukhi water supply scheme completed in 1996 he found many irregularities in the implementation of the scheme. He said that pipes worth Rs 75 lakh were purchased which had life of 30 years but holes had appeared in these pipes even after two years. It badly affected the water supply scheme. He said that a case of breach of agreement while undertaking this project has also come into light. Mr Chaudhary said that instead of ISI specification pipes, substandard pipes were used in this project, resulting in loss of lakh of rupees.

Mr Chaudhary also inspected water supply, schemes at Gumma, Pragpur and Dharamsala and expressed satisfaction that pipes laid more 100 years ago in these schemes were intact even today.

HPTDC takes over Peterhof
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has taken over the charge of the Peterhof complex from the Hospitality and Protocol Department

The complex, which was being used as the state guest house, will not be run as a hotel. It has 35 rooms, darbar and conference halls, a library and a restaurant.

Woman found dead
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Sept 30 — Twentysix-year-old Kunta Devi was found burnt to death in the fields in Beh Dhar village in the Kotli area of tehsil Sadar today.

Her husband Chaman Lal, father-in-law Relu Ram and mother-in-law Ruki Devi have been arrested and the body sent for a post-mortem examination.