H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

CPI to back Cong candidates
Kangra, May 1
The Communist Party of India today announced its support to Congress candidates in all four Lok Sabha constituencies in Himachal Pradesh during the May 10 poll to keep the BJP at bay.

DGP reviews security for polling
Solan, MAY 1
Himachal Director General of Police, A.K. Puri, reviewed security situation for the parliamentary polls last evening instructed the district police to maintain vigil. The district comprising five Vidhan Sabha constituencies has been divided into seven sectors.

Advani’s visit today
Nahan, May 1
Mr Lal Krishan Advani, Deputy Prime Minister of India, is scheduled to visit Nahan on Sunday and address an election rally in favour of BJP candidate H.N. Kashyap. The Administration has made tight security arrangements for his visit.

1 held in HPU paper leak case
Shimla, May 1
The Vigilance Department of Himachal Police, investigating the Himachal Pradesh University question paper printing scam, has arrested a printer.

Life term for killing wife
Nahan, May 1
The Additional Sessions Judge, Sirmaur, Mr S.S. Sen, has convicted Tika Ram of Tatiyana village in Shillai tehsil under Section 302 IPC for killing his wife. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10,000.

Protest by LIC staff
Kumarhatti, May 1
Employees of the Life Insurance Corporation office, Parwanoo led by the North Zone Insurance Employees’ Association protested against the Divisional Manager yesterday.

Freedom fighter cremated
Nahan, May 1
The mortal remains of Tulsi Ram Mehta, a freedom fighter of Sirmaur district, were consigned to flames on Friday in his native Koti Padhog village, about 150 km from here.

2 killed as auto rams into them
Hamirpur, May 1
Two persons were killed and two injured when an auto rammed into them near Bhaleth village this afternoon.

CM for probe into charges against Shanta
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, May 1
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today hinted at an investigation against the allegations of corruption in the functioning of Vivekanand Medical Research Trust (VMRT), Palampur.

He was replying to questions during a press conference here. Former Union Minister and BJP candidate for Kangra Lok Sabha seat, Shanta Kumar is the chairman of the trust.

The Chief Minister said that though he was aware of the controversy and serious allegations by a former managing trustee, Mr S.K. Alok , the state government had not received any formal complaint. He said as and when such complaint was received, the govt. would take suitable action.

Mr Virbhadrta Singh said that it was for Mr Shanta Kumar to satisfy the people who had contributed money for the proposed institution. He said when Mr Shanta Kumar was the Chief Minister, he had constituted a trust headed by the Health Secretary to take up the matter of setting up a medical college and hospital at Holta, Palampur. 

CPI to back Cong candidates
Our Correspondent

Kangra, May 1
The Communist Party of India (CPI) today announced its support to Congress candidates in all four Lok Sabha constituencies in Himachal Pradesh during the May 10 poll to keep the BJP at bay.

Mr Himachal Chand, member, National Council and state executive of the CPI, told mediapersons here that the secular culture of India had been shattered by the BJP. The Gujarat massacre, the Best Bakery incident and the Bilkis rape case had shocked the secular forces in the country.

Mr Himachal Chand said people like Mr Narinder Modi continued to be in the office of Chief Minister in Gujarat despite the worst-ever communal violence and he was being patronised by the Prime Minister and his deputy.

DGP reviews security for polling
Our Correspondent

Solan, MAY 1
Himachal Director General of Police, A.K. Puri, reviewed security situation for the parliamentary polls last evening instructed the district police to maintain vigil. The district comprising five Vidhan Sabha constituencies has been divided into seven sectors.

An additional force comprising four sections of the CRPF have been deputed in the district.

This is the first time that the CRPF has been pressed into service for poll. While one section of the CRPF each has been deployed at Parwanoo and Nalagarh two have been earmarked for Solan for guarding the electronic voting machines and maintaining law and order in the region by undertaking patrolling. Another contingent of 1,000 armed security personnel has also been stationed in the district.

Advani’s visit today
Our Correspondent

Nahan, May 1
Mr Lal Krishan Advani, Deputy Prime Minister of India, is scheduled to visit Nahan on Sunday and address an election rally in favour of BJP candidate H.N. Kashyap. The Administration has made tight security arrangements for his visit.

Mr Advani will reach Nahan at 11 a.m. by a helicopter and address an election rally in the historic Nahan Chowgan. 

1 held in HPU paper leak case

Shimla, May 1
The Vigilance Department of Himachal Police, investigating the Himachal Pradesh University question paper printing scam, has arrested a printer.

The Vigilance Department sources said that the Vice-Chancellor was officially planning to raise the budget to Rs 70 lakh but the printer was changed due to the Vigilance enquiry. The university got the papers printed by another printer at a short notice of three days at the same rates which were charged prior to professor Sharma, establishing that the printing rates during 2001 and 2003-04 were the same. — PTI

Life term for killing wife
Our Correspondent

Nahan, May 1
The Additional Sessions Judge, Sirmaur, Mr S.S. Sen, has convicted Tika Ram of Tatiyana village in Shillai tehsil under Section 302 IPC for killing his wife. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10,000.

Mr C.B. Acharya, Deputy District Attorney, said Tika Ram was accused of killing his wife Leela Devi in the forest area of Renuka Ji, near Kubja Pavellion, on November 19, 2002. He allegedly strangled her with her shawl and hit her on the head with a torch.

The accused fled from the spot after throwing his wife’s body and the torch in the nearby bushes. The police lodged an FIR on the complaint of relatives of Leela Devi on the following day.

Tika Ram was arrested and on basis of information provided by him, the body of his wife was recovered.

Protest by LIC staff
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, May 1
Employees of the Life Insurance Corporation office, Parwanoo led by the North Zone Insurance Employees’ Association protested against the Divisional Manager yesterday.

The employees wore black badges and raised slogans against Mr K. S. Rana DM for terminating the services of Mr Pawan Kumar a caretaker at LIC guest house at Shimla on Thursday.

Freedom fighter cremated
Our Correspondent

Nahan, May 1
The mortal remains of Tulsi Ram Mehta, a freedom fighter of Sirmaur district, were consigned to flames on Friday in his native Koti Padhog village, about 150 km from here.

Mehta (90) was a close associate of Vaidya Surat Singh and Dr Y.S. Parmar. He contributed to the rebuilding of Sirmaur. Mehta is survived by two daughters and one son. A large number of persons from all walks of life expressed their condolences on his demise.

2 killed as auto rams into them
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, May 1
Two persons were killed and two injured when an auto rammed into them near Bhaleth village this afternoon.

The deceased have been identified as Kushal Padyar and Ajay Kumar. One of the seriously hurt Prithi Singh, was admitted to a hospital. Official sources said the driver of the auto fled after committing the crime.

The Sujanpur Tihra police has registered a case.