H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

BJP distorting MoU facts, says CM
Shimla, October 8
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has charged the BJP with distorting facts about the MoU on fiscal reforms and asserted that the document signed by his government was a great improvement over the 1999 agreement.

Shimla to be decongested
Shimla, October 8
With a view to create more parking space, the Tibetan market below the Ridge and the refugees colony near Sanjauli will be shifted to other locations.

BJP candidate bereaved, meetings cancelled
Shimla, October 8
The much-awaited election meetings of the former Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, could not take place today as the BJP cancelled all its election programmes in view of the death of the wife of its candidate from Guler, Mr Harbans Rana.

‘Dev bhoomi’ or ‘drug bhoomi’?
Shimla, October 8
Periodic drives launched by police agencies to combat the narcotics menace notwithstanding, the “dev bhoomi”, where sages once meditated, is turning into a “drug bhoomi”.

Prime land given to political henchmen
Solan, October 8
Lakhs of acres of land is being leased out to henchmen of the ruling Congress in the district at the cost of common people whose endeavours to procure land for community purpose have become futile.

Miss Tibet contest gets under way
Dharamsala, October 8
The three-day Miss Tibet pageant began here today with the swimsuit round. The five contestants were awarded points on the basis of figure, skin and posture. This was followed by photo sessions and interviews of the contestants.

Contestants of the third Miss Tibet, 2004, competition pose in swimsuits at Dharamsala on Friday. — Reuters photo

Leopards injure two in Bhoranj tehsil
Hamirpur, October 8
Two persons were injured by leopards during the past four days in Bhoranj tehsil of Hamirpur.

Murder accused arrested
Solan, October 8
The Kasauli police has arrested Prem Singh from the Kasauli forests who was facing the charge of having murdered his relative, Ram Chand, on Wednesday night. The two had picked up a fight after Ram Chand had gone to Prem Singh’s house on Wednesday evening in an inebriated condition.

Three injured in clashes
Hamirpur, October 8
Three persons were injured in two group clashes in the Anoo area here today. In the morning hours, a local trader, Mukesh, was beaten up and he received bruises on the head when a group of persons attacked him. The incident took place outside the college campus.

• Man beaten to death
• DIC manager released on bail

BJP distorting MoU facts, says CM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 8
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has charged the BJP with distorting facts about the MoU on fiscal reforms and asserted that the document signed by his government was a great improvement over the 1999 agreement.

In a statement here today, he said the present government had effectively pleaded the state’s case before the Centre and got most of the harsh conditions agreed to by the previous Dhumal government, relaxed. His government had ensured that employees were not put to any hardship on account of the MoU, he said.

The BJP government had not only signed the MoU, but also had been sending regular reports regarding its implementation to the Government of India. The process of the regularisation of daily wage earners was stopped and about 2,000 posts abolished in various government departments, the offices of the Divisional Commissioners at Dharamsala, Mandi and Shimla were wounded up and the LTC facilities was withdrawn.

The present government, however, had only agreed to reduce unproductive expenditure, which had no bearing on the common man, he said.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said over 20,000 posts had been filled in various departments during the past 18 months by the present government, besides creating opportunities to over one lakh youth in the industrial sector. He said about 4,000 posts of teacher had been sanctioned recently by the government. The propaganda of BJP leaders that there would be no job opportunities for the youth in the state was baseless, misleading and politically motivated, he said.

Three BJP ministers and some MLAs had revolted against their own Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, in 2001, alleging discrimination against Kangra in the matter of development, he said.

Shimla to be decongested
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 8
With a view to create more parking space, the Tibetan market below the Ridge and the refugees colony near Sanjauli will be shifted to other locations.

It was learnt that a single story building would be constructed on the slope between the Ridge and the Rivoli Road, so that almost 150 persons having shops in the Tibetan market could be provided with an alternate place to run their business.

A proposal had already been submitted to the government for construction of a lightweight structure, which gelled well with the hill architecture at this site. As per the high court directions these persons would be adjusted once the building was completed.

The road from the Ridge to the Lakkar Bazar bus stand is very congested and people find it very difficult walking here as half of it is covered by the row of shops.

“The decision to shift the market has been taken in view of the public inconvenience and our effort is not just to beautify the town but also decongest it,” informed Mr Harbhajan Singh Bhajji, the local legislator. He added that once the Tibetan market was shifted from the roadside, even ambulances would be able to ply on this route.

Instead of utilising its finances, the Municipal Corporation, would get the building financed or take advances from the persons, who would be allotted shops in the new complex. “After working out on all modalities we have found that each small shop will cost about Rs 60,000, for which either advance payment can be made or loans can be arranged in the name of the owner,” an MC official said.

Tibetan Colony, which has taken the shape of a slum in Sanjauli would be cleared too. “We have already chalked out a plan to raise two big blocks having shopping mall and parking place for vehicles at the place where this colony exists presently,” informed an MC official.

With shortage of parking space all over the town, it often led to perpetual traffic jams. It was being proposed that with the construction of two big buildings, parking problem of Sanjauli, would be solved to a great extent.

The residential areas for the Tibetan settlers would be shifted to Kasumpti or on the Dingudhar, near the monastery in Sanjauli.

The Municipal Corporation had chalked out a proposal to decongest the town by clearing crowded places and shifting the grain market, subzi mandi, sadar thana and other such places to the vicinity of the city.

BJP candidate bereaved, meetings cancelled
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 8
The much-awaited election meetings of the former Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, could not take place today as the BJP cancelled all its election programmes in view of the death of the wife of its candidate from Guler, Mr Harbans Rana.

The state BJP chief, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, said that electioneering would be resumed tomorrow. Mr Shanta Kumar, who was scheduled to address four election meetings in favour of Mr Rana, after his return from abroad, could not start the campaign.

Mr Shanta Kumar, who had represented the Kangra Lok Sabha seat, had lost the parliamentary election to Mr Chander Kumar, whose son, Mr Neeraj Bharti had now been fielded by the Congress. Mr Shanta Kumar, who weilds considerable influence in the area was supposed to address election meeting from October 8 to 11.

As per his tour programme, he will now address five meetings at Katora, Bhajera, Katholi, Khabbal and Nagrota Suriyan tomorrow. The BJP is hoping to make major gain after the arrival of Mr Shanta Kumar.

The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, also visited the residence of Mr Rana, to offer his condolence.

Majority of the BJP leaders including Mr Shanta Kumar, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, party legislators and party workers attended the funeral at Kotla.

‘Dev bhoomi’ or ‘drug bhoomi’?
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 8
Periodic drives launched by police agencies to combat the narcotics menace notwithstanding, the “dev bhoomi”, where sages once meditated, is turning into a “drug bhoomi”. The spurt in tourism, which led to a massive influx of foreigners in areas like the Kulu valley, has given a fillip to drug trafficking.

The menace, which has acquired alarming proportions, threatens to destroy the social fabric of hill communities. Drug dealers are hauled up and huge quantities of narcotics recovered very often. Villagers, including women, unemployed youth and even schoolchildren have been drawn into the trade. Taxi drivers, tourist guides, waiters and others connected with the tourist trade have been drawn to easy money. The easy availability of high-quality cannabis, at very cheap rates, attracts a large number of foreigners to the valley every year.

The foreigners have made high-quality hybrid seeds available to people who are using modern farming techniques to grow these crops. Genetically-modified species of cannabis, which have broader leaves, have been introduced recently.

The increasing involvement of foreigners could be judged from the fact that as many as 133 of them have been nabbed under the NDPS Act since 1999. This year, 218 persons were arrested, out of which nine were foreigners. The maximum number of 41 foreigners was arrested in 2002 when a record haul of 725 kg cannabis, 35 kg opium and 528 kg poppy husk was seized.

On an average, about 26,000 foreigners visit Kulu and their average stay in the valley is more than five months. Of late, the foreigners have started marrying locals to settle down permanently in the valley. The district has the highest number of foreigners settled here. They are largely concentrated in areas like Malana, Kasol, Pulga, Tulga and interiors of the Manikaran valley.

The number of cases under the NDPS Act has shot up dramatically, indicating that the problem is rampant.

As many as 310 cases were detected last year as against 84 cases in 1995. The police seized 36.473 kg of opium last year as compared to just 1.260 kg in 1995. Similarly, 1673, kg of poppy husk was seized as against 22.4 kg in 1995. The quantity seized is only a fraction of the total produce.

Cannabis is being cultivated on commercial scale in the Manikaran valley, and the upper Manali, Malana and Ghoziani areas in Kulu district. Malana is known the worldover for the best quality of charas and there are some 250 websites which provide details of the products along with pictures and prices.

The Malana cream is the most prized product in the international market, fetching up to Rs 10 lakh per kg. As per estimates, over 60 per cent of the produce is smuggled out to countries like Israel, Italy, Holland and other European countries. The remaining finds its way to Kathmandu, Goa, Pathankot, Delhi, and parts of the Middle-East.

The Narcotics Control Bureau has been carrying out joint operations with the state police to destroy illegal crops every year but to no avail. Last year, standing crop over 2,990 bighas, including 1700 bighas in Kulu and 650 bighas in Mandi, was destroyed. A similar operation is under way and so far crops in 1,200 bighas have been destroyed.

Mr Brij Mohan Sharma, SP (Crime) who monitors the situation, said the destruction of standing crop was discouraging the villagers from cultivating it on private land. They were now growing it on forestlands adjoining the villages.

There is little political support for the drive against the cultivation of such crops as it has become a source of livelihood for people in the far-flung areas. Cutting across party lines, politicians have been demanding that poppy cultivation should be allowed.

Prime land given to political henchmen
Ambika Sharma

Solan, October 8
Lakhs of acres of land is being leased out to henchmen of the ruling Congress in the district at the cost of common people whose endeavours to procure land for community purpose have become futile.

While the congressmen are being obliged, the whole administrative machinery is being geared up to ensure that permissions for such lease cases are procured from the state government. Even non-Himachalis are being allotted prime land valued at about Rs 1 crore at Darlaghat for setting up a petrol pump whereas the state’s own unemployed youth are being deprived of employment opportunity.

Another piece of land at Saproon, measuring 1,100 sq.mt, valued at Rs 1.10 crore, is being allotted here to a local congress state-level office-bearer. The move is aimed at facilitating the beneficiary to shift his petrol pump, which has received several notices for changing the site. The said case was discussed in the municipal committee’s general house last evening for procuring a no-objection certificate (NOC).

Another 1,000 sq.mt of land at Rabon, valued at Rs 1 crore is in the process of being allotted to another state-level office-bearer of the Congress. Yet another piece of land, located at Anji-Shamlech on the Barog bypass is being allotted to a close aide of the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh.

Another 20,000 sq.mt of land, located at Dohri Dwar here, has been allowed to construct an approach road to benefit a political henchman to earn handsome profit by selling his land. Whereas, the Prajapati Braham Kumari Inshwariya Vishvidyalaya, could not procure the lease of this land, even after depositing the lease amount.

A youth Congress leader, hailing from Rohru, has been allotted another prime land at Giripul in Sirmaur district to enable him to set up a petrol pump. In addition to this, prime land located at a site, where the zonal hospital was to be constructed on the highway here, has been allotted to another Congressman.

While the hospital project was rejected despite laying of its foundation stone by the former Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the same has now been allotted for setting up a petrol pump.

The local MLA, Dr Rajiv Bindal, while addressing mediapersons here today, levelled these allegations of favouritism and corruption against the present Congress government.

Miss Tibet contest gets under way
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 8
The three-day Miss Tibet pageant began here today with the swimsuit round. The five contestants were awarded points on the basis of figure, skin and posture. This was followed by photo sessions and interviews of the contestants.

Lobsang Wangyal, director of the contest, said since there was a section of Tibetans who had reservations about the swimsuit round, it took place behind closed doors.

The judges for the round included Ms Prema Shrinivasan, mother of the Chairman of TVS group, Mr Hemant Kumar and Mr Utsav, press reporters and Ms Alvia Zaidi.

Talking to mediapersons, the contestants said they did not feel uncomfortable in the swimsuits. “It is all about carrying yourself well,” they said together.

There would be four rounds on the last day, including introduction, interviews, evening gown round and Tibetan traditional costume round. “All judges for the contest would be non-Tibetan to avoid any apprehension of bias against any candidate.

This is the third year there was only one controversial Miss Tibet contest. Last year, there was only one contestant who was unanimously declared the winner,” said Mr Wangyal.

Leopards injure two in Bhoranj tehsil
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, October 8
Two persons were injured by leopards during the past four days in Bhoranj tehsil of Hamirpur.

A leopard attacked a youth near Jol village last evening. Rajeev Kumar was strolling on the Bhareri-Jol road when a leopard pounced upon him and injured him seriously. He has been admitted to Bhoranj hospital with serious head, chest and back injuries.

Reports reaching here say that Rajeev fought bravely with the leopard and managed to hit it with a stone forcing it to flee.

According to a delayed report, a leopard seriously injured Roshan Lal of Amroh village two days ago. Roshan Lal was stacking grass in his cow shed when the leopard hiding nearby pounced upon him and injured him.

While fighting with the leopard Roshan raised an alarm as a result his family reached the spot along with other villagers and attacked it with lathis and stones forcing it to flee.

Villagers of Amroh and Bhukker gram panchayats told The Tribune today that it had become difficult to venture out due to the fear of assault by leopards. According to them, four persons have so far been attacked and injured by leopards in the area in the past two months.

Interestingly, DFO Hari Singh Dogra told The Tribune here this afternoon that he had no information about the attacks in Bhoranj area of the district. He said that he would send department people to the spot for enquiring into the incident.

Murder accused arrested
Our Correspondent

Solan, October 8
The Kasauli police has arrested Prem Singh from the Kasauli forests who was facing the charge of having murdered his relative, Ram Chand, on Wednesday night. The two had picked up a fight after Ram Chand had gone to Prem Singh’s house on Wednesday evening in an inebriated condition.

This instigated Prem Singh who hit him frequently with a stick and finally killed him in the courtyard of his house. Efforts of his wife and mother to save the two bore no fruit and they were dragged out of the house by the two women.

Finding his body in the courtyard, villagers inquired as to how he was killed on Thursday morning. Prem Singh first confessed to the villagers that he had murdered him in a fit of rage and later fled towards the forests.

The police post at Kuthar which was informed about the mishap at 10 a.m. yesterday, sent a police party to the village located about 25 km away in the interior.

Prem was finally nabbed early this morning from near Kasauli forests by a police party.

Three injured in clashes
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, October 8
Three persons were injured in two group clashes in the Anoo area here today. In the morning hours, a local trader, Mukesh, was beaten up and he received bruises on the head when a group of persons attacked him. The incident took place outside the college campus.

College officials informed the police, following which preliminary investigations were held.

However, once the police left the scene, another group armed with weapons marched through the Anoo bazaar in search of another group of students with whom the group had a tiff. Both groups clashed on the main road near the official residence of the Hamirpur district police chief. Pavan Kumar of the Gaura area was stabbed.

In the meantime, two more persons were injured when supporters of Pavan Kumar allegedly attacked them in the main bazaar area.

The police has registered cross-complaint cases.

Man beaten to death
Our Correspondent

Solan October 8
Ram Chand, a resident of Timber village , was beaten to death by his friend, Prem Singh, late last night after the two picked up a quarrel while drinking over a minor issue.

The SP Gayanshwar Singh also visited the spot today. The police force at Kuthar, which was informed of the mishap by the villagers today immediately rushed to the spot.

Five police parties headed by DSP Parwanoo Surinder Verma were formed to carry out search operations to arrest the accused who had taken shelter in the nearby forest. Search operations were going on till late in the evening.

A case under section 302 of the IPC for murder has been registered.

DIC manager released on bail
Our Correspondent

Nahan, October 8
Mr B.R. Thakur, manager, District Industries Centre (DIC), who was arrested on Wednesday night on the charge of accepting Rs 5,000 as bribe from an industrialist, was released on bail by a local court this afternoon on medical grounds, as per police sources.

Mr Thakur has been released from police custody before completion of 48 hours in custody.