H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Landslides claim two lives
Life limps back to normal in HP
Shimla, February 2
Life in the upper areas of the state is slowly returning to normal, with the opening of more roads blocked for the past three days following heavy snowfall. The Hindustan-Tibet highway was opened till Theog this afternoon and some buses reached Shimla.

Tourists enjoy the snow in Shimla on Monday. — Photo by Anil Dayal

HLM willing to join hands with HVC
Shimla, February 2
Arch political rivals in the hill state are more than willing to join hands on the eve of Lok Sabha polls. Only yesterday Mr Mohinder Singh, president of the Him Loktantrik Morcha (HLM), expressed willingness to mend fences with Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) chief Sukh Ram, to help create a third political front.

• Mohinder Singh is Loktantrik Morcha candidate

DNA test to decide woman’s claim to child
Solan, February 2
A woman who had allegedly abandoned a newborn baby girl in Parwanoo on August 5, 2002, is now laying her claim to the child. The district administration and the Parwanoo police have meanwhile, decided to go in for a DNA test of the woman to ascertain her claim to the child.

Suicide by girl, lover arrested
Dharamsala, February 2
Hot exchanges between Anuradha (20) and her lover resulted in the death of the girl. According to police sources, Deep Kumar of Yol and Anuradha of nearby Tang Narwana loved each other.

Three killed in road accident
Shimla, February 2
Three labourers were killed and four injured, three of them seriously, when a tractor in which they were travelling rolled down a 200 feet gorge at Rajana village near Renuka in Sirmour district yesterday, a delayed police report said here today.

• 5 youths held

• Fire damages building

Landslides claim two lives
Life limps back to normal in HP
Tribune Reporters and Agencies

Shimla, February 2
Life in the upper areas of the state is slowly returning to normal, with the opening of more roads blocked for the past three days following heavy snowfall.

The Hindustan-Tibet highway was opened till Theog this afternoon and some buses reached Shimla. The authorities did not allow upward movement of vehicles till the evening to prevent traffic jams. The portion of the highway between Narkanda and Rampur was also cleared. The authorities were hopeful of resuming traffic via Narkanda by tomorrow.

Normal movement of vehicles was restored on the Shimla-Bilaspur, Shimla-Basantpur and Kulu-Manali roads. The Shimla-Chail road via Kufri was still blocked and the portion of the circular road between Tara Hall and Sanjauli was also not fit for plying of vehicles because of the slippery road surface. Roads in the interior areas of Shimla district were still blocked.

The avalanche threat continued to haunt residents in tribal areas. The people were advised to stay indoors.

Life in the valleys of Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi, Pin and Hangrang had come to a standstill due to heavy snowfall. People were reeling under freezing cold wave conditions, with the minimum temperature staying between -13°C and -24°C.

KULU: Link roads and the Naggar-Manali left-bank road continued to be closed on Monday. The skiing slopes at Solang nullah were still cut off.

HLM willing to join hands with HVC
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 2
Arch political rivals in the hill state are more than willing to join hands on the eve of Lok Sabha polls.

Only yesterday Mr Mohinder Singh, president of the Him Loktantrik Morcha (HLM), expressed willingness to mend fences with Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) chief Sukh Ram, to help create a third political front. There is little scope for third force in the state where the Congress and the BJP have been occupying the centrestage. But move of Mr Mohinder Singh is aimed more at regaining the lost ground ever since he parted company with Mr Sukh Ram and floated his own party.

The two leaders have been at a crossroads since split in the HVC with their base having eroded considerably. The party which had raised hopes of a third force by securing five seats polling 9.65 per cent votes in the 1998 Assembly election, is no more a force to reckon with. In the 2003 Assembly poll it was wiped out. Mr Sukh Ram was the only one to make it to the Vidhan Sabha. The HLM fared no better with Mr Mohinder Singh being the lone winner.

The defeat has wised up and they have given up tough postures, which thwarted attempts of rapprochement before the Assembly poll. Aware of harsh ground realities Mr Sukh Ram has been quick to build bridges with his bete noir Mr Virbhadra Singh and trying to keep him in good humour ever since he became the Chief Minister for the fourth term. As faction fight in the Congress could come in way of his homecoming, he is keeping his option to align with the BJP open.

Supporters of the two leaders have been keen on seeing them join hands as united they would be in a better position to bargain with either of the main contenders. The HVC won the Shimla seat in alliance with the BJP in 1999 Lok Sabha poll and it could tip electoral scales in Mandi the home district of Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Sukh Ram.

The HVC is in a position to strike a bargain as both the Congress and the BJP are keen to rope in Dr D.R. Shandil who won the Shimla seat as an HVC candidate in alliance with the BJP. Mr Sukh Ram and Dr Shandil seemed to be more inclined towards the Congress as the traditional seat has been a stronghold of the party. The BJP has never won the seat.

Mohinder Singh is Loktantrik Morcha candidate
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, February 2
The state executive of the Him Loktantrik Morcha has chosen Mr Mohinder Singh, MLA Dharampur (Mandi), as the candidate for the Mandi parliamentary constituency in the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll.

Meanwhile Mr Mohinder Singh, addressing a press conference yesterday, said that the Him Loktantrik Morcha would form a joint front after tying up with the CPI, HVC, Mitter Milan and the Berojgar Party. He said he would meet Mr Sukh Ram, HVC chief, and leaders of other parties in this connection.

DNA test to decide woman’s claim to child
Our Correspondent

Solan, February 2
A woman who had allegedly abandoned a newborn baby girl in Parwanoo on August 5, 2002, is now laying her claim to the child

The district administration and the Parwanoo police have meanwhile, decided to go in for a DNA test of the woman to ascertain her claim to the child.

The matter pertains to a Kalka couple which has staked claim on the girl whom the woman, Renu Bala, had abandoned allegedly owing to pressure from her husband, at a secluded in Parwanoo. After abandoning the child, the woman claims to have regretted the act and made efforts to get the child back.

Later, when she approached the Parwanoo police for help, it arrested her under Section-317of the IPC for abandoning the newborn girl. Her plea that her estranged husband had abandoned the child was turned down by the Parwanoo police. Deputy Superintendent of police (Parwanoo) Surender Verma said that when they found the child from the bushes, they tried to locate her real parents. After failing to do so, the police handed over the child to the Child Welfare Council. Subsequently, the council managed to find a couple willing to adopt the baby girl. Following proper legal procedures, the Child was handed over to the couple, stated Mr Surinder Verma.

The Parwanoo police is in a dilemma now as the Child Welfare Council authorities are not prepared to part with information regarding the whereabouts of the adopted parents.

Meanwhile, the woman is planning to fight the case in a court of law. She is already facing action in the case and is presently out on bail.

Suicide by girl, lover arrested
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, February 2
Hot exchanges between Anuradha (20) and her lover resulted in the death of the girl. According to police sources, Deep Kumar of Yol and Anuradha of nearby Tang Narwana loved each other. On Sunday, they exchanged hot words. Feeling humiliated, Anuradha returned to her home and consumed poison. A case under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered on the complaint of Paramjit Singh of Yol and Deep Kumar arrested.

Three killed in road accident

Shimla, February 2
Three labourers were killed and four injured, three of them seriously, when a tractor in which they were travelling rolled down a 200 feet gorge at Rajana village near Renuka in Sirmour district yesterday, a delayed police report said here today.

The police identified the deceased as Rattan Singh, Khattri Ram, driver of the tractor, who died on the spot, and Hari Chand, who succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital.

The injured were admitted to District Hospital at Nahan. The stone-laden tractor belonged to a contractor working on Badag-Rajana road. — UNI

5 youths held

Shimla, February 2
A group of youths tried to forcibly stop a Haryana Roadways bus at Tutu, near here, on Sunday. The bus was on its way from Delhi to Rampur via Dhami as the main road had been blocked due to snow. The miscreants who were waiting by the roadside signalled the driver to stop the bus. They pelted stones on the vehicle and chased it in a jeep. The driver informed the police which arrested five of the eight youths.
— TNS

Fire damages building
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 2
A building was partially damaged in a fire which broke out in Kanlong Colony last night. Firemen reached the scene in time and controlled the blaze. A motor cycle, some deodar sleepers and planks kept in the upper storey were destroyed along with household items.