HVC leader’s charge refuted
SHIMLA, Aug 13 — Mr A.N. Sharma, Superintendent of Police, has refuted the charge of Mr Sadanand Chauhan, a senior leader of the HVC, that the police had acted with political motives to implicate him and others in a false case.

Cheat nabbed
SHIMLA, Aug 13 — The local police nabbed A Steni, alias Maxi Amario, a resident of Goa, who had been cheating fathers and sisters of various churches in the country by impersonating as father of a church in New Jersey, USA.

Probe desecration incident, urges BJP
SHIMLA, Aug 13 — Irked at the hue and cry being made by the Opposition over the desecration of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi by miscreants at Hamirpur, the state unit of the BJP today urged Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, to order a thorough probe into the incident and take strict action against the culprits.

HP to expand Parwanoo Industrial Area
PARWANOO, Aug 13 — Mr Kishori Lal, Industry Minister of Himachal Pradesh, visited Solchrome Systems India Limited at Sector 5 in Parwanoo here yesterday. It is engaged in manufacturing solar thermal energy components and devices.

Three dead in house collapse
SHIMLA, Aug 13 — Three members of a family were buried alive when a house collapsed following rain at Dhumli Sherdi village under the Aut police station in Mandi district last night, police sources said today.

3-member HVC panel on graft
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — Significant move, the Mohinder Singh faction of the Himachal Vikas Congress today endorsed the call given by Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies, for fulfilling the election promise of “zero tolerance” in the matter of corruption and set up a three-member vigilance committee for the purpose.

The decision to “extend” a helping hand to the government in “checking corruption” was taken at a meeting of the state executive of the party here today. The committee to be headed by Mr Baldev Sharma, general secretary of the party, will have Mr Ramesh Bhau and Mr Kashmiri Lal as members.

It will keep a watch on the functioning of various government departments and bring to its notice irregularities and cases of corruption so that prompt action can be taken against the guilty.

The meeting expressed anguish over the registration of the “one-sided” case against its senior leader, Mr Sadanand Chauhan, and decided to bring the “excesses” committed by the administration on him to the notice of the Chief Minister.

Briefing the press, Mr O.P. Rattan, working president, and Mr Baldev Sharma, general secretary, said a delegation of the party would meet Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, tomorrow and apprise him of the party’s views on the issue. The party was convinced that the police has acted in a biased manner and instead of registering cases both parties, had booked Mr Chauhan alone though the letter had been the target of an attack and was the first to inform the police about the incident.

It would demand registration of an FIR against the opposite party and action against police officers who had registered a “one-sided” case against Mr Chauhan.

The party demanded a thorough probe into the illegal sale of industrial plots by allottees. It alleged that over the past few years, a large number of entrepreneurs who were allotted industrial plots at subsidised rates, had instead of setting up units sold these or constructed residential houses or shops.

The party expressed sorrow over the massive loss to life and property in the Sutlej floods and conveyed its sympathy with the bereaved families. It appreciated the prompt relief measures taken by the government to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

It was decided that in future the state executive meeting would be held in various districts and workers’ training camps organised to strengthen the party case. The first such camp would be held at Solan in the third week of September.

Kangra women take to hi-tech floriculture

KANGRA (HP), Aug 13 (PTI) —When a grandmother in the remote Kangra hills took to tissue culture of ornamental flowers with aplomb, aided in her hi-tech task with a pressure cooker and sterilised empty jam bottles, it was modern technology reaching the doorstep of rural India.

Under a novel project initiated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) last year, women in Kangra are being encouraged to grow orchids and lilies using modern technologies.

“By training semi-literate women and raw hands in tissue culture, we are taking biotechnology to the rural doorstep,” said Anil Sood, scientist at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), in Palampur, which is spearheading the project in the area.

The IHBT is taking the help of an NGO, Khundian-based Society for Rural and Environmental Awakening (era), in its task.

The project’s novelty lies in the demystification of the sophisticated procedures so that ordinary village folk are not intimidated by them.

For example, when women from Khundian and nearby villages in Kangra were first taken to the tissue culture lab of the IHBT, they were too overawed by the hi-tech gadgetry to comprehend anything.

Changing their strategy, IHBT scientists came to their village and with the help of era explained the basics of tissue culture — how a tiny amount of any plant material, be it a stem, root, flower or fruit piece, can be grown on a special nutrient medium supplemented with growth regulators to produce thousands of tiny plants.

As IHBT scientists also showed how tissue culture can be done with simple substitutes — a pressure cooker instead of an autoclave to generate high pressure, and sterilised empty jam bottles instead of conical flasks — the women began to show interest.

A major necessity, a “laminar flow chamber” that ensures supply of sterilised air to prevent contamination of the plant cultures, was brought to Khundian, where era office provides space for maintaining equipment as well as culture samples.

The strategy has yielded results as 50-plus Bhago Devi, a grandmother, spiritedly travels all the way from Shantla village, some 30 km from Khundian, to maintain her tissue cultures. So do several women from other villages.

The idea behind the scheme is to help these rural women generate their own income. The areas of Himachal they inhabit are traditionally called “chagar” which are dry and infertile and men often migrate for long periods in search of employment, leaving their families to fend for themselves.

“We realised that floriculture was one area where local people could be involved,” said Sood.

Sood’s team homed in on orchids and lilies — two plants that grow well in the state but not on the plains.

Plants produced in large numbers through tissue culture will be sold through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (apeda) for sale in urban markets, Pradeep Sharma from era said. The material is expected to reach the market in five to six months, Sood said.

Many of the rural women are also being encouraged to raise nurseries of marigolds. The flowers are expected to be marketed to nearby temples by October and November. 

Rising crime in Palampur
From Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR: The deteriorating law and order situation in this region has caused serious concern among the residents. There have been cases of theft, murder, rape and other crimes in the past six months. Over a dozen major cases of theft were reported to the police, but in almost all cases the police failed to trace the culprits.

In a locality near the town, property worth lakh of rupees was stolen in broad daylight. Another such incident was reported from the HP Housing Board colony where thieves entered two houses in daylight and fled with cash and ornaments. In another case a bank employee was robbed.

All these cases were brought to the notice of police and FIRs were lodged at the local police station, but till today the police could not make my recovery. Likewise a number of scooters and other two-wheelers were also stolen from the town. Here, too, the culprits remain at large. There has been a sharp increase in cases of rape, involving mostly minor girls.

There is a general impression among the public here that the police is fast losing its grip on anti-social elements resulting in a spurt in the crime graph. In many areas the people have stopped venturing out of their houses even during day as they fear robbery any time. The worst affected areas are Adarsh Nagar, Thakurdwara and Housing Board Colony, which are situated outside the town and within easy access to robbers.

Besides, there were cases also where the victims prefer not to lodge FIRs to avoid police harassment.

It is revealed that a gang of robbers from Punjab is active in the area. This gang has been committing crimes in a planned manner. It strikes only when it notices that police is busy in attending the VIPs sent outside the district on VIP duty or when most of the staff is on leave. Keeping in view the poor police strength, no night patrolling nor means of telecommunication and transport, anti-social elements make their entry and return after committing the crime. Though the police is well conversant with the modes operandi being adopted by the criminals but finding itself helpless it hesitates to take any action. A police officer admitted that the most of the thefts in district were being committed by criminals from Gurdaspur, Dhariwal and Pathankot.

Large-scale illicit distillation is going on unchecked in and around Palampur causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. A bottle of illicit liquor is being sold at Rs 15. The raids conducted by the police from time to time have proved futile because those involved in this trade get to know about any impending police raid.

Political interference in the functioning of the police has further made matters worse. postings of all senior officers are made on the recommendations of ministers and MLAs. Recently a ruling party MLA conveyed his displeasure to a senior police officer since an SHO of his choice was not posted in his area.

There are a number of such instances on record where police officers were shifted or posted on the advice of ministers and MLAs, which has adversely affected its functioning.

On the other hand, the local police station is in bad shape. There is inadequate police force at police stations causing delay in attending to complaints. There has been a manifold increase in the population and the crime graph has also gone up steadily but the force at the police station is the same as it was in 1990. Vehicles provided to the police station are outdated which mostly remain in workshops. The police station has poor wireless network. Besides, the drastic cut in the budget allocation of the police department has compounded problems, severely crippling its working.

Cong activists hold procession
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Aug 13 — Congress activists led by Mr Ram Lal Thakur, MLA and Mrs Anita Verma, vice-president of the state unit of party, held a procession from Gandhi Chowk to the police station in protest against the arrest of “innocents” for the desecration of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. They were raising slogans against the state government and demanding the arrest of those responsible for the desecration. They were also demanding immediate release of the arrested.

Earlier, the case took a new turn when the police rounded up three persons, including Mr Ashok Kavi, a former president of the National Students Union of India.

The Congress leaders alleged that the police was arresting innocents on political considerations. They threatened that if more innocents were arrested, the party would launch protests all over the state.

They also demanded the registration of a case against Mr Babu Ram Mandyal, BJP MLA, for blaming the Congress for the incident.

Mr Ram Lal Thakur told mediapersons that the desecration was an insult to the nation and the BJP should apologise for it.

He demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, members of the party continued their dharna at Gandhi Chowk today for the fourth day today in protest against the incident. In another development, the city unit of the RSS described as baseless the allegation that the organisation had anything to do with the incident.

Mr Jagan Nath, Nagar Sanghchalak in a statement, said the RSS was a nationalist organisation and had great regard for national heroes.

Major Sandeep Kumar laid to rest
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — The residents of the town bade a tearful adieu to Major Sandeep Kumar of the 2nd Naga Regiment who was killed in a landmine blast in the Mashkoh valley in the Dras sector two days ago.

Hundreds turned up at the Ridge to pay homage to the valiant soldier who laid down his life for the country. Mrs Sheela Kumar, the mother waited inconsolably as the body arrived from Chandigarh. Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, the Governor, was the first to lay wreath on the body. He was followed by Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Leader of the Opposition, Lt Gen H.B. Kala, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command, Lt Gen D.D. Saklani and other senior military officers, Mr Roop Singh, Mr Narinder Bragta and Mr Vidya Sagar, all ministers, Mrs Jaini Prem, Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, Mr Ganesh Dut, Vice Chairman of the State Housing Board, the Director-General of Police, Mr A.K. Puri, and other government officers.

The funeral service was held at the Christ Church and body was laid to rest at the Sanjauli cemetery with full state and military honours.

Maj Sandeep Kumar is survived by his wife Sharon and a one-and-a- half year old daughter.

Maj Kumar did exceedingly well in the Dras sector during Operation Vijay. He successfully led the attack on the “Twin-Bumps” peaks to throw out the well-entrenched enemy for which he earned a “mention in despatches”.

He stepped on a landmine while patrolling the border in the Mashkoh valley. 

Cheat nabbed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — The local police nabbed A Steni, alias Maxi Amario, a resident of Goa, who had been cheating fathers and sisters of various churches in the country by impersonating as father of a church in New Jersey, USA.

The conman was nabbed when he tried to trick Sister Jaisyntha, Principal, Sacred Heart Tara Hall School. Posing as Father Albert from New Jersey, he rang up the sister urging her to help a young boy Maxi who he said had lost all his money, passport, visa and other documents and was stranded at the local railway station.

However, Sister Jaisyntha who was aware that a sister of Jesus and Mary School, Ambala, had been defrauded of Rs 60,000 in this fashion few days ago, brought him home and informed the police. Sister Tara who was called from Ambala to identify Maxi, confirmed that he was the same person who cheated her.

It was also revealed during interrogation that Maxi had earlier defrauded a father in Dharamsala of Rs 60,000. He had planned to cheat sister Jaisyntha of Rs 50,000 which he would have taken from her as air fare for returning to the USA.

He had earlier been nabbed for cheating and had even sentenced to imprisonment twice. 

HVC leader’s charge refuted
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — Mr A.N. Sharma, Superintendent of Police, has refuted the charge of Mr Sadanand Chauhan, a senior leader of the HVC, that the police had acted with political motives to implicate him and others in a false case.

He said the allegation that the police did not take any action on his complaint was baseless. The fact was that his complaint was recorded in the daily diary of Sadar police station and a copy of it was duly delivered to him.

However, no criminal case registered on his complaint as prima facie allegations made by him were found false and the complaint was a mere cover up.

Giving facts of the case he said on the night intervening of July 21 and 22 at about 12.45 a.m., when Mr Anil Soni, his wife Madhu along with three friends Babal Dhaliwal, Sukhdeep Dhaliwal and Rakesh Sharma got down from their vehicles at Snow View Lodge, Mr Sadanand Chauhan accompanied by 11 others dragged Anil Soni and others inside his house and started beating them up with iron rods and clubs causing injuries to Anil and Babal Dhaliwal. All the 14 injuries caused to Babal Dhaliwal were declared grievous and dangerous to life by the doctor. The two required more than hundred stitches each on their heads. Rakesh Sharma, Sukhdeep Singh and Madhu Soni received simple injuries. They also outraged the modesty of the wife of Anil Soni, and even snatched his licenced revolver and fired upon him but the bullets missed the target and hit the roof. On the basis of these facts a case under sections 307, 147, 148, 149, 354, 506 of the IPC was registered on the complaint of Mrs Madhu Soni and 12 persons were arrested who were later released on bail by the competent courts.

During the investigation of the case, it came to light that Mr Sadanand Chauhan and his sons were involved in as many as 26 different criminal cases at Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Naraingarh and other places and out of these seven cases were of attempt to murder.

Probe desecration incident, urges BJP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — Irked at the hue and cry being made by the Opposition over the desecration of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi by miscreants at Hamirpur, the state unit of the BJP today urged Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, to order a thorough probe into the incident and take strict action against the culprits.

Mr Ganesh Dut, party spokesman, decried the attempt of the Congress to give a political colour to the unsavoury incident even though the BJP had condemned the act and Mr Dhumal ordered installation of a new statue at the same place.

He alleged that certain leaders of the Congress were creating hurdles in police investigations into the matter. He said such attempts would only make these leaders suspect in the eyes of the police.

He reminded Congressmen that when a similar incident at the historic Ridge had occurred on December 31, 1997, the BJP, which was in the Opposition, had neither asked for the resignation of the Virbhadra government, nor sought an apology for the act of miscreants.

He urged the Congress leaders to cooperate with the administration in the investigation so that the culprits could be brought to the book.

HP to expand Parwanoo Industrial Area
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, Aug 13 — Mr Kishori Lal, Industry Minister of Himachal Pradesh, visited Solchrome Systems India Limited at Sector 5 in Parwanoo here yesterday. It is engaged in manufacturing solar thermal energy components and devices.

The minister while speaking to media persons here said the Government of Himachal Pradesh has decided to expand Parwanoo Industrial Area and the land acquisition process had started. He added that preference would be given to Himachalis for employment in industry and the government would ensure minimum 60 per cent employment for Himachalis.

Mr Bannerje, General Manager of the company, said the company manufactures ISI quality products and has been awarded the ISO-9002 certification.

It was conferred with “Millennium 2000 Award” by the World Renewable Energy Congress at Brighton, UK on July 5, 2000.

Three dead in house collapse

SHIMLA, Aug 13 (UNI) — Three members of a family were buried alive when a house collapsed following rain at Dhumli Sherdi village under the Aut police station in Mandi district last night, police sources said today.

The deceased were identified as Pursho Devi (32) and her daughter Nirmala (12) and Soma Devi (eight).