H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Cong ‘misguiding’ people
Mandi, December 31
The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today cautioned the people of the state against canards being spread by the Congress and impressed upon them to compare the performance of the ruling BJP and that of the previous Congress government.

Village reduced to ashes
Chamba, December 31
Hadub village in the Sechu valley of Pangi subdivision in Chamba was burnt to ashes last evening, resulting in a loss of more than Rs 5 lakh.

Wife killer gets life term
Mandi, December 31
District and Sessions Judge Justice V. K. Ahuja today convicted Dharam Singh of Lakrehar village of Jogindernagar subdivision under Section 302, IPC, and Section 25 of the Arms Act and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 5000.

• T. G. Negi

Cong ‘misguiding’ people
Our Correspondent

Mandi, December 31
The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today cautioned the people of the state against canards being spread by the Congress and impressed upon them to compare the performance of the ruling BJP and that of the previous Congress government.

Addressing a rally at Karsog on the conclusion of the “Vishwas Yatra” in the interior of this district, he said Congress leaders were disturbed over the performance of the government and to cover up their own failure were misguiding the people. He said in response to the demand of people the increase in electricity and water charges had been withdrawn.

He said the ugly scenes by warring factions of the Congress at public meetings of Ms Mohsina Kidwai, AICC general secretary and in charge of Himachal, indicated the frustration among Congress workers in the state.

Referring to the development of Karsog, the Chief Minister said his government completed the buildings of the degree college and the IPH office in record time. A number of new offices were opened to speed up development there. A network of roads was being built to take fruit and vegetables to markets from there. A plan had been drawn up to promote tourism in the valley by linking the Kulu-Manali circuit to Shimla via Karsog. The recently appointed ADC at Sundernagar would sit at Karsog for 15 days, he said.

Food and Supplies Minister Mansa Ram, Forest Minister Rup Singh, Mr Maheshwar Singh and Mr Kirpal Parmar, MPs, and Excise and Taxation Minister Parvin Sharma also spoke.

Earlier, the Chief Minister addressed a public meeting at Rohanda.

Village reduced to ashes
Our Correspondent

Chamba, December 31
Hadub village in the Sechu valley of Pangi subdivision in Chamba was burnt to ashes last evening, resulting in a loss of more than Rs 5 lakh.

According to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Pangi, Mr Ashwani Raj Shah, the village falls in the tough interior terrain of the Pangi mountainous region and he immediately rushed to the site along with a team of revenue officials to carry out rescue and relief operations.

Wife killer gets life term

Mandi, December 31
District and Sessions Judge Justice V. K. Ahuja today convicted Dharam Singh of Lakrehar village of Jogindernagar subdivision under Section 302, IPC, and Section 25 of the Arms Act and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 5000. Under the Arms Act he was sentenced to undergo, one-year imprisonment and fine of Rs 5000. Both the sentences would run concurrently.

According to prosecution on January 1, 2001, the accused Dharam Singh had shot his wife Sunita Devi for not serving him hot food. She succumbed to her injuries while she was being taken to the Regional Hospital, Mandi. UNI

T. G. Negi

Shimla, December 31
T. G. Negi, Secretary (Welfare), Himachal Prades, has been appointed Secretary to the Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan. He replaces Lalji Singh who retired today. 

The charge of welfare has been given to Ajay Mittal, Secretary, Cooperation and Food and Supplies, a government notification here said. PTI