H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

DFPO as inquiry officer rejected
Dharamsala, July 8
Dr Manju Ahal, a social worker who lodged an FIR against a gynaecologist of Palampur civil hospital has rejected the appointment of Palampur District Family Planning Officer, Dr S.N. Sharma, as the inquiry officer.

Sat Mahajan sure of Cong ticket from Nurpur
Nurpur, July 8
The former PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has said that he would definitely contest the forthcoming Assembly poll on the Congress ticket from his native place.

Taxi operators’ stir enters 2nd day
Manali, July 8
Indefinite strike by the Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali, in protest against the playing of 35-seater luxury buses on the Manali-Rohtang road entered second day here today.

4 held for beating up passengers
Chamba, July 8
The district police has arrested four persons for allegedly beating up bus driver Baksheesh Singh, a superintendent of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation, Mr Kuldeep Raj Gupta, and passengers travelling in the Chamba-Amritsar night bus near Tadoli village on the Chamba-Pathankot highway in the district.

Policemen use force to disperse agitators
Shimla, July 8
The police forcibly dispersed members of the Himachal Pradesh Government and semi-government Drivers and Conductors Federation who were setting on a dharna in front of the secretariat, here today.

Resentment over toll barrier
Nurpur, July 8
Private contractors to whom the Himachal Pradesh Government had auctioned toll barriers on all entry points of the state have set up unauthorised barriers which have been causing inconvenience to vehicle owners.

Youths accused of damaging statue
Kumarhatti, July 8
In a shocking incident, two youths, reportedly from Chandigarh, on Saturday damaged the marble statue of Mary Rebeca Weston, put up on the grave of Mary who died in 1909 at Dagshai graveyard, 4 km from here, by her husband. Mary was pregnant at the time of her death.

Tributes paid to Thakur Ram Lal
Shimla, July 8
Rich tributes were paid to Thakur Ram Lal, former Chief Minister, who died yesterday, at a condolence meeting held at Congress Bhavan, here today.

DFPO as inquiry officer rejected
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, July 8
Dr Manju Ahal, a social worker who lodged an FIR against a gynaecologist of Palampur civil hospital has rejected the appointment of Palampur District Family Planning Officer, Dr S.N. Sharma, as the inquiry officer. The state government had directed Dr S.N. Sharma, District Family Planning Officer, Kangra to hold an inquiry.

On June 4, 2002, due to alleged negligence of gynaecologist Dr Sushma Sood, sister-in-law of Dr Manju Ahal lost her newly-born child. Dr Manju Ahal, in her complaint had alleged that the gynaecologist was aware of the complications of the case still she came to the hospital late failed to provided immediate treatment which could have saved the new born. She lodged an FIR on June 11 and also submitted a complaint to the Health authorities to take action against the gynaecologist. On the basis of the complaint, an enquiry had been ordered.

According to Dr Manju Ahal, she demanded an impartial inquiry by a team which should have a gynaecologist, a medical teacher of jurisprudence and some senior medical officer as members.

But the district family planning officer has been entrusted with the inquiry.

She alleged that, Dr Sushma Sood had been handling most of the surgical operation cases in the Palampur area under the Family Planning Programme and as such was an important member of the District Family Planning team.

In these circumstances, Dr S.N. Sharma could not be called an impartial inquiry officer. As such he was not acceptance.”

Mrs Manju Ahal said she had decided to protest against the appointment of Dr Sharma as the inquiry officer, and would demand that the inquiry be entrusted to a team of experts having experience in such matters. She said in case her request for impartial inquiry was not accepted by Health Department officials of the state, she would take up the matter with the Human Rights Commission.

The Secretary (Health), Mr Vineet Chaudhary was not available despite several attempts. The Director, Health Services, Dr S.K. Dhiman, said that as the inquiry had been ordered by the government. He was not in a position to comment on it.

Sat Mahajan sure of Cong ticket from Nurpur
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, July 8
The former PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has said that he would definitely contest the forthcoming Assembly poll on the Congress ticket from his native place.

While presiding over a meeting of Congress activists of the local unit on Saturday, Mr Mahajan said that if party leaders like former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, and the PCC chief, Ms Vidya Stokes, were not denied party ticket, he would surely be allotted the ticket for the Nurpur Assembly constituency.

Hitting out at his adversaries, Mr Mahajan said when those who had remained with him when he was in power could not be sincere to him now, how could they be sincere to the electorate. Later, the local block Congress committee gave a memorandum to the state government through the Subdivisional Magistrate, demanding the removal of the toll naka at the Kandwal barrier.

Taxi operators’ stir enters 2nd day
Our Correspondent

Manali, July 8
Indefinite strike by the Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali, in protest against the playing of 35-seater luxury buses on the Manali-Rohtang road entered second day here today. The Autorickshaw Operators Union, Manali, also went on a strike in support of the taxi operators.

Strike of taxi operators and autorickshaw operators put to inconvenience local residents, domestic and foreign tourists. The President of the Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union said if no decision was taken by the District Administration to stop the plying of 35-seater deluxe buses on the Manali-Rohtang Pass Road soon, the taxi operators union would be forced to continue the strike.

Taxi operators union president said a meeting was also held under the chairmanship of the SDM, Manali on May 10 last and a notification issued on May 14, 2001 and the administration banned the plying of 2x2, 35-seaters deluxe buses on the Manali-Rohtank Road and the plying of 2x2, 27-seaters luxury buses was allowed on the Manali-Rohtang route.

According to Taxi Operators Union sources, a signboard was also put up near Kanchani Koot on the Manali-Rohtang road proclaiming stoppage of plying of 35-seater deluxe buses.

In view the peak tourist season, this was done to reduce congestion at Kothi, Gulaba, Rahla Waterfall, Marhi and Rohtang Pass due to lack of adequate parking facilities and to avoid frequent traffic jam on the narrow Manali-Rohtang road.

Recently a meeting was also held here with the taxi operators by the Deputy Commissioner, Kulu and other District administration officials at where despite strong objections of the taxi operators the 2x2, 35 seater deluxe buses were allowed to ply on the Manali-Rohtang road.

Meanwhile police has been deployed on the Manali-Rohtang road so that the striking taxi operators do not hamper movement of tourist vehicles.

4 held for beating up passengers
Our Correspondent

Chamba, July 8
The district police has arrested four persons for allegedly beating up bus driver Baksheesh Singh, a superintendent of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), Mr Kuldeep Raj Gupta, and passengers travelling in the Chamba-Amritsar night bus near Tadoli village on the Chamba-Pathankot highway in the district.

The police said that the accused had parked their van in the middle of the road. When the passengers asked the driver of the van to remove his vehicle, he and his fellow passengers allegedly started beating up Mr Baksheesh Singh and Mr Kuldeep Raj Gupta. The accused also allegedly snatched away a wristwatch and some cash from Mr Gupta.

Mr Gupta alleged that bus passengers were also looted and beaten up by the accused.

The police said those arrested included Ravinder Singh, driver of the van, Jogender Singh, Rajinder Singh and Shamsher Singh, all residents of Udaipur. The search for the fifth accused, Chaman, is on.

Policemen use force to disperse agitators
Tribune Reporters

Shimla, July 8
The police forcibly dispersed members of the Himachal Pradesh Government and semi-government Drivers and Conductors Federation who were setting on a dharna in front of the secretariat, here today.

The police swung into action after the agitators blocked traffic on the circular road. There was a minor scuffle during the police action.

A spokesman of the federation alleged that about 150 activists were arrested by the police.

Mr Chander Shekhar, the Additional Superintendent of Police, said the members of the federation were allowed to stage a peaceful dharna but when they blocked the traffic during the afternoon, the police had to use force to disperse them.

The main demands of the federation include special pay to all drivers, regularisation of daily wagers and ban on plying of government vehicles on holidays.

BILASPUR: Hundreds of members of the district unit of the federation today went on a mass casual leave. They gathered at the Dhaulera temple complex and held demonstrations at various places including the office of the District Collector and at the Champa park.

Led by district president, Gopal Sharma, senior vice-president Lekhram, joint secretary Dharam Singh Sehgal and state executive member Shayam Lal, demonstrators also squatted on the national highway and blocked the traffic for about half an hour.

Addressing the members, the leaders said they would intensify the agitation if the union was not immediately called for talks.

Resentment over toll barrier
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, July 8
Private contractors to whom the Himachal Pradesh Government had auctioned toll barriers on all entry points of the state have set up unauthorised barriers which have been causing inconvenience to vehicle owners.

The Kandwal toll barrier on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway was auctioned for Rs 92 lakh for the current fiscal year. However, the contractor of the barrier has allegedly set up an unauthorised barrier on the Kandwal-Bhadroya link road within the jurisdiction of the state. This barrier, set up under the nose of the Excise and Taxation Officials, has become an irritant to those plying their vehicles within this bordering subdivision. Not only this the musclemen of the contractor have allegedly been charging toll from the residents of nearby villages plying their vehicles to Pathankot via Kandwal.

Representatives of the gram panchayat adjoining the Kandwal barrier had recently submitted a memorandum to the government through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Nurpur, demanding complete exemption of entry tax to the local vehicles, besides lifting of the unauthorised barrier on the Kandwal-Bhadroya road. The Assistant Commissioner, Excise and Taxation Department, Dharamsala, could not be contacted.

Youths accused of damaging statue
Jagmeet Singh

Kumarhatti, July 8
In a shocking incident, two youths, reportedly from Chandigarh, on Saturday damaged the marble statue of Mary Rebeca Weston, put up on the grave of Mary who died in 1909 at Dagshai graveyard, 4 km from here, by her husband. Mary was pregnant at the time of her death.

Mary’s husband had brought the exquisite marble figure of his wife and a baby in the lap of an elf from Britain.

According to residents of Anhech, a village near the graveyard, two youths in their 20s were seen around the grave late in the evening. “We got suspicious of the activities of the youths in their cream Tata Indica car with “Press” written on it”, the residents, who managed to note down the number of the vehicle, said. The next morning, the head of the statue was found missing.

No steps have been taken by the Dagshai Cantonment Board or the district administration to protect the memorial that has been damaged over the years by people who believe that if a woman possess a piece of that statue will be blessed with a baby boy.

The head and wings of the elf have also been badly damaged. During the British regime, the memorial was washed daily and Indians were not allowed in the area.

Meanwhile, Ms Shanti, a block development committee member from Anhech and Bholi panchayats, said youths from plains indulged in rowdyism.

Tributes paid to Thakur Ram Lal
Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 8
Rich tributes were paid to Thakur Ram Lal, former Chief Minister, who died yesterday, at a condolence meeting held at Congress Bhavan, here today.

Ms Vidya Stokes, PCC chief, placed on record the invaluable services rendered by the departed leader to the Congress. She urged the partymen to follow the footsteps of Ram Lal and rededicate themselves to the cause of the party.

A large number of partymen, including Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Mr Harsh Mahajn, Mr Lajja Ram and Mr Kuldeep Rathore, all PCC office-bearers, Mr Harbhajan Singh, president of the district unit (urban) of the Congress, Ms Krishna Mohini, state Mahila Congress chief, Mr Sohan Lal and Mr N.K. Mehta, Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively, of the local municipal corporation, were present at the meeting.

3 killed as truck falls into gorge
Our Correspondent

Nahan, July 8
Three persons were killed and four injured, one of them seriously, in a truck accident at Sangrah tehsil, near Andheri village, 70 km from here, today.

According to information, the truck was coming from Haripurdhar when it fell into the 150-metre Shieo gorge.

Rajinder Singh of Tamri village, near Haripurdhar, his mother Kaula Devi and a resident of Ranwa village, Surender Singh died on the spot.

The injured have been admitted to Dadahu Hospital. The driver, Nishant, was stated to be in a critical condition and had been referred to the PGI in Chandigarh.

A case has been registered.

Form submission date
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, July 8
The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education today announced the dates for the submission of forms for the forthcoming examinations.

In a press note, Mr Vikas Labroo, secretary of the board, said students of Class VIII could submit the forms along with a fee of Rs 150 by September 30 and with a late fee of Rs 100 up to October 31.