H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Dhumal proposes to hold joint polls
HAMIRPUR, Feb 8 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal honoured panchayati raj functionaries of the Bamsan Assembly segment at a function held today. He said at a function at Samirpur that his government was examining a proposal to hold the elections of the chairpersons of zila parishads, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats directly on the panchayat pattern. It would stop the horse-trading in the elections, he said.

Cong wins Hamirpur panchayat poll
HAMIRPUR, Feb 8 — The BJP suffered a major setback in Hamirpur district today when the Congress candidates won the posts of chairman and vice-chairperson of the Hamirpur panchayat samiti.

Cong failed to protect Gaddis’ interests: leader
DHARAMSALA, Feb 8 — Accusing the Congress of failing to protect the interests of the Gaddi community, Congress leader and Zila Parishad candidate Manoj Kumar today demanded that those members who had cross-voted should be expelled from the party.

BJP removes Kulu dist unit chief
SHIMLA, Feb 8 — The crisis in the Kulu unit of the BJP has further deepened with the party president, Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, suspending Mr Dinesh Sen, district president, who clashed with Mr Karan Singh, Primary Education Minister, in public during the zila parishad poll.

Embezzlement raises questions
DHARAMSALA, Feb 8 — Even as the clerk responsible for the alleged embezzlement of over Rs 8 lakh at the local Government Degree College remains at large, questions are being raised over the manner in which financial irregularities were committed right under the nose of the college authorities.

HP ‘most’ sensitive to quakes
CHAMBA, Feb 8 — Seismological studies conducted in 1995 in this region had found the epicentre for seismic zone-V to be near the border hills of this district.

HP Budget session from March 1
SHIMLA, Feb 8 — The Budget session of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha will be held from March 1 to April 20.

Youth’s murder: villagers block highway
KANGRA, Feb 8 — Hundreds of irate residents of Trigala village today blocked traffic on the Pathankot-Mandi highway for three hours at Shahpur, near here, in protest against the alleged delay in the arrest of four persons who murdered a youth on January 29 at Basoor village, the police said here today.

Follow ideals of Guru Ravidass: HP Governor
CHAMBA, Feb 8 — The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Dr Suraj Bhan, said here today that an organisation would be set up at the national level soon for the uplift of The downtrodden in which all salaried class Dalits would be asked to deposit their one-day salary once in three months. He was speaking on the occasion of a state-level Guru Ravidass centenary function at Dharog here.

Chemists hold protest against police raids
SOLAN, Feb 8 — Retail Chemists in the town and Nauni today observed a two-hour-long strike in protest against Tuesday’s police raids on the shops of two chemists. They were named in the suicide note left by Parmar University student Sameeran Mohanta, who ended his life by hanging himself from the hook of a ceiling fan in his hostel room of Monday.

Kasauli police station in bad shape 
KASAULI: Set up in the 1920s, the police station of this 150-year-old cantonment town has little to call modern. Built in the ancient fort-type architecture, the station requires immediate renovation. The policemen at the entrance can, besides keeping vigil on the cells, also simultaneously monitor those coming and leaving the police station, including those called for interrogation, said the Station House Officer, Mr Narveer Singh Rathore.

Pathania condemns Himachal Govt
JAWALAMUKHI, Feb 8 — Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, a former Transport minister and MLA from Jawalamukhi constituency of Kangra district, has condemned the state Bhartiya Janata Party government for stalling all developmental activities in area for petty political reasons.

NJPC staff to hold protest rallies
SHIMLA, Feb 8 — Employees of the state electricity board on secondment with the Nathpa-Jhakri Corporation (NJPC) have decide to hold protest rallies from February 9 to pressurise the NJPC management to accept their demands.

• Middle class result

Dhumal proposes to hold joint polls
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Feb 8 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal honoured panchayati raj functionaries of the Bamsan Assembly segment at a function held today. He said at a function at Samirpur that his government was examining a proposal to hold the elections of the chairpersons of zila parishads, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats directly on the panchayat pattern. It would stop the horse-trading in the elections, he said.

The Chief Minister said he had sent a proposal regarding joint elections to the Prime Minister as well as the Chief Election Commissioner. Holding of elections in different intervals was causing botheration to the people as well as the government. It was also putting extra burden on the state exchequer, he said.

Mr Dhumal also suggested holding of all elections from the panchayat level to the parliament level jointly. If this proposal was accepted, the democratic system would flourish much, he said.

Mr Ram Lal Markandya, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry and Mr Kripal Parmar, MP, also attended the function. Mr Parmar laid the foundation stone of a complex at the local school. He announced a grant of Rs 2.50 lakh from the MP’s fund.

The Chief Minister said his government would transfer almost all powers to these institutions and the grants to these would continue.

The government would assess the features of primary schools before handing over their control of the respective gram panchayats.

Mr Dhumal expressed concern over the continued drought situation in all parts of the state. He said all out efforts would be made to conserve the water by constructing small check dams. He also suggested the tap water be used only for drinking purpose.

Mr Johnda Ram Pradhan of the Dharog Gram Panchayat and Ms Sarita Devi, one of the members of the Nadaun Nagar Panchayat, announced their joining the BJP.

Cong wins Hamirpur panchayat poll
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Feb 8 — The BJP suffered a major setback in Hamirpur district today when the Congress candidates won the posts of chairman and vice-chairperson of the Hamirpur panchayat samiti.

Mr Hardyal Singh and Mrs Neelam Kumari were elected as the chairman and vice-chairperson of the samiti.

The elections were postponed thrice earlier for want of quorum. Today’s meeting was the fourth and the last to elect the new office-bearers.

When Congress members reached the venue, some BJP workers allegedly tried to “kidnap” them. This was followed by a scuffle between the two groups. Congress nominees got eight votes as against seven each by the BJP nominees.

Cong failed to protect Gaddis’ interests: leader
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Feb 8 — Accusing the Congress of failing to protect the interests of the Gaddi community, Congress leader and Zila Parishad candidate Manoj Kumar today demanded that those members who had cross-voted should be expelled from the party.

Addressing a press conference here today, he regretted that despite being chosen as the party candidate for the post of Chairman, Kangra Zila Parishad, the Congress had to suffer defeat because of cross-voting by some members. “It was a conspiracy by those very people who had cross-voted at the time of the Rajya Sabha elections and I appeal to the party that it was high time they are expelled from the party,” Mr Manoj Kumar stated.

He added that had the party high command taken action against the three MLAs who had cross-voted, things would have been different.

He alleged that some of the Congress members, including the other contender, Mr Navneet Sharma, cross-voted to ensure his defeat. “I was amazed to see that inside the election hall itself some of the Congress members canvassed against me without bothering for party interest,” he said.

He appreciated the support extended to him by former minister Vijai Mankotia, who, he said, was sensitive towards the problems of the Gaddis. Interestingly, Mr Manoj Kumar faced stiff opposition by Mr Mankotia in the Zila Parishad election.

Mr Manoj Kumar regretted that over the past years the Congress had not bothered for the problems of the Gaddis, while on the other hand the BJP had given them due respect and opportunities.

BJP removes Kulu dist unit chief
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 8 — The crisis in the Kulu unit of the BJP has further deepened with the party president, Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, suspending Mr Dinesh Sen, district president, who clashed with Mr Karan Singh, Primary Education Minister, in public during the zila parishad poll.

Mr Sharma also set up a committee under the chairmanship of Mr Ram Swaroop, the state organising secretary, to inquire into the incident.

In another significant decision, Mr Kamal Padha, general secretary of the Kangra district unit, Mr Ajay Pankil and Mr Puran Chaudhary, party workers, were suspended from primary membership of the party.

Mr Chaman Lal, president of the Bilaspur district unit of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, was also removed.

Mr Raj Tilak Chaddha, chairman, Gagret Block Development Samiti, has been suspended from the primary membership of the party and a committee set up to conduct an inquiry against him under the chairmanship of Mr Karpal Parmar, party general secretary.

Embezzlement raises questions
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Feb 8 — Even as the clerk responsible for the alleged embezzlement of over Rs 8 lakh at the local Government Degree College remains at large, questions are being raised over the manner in which financial irregularities were committed right under the nose of the college authorities.

The issue has snowballed into a major controversy as doubts are being expressed that the actual money swindled could be much more. The fee clerk in the college, Karan Thapa, has absconded.

Surprisingly, the embezzlement, detected by the college staff in the last week of December last year, was reported to the college principal, Mr S.L. Anand, only on January 9. “What is even more intriguing is the fact that the police was informed about the embezzlement on February 1,” said some of the college staff members.

The principal, Mr Anand, said the fee clerk had attended the college for the last time on November 22 after remaining absent from duty for over a week without leave. On that day, the clerk deposited Rs 43,215 with the bank’s extension counter in the college, Rs 75,025 with the State Bank of India and Rs 1.05 lakh with the local post office.

“After exhaustive checking of records, we have found that a sum of Rs 8,05,941 has been embezzled by the clerk,” disclosed Mr Anand.

He said taking advantage of the platinum jubilee celebrations in the college, the clerk had produced “fictitious” figures. He said it was the duty of the office superintendent to tally the collected money with the deposited amount to check any irregularity.

Surprisingly, despite the accounts being checked at five stages by the superintendent, cashier, accountant, butsar and finally the principal himself, the irregularity could not be detected.

Laxity on the part of the office staff in handling the issue can be gauged by the fact that they took more than a month to bring the embezzlement to the notice of the principal.

Karan Thapa reportedly returned here on December 22 along with his aunt, who approached the audit staff with the excuse that her nephew had misplaced the records, which she would soon locate and return.

A sum of Rs 4.44 lakh was recovered from Thapa’s steel almirah and Rs 97,000 from the record room almirah. He was supposed to have deposited the money with the bank.

Insiders say the authorities have taken the matter “lightly” and the efforts to brush the issue under the carpet. However, with the students getting to know of the matter, there have been agitations in the college by various student organisations.

HP ‘most’ sensitive to quakes
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Feb 8 — Seismological studies conducted in 1995 in this region had found the epicentre for seismic zone-V to be near the border hills of this district.

A report on earthquakes in Chamba submitted to the Centre by a team of seismologists of the Meteorological Department of India had revealed that the entire state of Himachal Pradesh fell in the seismic zone-V which is most sensitive and earthquake-prone. It also affects zone-IV (Jammu and Kashmir) and zone-III (parts of Uttar Pradesh).

The report observed that the earth-quake that had hit Chamba and its suburbs on March 24, 1995, had been recorded at 4.5 on the Richter scale.

Experts had said people residing in sensitive seismic zones should construct quake-resistant houses and structures.

Geologists say one of the major causes of soil erosion in certain areas of this valley may be earthquakes. The fissures developed as a result of the earthquakes initiate soil erosion which later results in landslides.

HP Budget session from March 1
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 8 — The Budget session of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha will be held from March 1 to April 20.

As per the tentative calendar issued by the Vidhan Sabha secretariat the session will commence with the customary Governor’s address, and the Budget for year 2001-2002 will be presented on March 9 by Mr P.K. Dhumal, who also hold the Finance portfolio. There will be 26 sittings in all. The House will observe recess from March 16 to 25, during which the demand for grants of various departments will be scrutinised by the respective department-related standing committee.

The Budget will be passed on March 28.

Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker, stated that three days had been earmarked for private members’ business. The Budget estimates of the state electricity board would also be discussed during the session.

Youth’s murder: villagers block highway
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Feb 8 — Hundreds of irate residents of Trigala village today blocked traffic on the Pathankot-Mandi highway for three hours at Shahpur, near here, in protest against the alleged delay in the arrest of four persons who murdered a youth on January 29 at Basoor village, the police said here today.

Police sources said hundreds of villagers blocked the highway, alleging that the police was delaying the arrest of the accused and had not sought police remand after detaining them.

The protesters lifted the blockade following the intervention of the Additional district police chief, Mr N.D. Sareen.

According to the police, Hans Raj (30) was allegedly murdered and his body was hidden under fodder stacks in the fields of Basoor village. The police had nabbed the suspects, including three brothers, yesterday. They have been identified as Chater Singh, resident of Rait, and Subhash Chand, Surender Kumar and Ranjeet Singh, all brothers hailing from Bagroo village.

During their confession, they said they, including Hans Raj, had consumed liquor and later he slipped from a staircase and was injured. They then kept him under the fodder stacks. His body was recovered on January 29, the police said.

Follow ideals of Guru Ravidass: HP Governor
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Feb 8 — The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Dr Suraj Bhan, said here today that an organisation would be set up at the national level soon for the uplift of The downtrodden in which all salaried class Dalits would be asked to deposit their one-day salary once in three months. He was speaking on the occasion of a state-level Guru Ravidass centenary function at Dharog here.

He said we should follow the ideals and preachings of saints like Guru Ravidass and Kabir. Guru Ravidass was a great poet and was remembered not only in India, but also worldwide for promoting brotherhood and equality.

Speaking on the occasion, Industries Minister Kishori Lal said we should work for the uplift of backward classes. Also present on the occasion were Minister of Ayurveda Mohan Lal, Zila Parishad Chairperson Nisha Ravat, Mr Tulsi Ram, MLA, and Deputy Commissioner T.D. Negi.

Earlier, the Governor was presented with a siropa by the Guru Ravidass Mahasabha. The Governor announced a grant of Rs 51,000 for the mahasabha. 

Chemists hold protest against police raids
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Feb 8 — Retail Chemists in the town and Nauni today observed a two-hour-long strike in protest against Tuesday’s police raids on the shops of two chemists. They were named in the suicide note left by Parmar University student Sameeran Mohanta, who ended his life by hanging himself from the hook of a ceiling fan in his hostel room of Monday.

A delegation of the Retail Chemists Association also met the Superintendent of Police, Mr Rakesh Aggarwal, and requested him not to order such raids. They added that if such raids became unavoidable, them these must be conducted by policemen in plain clothes.

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move, the SP had sought the custody of answersheets of the last examination taken by Sameeran Mohanta from the university authorities for getting these reevaluated from some independent agency. Mohanta had also named the teacher, who had evaluated his answersheets, as one of the causes that led him to take the extreme step.

This had caused widespread resentment among the teaching community of the university as they apprehended uncalled harassment of the teacher concerned. A teacher on the condition of anonymity said the “purpose behind the police wanting to obtain the answersheets could only be that it wanted to investigate whether the teacher had abetted the suicide or not.”

While the Vice-Chancellor was not available for comment, another university don felt that the move to get the answersheets re-evaluated from some independent agency had put a question mark on the integrity of the university teachers.

Kasauli police station in bad shape 
From Ambika Sharma

KASAULI: Set up in the 1920s, the police station of this 150-year-old cantonment town has little to call modern. Built in the ancient fort-type architecture, the station requires immediate renovation. The policemen at the entrance can, besides keeping vigil on the cells, also simultaneously monitor those coming and leaving the police station, including those called for interrogation, said the Station House Officer, Mr Narveer Singh Rathore.

Though the police is secure from the security point of view having a small door to serve the purpose in case of a mob attack, but its odd location — away from the main activity centre of the town — impedes immediate police action in case of an emergency. It sometimes takes half an hour to reach the calamity spot resulting in inconvenience to the public as well as tourists. The path leading to the police station is non-motorable and adds to the woes of the public.

This police station covers an area of 43,915 hectares, spread over 23 panchayats, and has two more police posts at Garkhal and Kishengarh under it. It caters to a population of more than 70,000. The sanctioned strength of one Sub-Inspector, two ASIs, two Head Constables and 17 constables, including three women, has not been revised ever since its inception, though the population has multiplied since then. The SHO stated that the staff strength is far short.

This includes one policeman each for carrying post to the district headquarters at Solan daily, another for carrying documents for court cases to Solan in property cases, two to three are engaged in issuing summons while two of them are occupied in wireless operation sets. As many as eight policemen are involved in night patrolling, besides five home guard personnel. This leaves barely enough men to look after the town, particularly during emergencies.

It is noteworthy to mention that a spate of thefts had taken place in this town last winter. These had remained untraced. Theft of parked vehicles at night is not an unusual occurrence in the region.

The housing quarters, located on the first floor of the police station, are not only inadequate according to the strength but also unfit for accommodation on account of leaking roofs and worn-out wiring. As many as three barracks have been rendered unfit which bear testimony to poor maintenance owing to lack of funds for renovation. The residence of the SHO is located more than half a kilometre away on the other side of the town is a glaring example of a building in shambles where the officer in charge is forced to reside.

A rickety wooden staircase leads to the first floor which is marred by damp rooms and plaster that has fallen off at places. Repeated written requests to the higher authorities for shifting the police station to a centrally located place and for better accommodation have fallen on deaf ears. The latest effort made by the SHO to the DGP made in April last year, has borne no fruit. The staff insists that funds should be provided for renovating this nearly eight-decade-old structure to make it reasonably habitable.

The place lacks basic facilities which are a prerequisite for smooth functioning of this public utility place. The only motor cycle, which has been out of order for several months, is the only mode of commuting in an area spread over 43,915 hectares. An interesting fact is the transfer of the constable, who was the only driver of the lone vehicle, making the vehicle redundant now.

Last year the area witnessed an increase in crime against women with FIRs, increasing from a mere 65 to an alarming 113. The increase is attributed to seizures made by the police in narcotics. Illiteracy amongst women is believed to be the reason for crime against women. Organising regular awareness campaigns among women to educate them regarding their rights and social uplift has been adopted as a measure to bring down the crime rate.

The sanctioned strength of this police station has been a moot question among residents. Many elderly residents feel that the strength is insufficient to maintain law and order in this quiet town where tourist influx and VIP visits often cause problems during the peak season.

The residents feel a police control room near the bus stand should be constructed at the earliest to provide immediate assistance both to tourists as well as locals. The plan has been gathering dust for months now.

Complete discharge of duties cannot be expected from the police, which is itself bereft of basic facilities and infrastructure, says residents.

Pathania condemns Himachal Govt
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Feb 8 — Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, a former Transport minister and MLA from Jawalamukhi constituency of Kangra district, has condemned the state Bhartiya Janata Party government for stalling all developmental activities in area for petty political reasons.

Briefing mediapersons here today, he said the construction work of Jawalamukhi-Tihri, Gummer-Baggi, Baggi-Khundian via Lagru link roads had come to a standstill and not a single handpump had been installed in Chamba Pattan, Balera, Lagru, Daloh, Dola, Mahadev panchayats, headed by Congress-supported pardhans. He held the Irrigation and Public Health Department guilty of installing public taps near houses of local BJP workers without fulfilling official formalities, thus depriving the common people of drinking water facilities. “It is a matter of utter surprise that the area is represented by the Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Ramesh Choudhary, but he is unaware about the public problems”.

Expressing concern over inadequate health services in Jawalamukhi area, Mr Pathania demanded that the community health centre at Jawalamukhi should be declared a civil hospital by providing indoor facilities for at least 200 patients.

NJPC staff to hold protest rallies
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 8 — Employees of the state electricity board on secondment with the Nathpa-Jhakri Corporation (NJPC) have decide to hold protest rallies from February 9 to pressurise the NJPC management to accept their demands.

Mr Inder Dhiman, general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Seconded Staff Coordination Committee, said the employees had been observing “work to rule” since January 18 but this had failed to move the management.

The committee, he said, had urged the management not to effect any promotions until the issue of the seconded staff and direct recruits was settled.

It had also demanded deputation allowance, project allowance, medical facilities, leave-travel concession and other benefits for the seconded staff on a par with direct recruits.

The committee had urged Mr P.K. Dhumal to intervene in the matter and direct the NJPC management to implement the demands of the seconded staff. It had also urged him not to hand over the 600 MW Rampur project to the corporation until issues concerning the seconded employees were settled.

Middle class result
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Feb 8 — The Himachal Pradesh School Education Board today declared the result of the middle class. According to the Secretary of the board, Mr Sunil Chaudhary, the pass percentage stood at 63.37. Out of a total of 34427 students, 21497 had been declared pass, 4628 had got compartment and 7573 had failed the exam.