H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Inquiry confirms atrocities on SCs
NURPUR, March 25 — Poor and hapless families of the Scheduled Castes of Thapkour village under the Nurpur police station are living in panic as they have been facing alleged atrocities by local landlords belonging to upper, castes under influence of some politicians.

Rollback prices, say Cong MLAs
SHIMLA, March 25 — The Congress in Himachal Pradesh has warned the state government against any fresh increase in the electricity tariff and has urged the Centre to roll back LPG and kerosene prices.

Polytechnic students resort to fast
KANGRA, March 25 — The striking students of the Kangra polytechnic college today went on chain relay fast in front of the college gate and threatened to stage dharna before the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Dharamsala if their demands were not met immediately.

Three Army men hurt in mishap
KUMARHATTI, March 25 — Three Army personnel were seriously injured when a mini military truck carrying them rolled into a 300-feet gorge near Barog, about 3 km from here, yesterday.

Post office fully computerised
SHIMLA, March 25 — The post office in the Accountant General’s office here has become the first in Himachal Pradesh to be fully computerised. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minster, today performed the inauguration ceremony.

Inquiry confirms atrocities on SCs
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, March 25 — Poor and hapless families of the Scheduled Castes of Thapkour village under the Nurpur police station are living in panic as they have been facing alleged atrocities by local landlords belonging to upper, castes under influence of some politicians.

According to the information, the landlords have been taking forcible possession of land and houses of these poor persons by securing decrees from courts in their favour. The victims had complained to the district administration about one and half months ago that they were being beaten up by the landlords and their land and houses were being grabbed forcibly. The Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, had asked the Subdivisional Magistrate, Nurpur, to inquire into the matter.

Mr Naresh Kumar Lath, the SDM in his report, submitted to the Deputy Commissioner had reportedly found that a house constructed by the State Rural Development Department under the Indira Awas Yozna for Mr Ramesh Chand had been forcibly locked by the landlords. Similarly, the house of Mr Kundan Lal was closed by a thorn fencing.

The SDM also found that three more Scheduled Caste landless families who were allotted 10-kanal land each by the then state government between 1981 and 1983 were not allowed to take possession of the land by the influential landlords.

Commenting on the role of the police, the SDM found that notwithstanding his written order on February 2, 2000 to the police to take action against the accused responsible for the alleged atrocities on the Scheduled Caste families, the local police had not taken any action so far.

The SDM when contacted, revealed that the landlords had secured a court decree in their favour by concealing the fact that the house of Mr Ramesh Chand was constructed by the Rural Development Department under the Indira Awas Yojna and that other families were allotted agriculture land by the state government. He also pointed out that other victims had also been residing on the disputed land for the past many years.

He asserted that in spite of taking forcible possession and committing atrocities on the victims, the landlords should approach the revenue authorities.

This correspondent also visited the village and found that the Scheduled Caste families were living in a scary atmosphere as they have lost faith in the police.

In the meantime, the house of Mr Ramesh Chand was reportedly demolished by the landlords on Thursday which has sparked off tension in the village.

Polytechnic students resort to fast
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 25 — The striking students of the Kangra polytechnic college today went on chain relay fast in front of the college gate and threatened to stage dharna before the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Dharamsala if their demands were not met immediately.

The students who started the relay fast today included some girl students too. The striking students, who are agitating for the past five days, not satisfied with the decisions taken by the Directorate of Technical Education on Thursday last with regard to demands, demanded immediate acceptance of their all demands.

Meanwhile the NSUI today extended its supports to the polytechnic college students’ agitation and boycott of classes and house tests and demanded that their demands be accepted. In a statement here today the state organising secretary of the NSUI Mr Sunil Bhaloria said here that there should be uniform rules in all polytechnic colleges in the state. He was critical of charging Rs 250 as the re-valuation fee by the Technical Board whereas the university was charging Rs 30 for re-evaluation.

Mr Sunil said that the NSUI state chief would lead a delegation and call on the Chief Minister to accept its demands immediately. The NSUI in the statement has threatened gherao to the state legislative Assembly at Shimla on March 30 if by then the demands of the striking students were not accepted. They demanded that the Congress MLAs should raise this issue in the Assembly and press for the demands. Mr Sunil was accompanied by the state secretary, Mr Lokash Nandan when he met students on relay fast today.

Rollback prices, say Cong MLAs
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 25 — The Congress in Himachal Pradesh has warned the state government against any fresh increase in the electricity tariff and has urged the Centre to roll back LPG and kerosene prices.

In a joint statement here today, five Congress MLAs, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Vice-President, PCC, Mrs Asha Kumari, Mrs Viplove Thakur (General Secretaries), Mr Yogendera Chandra and Mr Kuldeep Kuthe criticised the Centre for the price hike without taking Parliament into confidence.

Three Army men hurt in mishap
From Our Correspondent

KUMARHATTI, March 25 — Three Army personnel were seriously injured when a mini military truck carrying them rolled into a 300-feet gorge near Barog, about 3 km from here, yesterday.

According to an eyewitness, the driver of the truck lost control over vehicle while negotiating a curve.

The injured were admitted to District Hospital, Solan, where their condition was stated to be serious.

Post office fully computerised
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 25 — The post office in the Accountant General’s office here has become the first in Himachal Pradesh to be fully computerised. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minster, today performed the inauguration ceremony.

Emphasising on the importance of postal services, Mr Dhumal said it was one of the old modes of communication and people had faith in it. He expressed confidence that postal employees would maintain credibility and endeavour to provide better and efficient services to customers, which was also the need of the hour in the present competitive world.

Mr Dhumal said computerisation of postal services would go a long way in delivering goods to customers with speed and through a single window.

He said to give impetus to information technology, the government had decided to introduce computer education in all senior secondary schools in the state.