Haridwar, August 17
Though Uttarakhand has shown little susceptibility to terror attacks and communal riots, yet to make sure that prompt action gets taken and such acts are either foiled or better tackled, the 108 Rapid Action Force (RAF) Alpha platoon is in the city collecting information about trouble spots.

As per the directions of the Home Ministry under which the RAF paramilitary force comes, the survey is being done to make sure in adverse circumstances like the Mumbai terror attacks or communal riots in various parts of the country, the RAF in Uttarakhand comes in handy and takes over the situation when local police is unable to tackle it.

Today, 245 RAF blue personnel, accompanied by local policemen, conducted a flag march from the police stations of Jwalapur and City Kotwali to Har-ki-Pauri.

The Alpha platoon personnel got information about various geographical locations, connecting routes and vital places which may come in handy during terror attacks or riots.

The help of the local police is being taken with Station House Officers of respective areas, along with intelligence personnel, accompanying the platoon flag march in the earmarked areas.

A detailed information register is being prepared that will have the sensitive information about the area which will be put to use when the need arises for RAF to sprung into action.

Deputy Commandant Pankaj Kumar Mishra said that information was being collected per police station basis with a detailed compilation of sensitive villages, colonies, their connecting routes, geographical location.

The address and contact numbers of freedom fighters, social activists, religious gurus and local residents are also being compiled as they would be taken along in case of a riot-like situation to control the situation non-violently.

“This exercise will help us when our force is summoned into action in these areas during riots or a terror attack. To make sure, we have enough data and first-hand knowledge of these sensitive areas, we are doing this exercise, which will equip us to handle such situations as well as reach the spot in minimum time,” said Pankaj Mishra, while taking stock of the sensitive City Kotwali area.

Dehradun, August 17
An abiding link of sorts will soon be created between young and old artistes of Uttarakhand. Practitioners of centuries-old folk singing and dance, Jasi Ram from Chakutia in Almora, Kabootri Devi from Pitthoragarh, also a Jagar singer, and Bhuwan Ram from Jageshwar, Choliya dancer, along with other artistes, will soon begin a mentoring exercise aimed at imparting folk singing and dance skills to the younger generation.

In an effort to preserve and propagate Uttarakhand’s centuries-old folk art, the Culture Department has started a programme called guru shishaya parampara to create and strengthen the bond between the old and new generation. The old established artistes from Tehri, Pitthoragarh, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Jageshwar and Chakutia have been roped in for the programme.

Behind the novel initiative lies a careful thought that performing art can be preserved and propagated by providing a platform for artistes to perform and perfect their art through training at workshops. “They are legends in their own right and it is time in the fittest tradition of guru shishaya parampara, the knowledge that they possess is passed on to the next generation. We ought to introduce the younger generation to the sound and beats of folk singing and dancing, who are otherwise lost in the world of sound and noise of a different kind thanks to the all pervasive reach of television and the Internet," said Beena Bhatt, Director, Culture.

Besides the jagar exponents Kabootri Devi and Jasi Ram, other artistes who will be part of the programme include Shiv Charan from Tehri, Prem Pancholi from Uttarkashi, Prem Hindwan from Chamoli. “Instead of setting up schools and institutions, we thought of taking the pupils at the doors of their teachers. In case there was paucity of space at their residences, teachers rooms in the vicinity of the artistes and learners abode will be arranged. It is a six-month exercise and expansion of Government of India’s scheme that will be implemented for the first time in Uttarakhand,” Bhatt added.

During the period of teaching and learning that is slated for a start on August 25, the teachers and the pupils would be paid honorarium for which a sum of Rs 30 lakh has been earmarked by the government.

Having aware that the artistes are guardian of precious art form that may even become extinct one day, efforts would be made for documenting the art. “For this purpose academicians too will be roped in to provide the necessary scholarly effort and as we go around the districts, we hope to uncover several facets of this fascinating art form that may have been upstaged by other forms of the media,” said Bhatt.

Mussoorie, August 17
The Bhadraj temple tourism fair, dedicated to Lord Bhadraj, was held with gaiety today. The fair is held every year immediately after the Independence Day. Devotees from far-off places participated in the fair in large numbers despite incessant rain.

The temple is dedicated to Balram or Bhadraj, as he is called locally, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. The devotees drawn from Dehradun, Jaunsar and Himachal Pradesh, after travelling 5 km on foot from Mussoorie, reached the temple hill which is 7,000 feet above sea level. They offered milk to the idol of the deity and held prayers.

The Bhadraj Mandir Samiti had made elaborate arrangements for the devotees on the temple premises. The secretary of the samiti, Balbir Chauhan, welcomed special invitees, including Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, Palika Chairman OP Uniyal and the president of the samiti, Col JS Tomar (retd). Uniyal, after paying obeisance at the temple, said the fair had gained immense acceptance among people and he was committed to developing the area.

The fairs like this one are important to preserve the culture of the region. Colonel Tomar and Chauhan said the festival was 150 years old. It dates back to 1817 and during the British rule an altercation between the Lambardar and villagers over certain temple issues led to damage to the idol.

Ward members Kedar Singh Chauhan, Nand Lal, Jai Kumar Gupta, Jasbir Kaur, Kanta Bisht along with Mussoorie BJP Mahila Morcha president Sarojini Kaintura, Sita Panwar, Nimita Kumain, Balwant Singh, Rajwant Rawat, Vijay Ramola, Bharat Kumain, Gajey Singh Tomar, Matbar Singh, Surai Singh, Kundan Singh, Rampal Singh, Bharat Singh, Jarath Singh, Nathi Panwar and Upendar Singh Thapli sought blessings at the temple.

Dehradun, August 17
There will be no rallies of student unions or canvassing processions at DAV PG College till August 25, said BL Nautiyal, Principal of DAV PG College. The declaration banning rallies was made after a mutual consent between the college management and the student unions at a meeting yesterday.

While talking to The Tribune, Nautiyal said all contesting candidates for the posts of president, secretary, vice-president and others in the forthcoming college student union election would have to follow the regulation imposed by the Lyngdoh committee. It was decided at the meeting that the student unions would not organise rallies and processions within the college premises till August 25 or before the announcement of the polling date in the college.

He also said it was tentative that the elections would be conducted before September 10 and the rest was yet to be decided by the management.

Earlier, at a meeting of the administration, college administration and student unions, it was decided that no posters on the walls of the college would be pasted during the elections. Only one flag size poster of each candidates is permitted till the announcement of election date. The unions would also not conduct any procession inside the college campus as well as in the city. The district police has banned rallies or election rallies in the cities and are prepared to keep a thorough check on such rallies.

Haldwani, August 17
Residents of Okhalkanda block are up in arms against the administration for its failure to execute work on roads that have been sanctioned for the area for long.

They have been holding a series of protests over the past few months and are now threatening to launch a full-fledged agitation in support of their demands. The last demonstration was held at the office of the Public

Works Department on Monday in which it was aired that works on roads like Mornaula-Majhaula, Bhidapani-Josyuda, Valkajan-Simalkanya, Simalkanya-Kachlakot, Simaliya-Sanani, Harishtal-Kauta-Kankod, Pjaina-Dhaina, Dholigaon-Kulaon and Gaiyaroun-Chidakhan besides a few others amounting to a dozen projects were hanging in between.

The villagers mentioned that these roads had been sanctioned during the regime of the previous government and are still to be completed.

Led by Congress leader Ram Singh Kaira, the villagers stated that they were not bothered which party is in the government. All they want is development to take place in their area which is amongst the most backward in the region.

Dehradun, August 17
Semifinalists have been spotted in the All-India Inter-School IPSC Badminton Tournament held at Pestle Weed School.

In the u-14 boys, Modern School, Delhi, Ballabh Ashram, Doon School and Vidaya Niketan will vie for the semifinal spots tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in the u-19 boys, YPIS, Patiala, Modern School, Delhi, Army School, Dakshai and Doon School are the contenders for the semifinal spots.

Also, Lawrence School, Sanawar, Mayo College, Ajmer, Doon School and Modern School, Delhi, have made it to the last four.

All league matches were played today.

Dehradun, August 17
There is disappointment among state sportspersons, who brought laurels for the region in national and international meets, for not being felicitated by the Chief Minister at the Independence Day programme at the Parade Ground here on Sunday.

Players, including Lakshman Singh, winner of bronze medal in the Karate Championship in Bangkok and Kiran Tiwari, winner bronze medal in the China Open Athletics were given away Rs 2 lakh each as prize money. Also, Arun Singh recently who won four medals at the Singapore Open Shooting Championship, was honoured with Rs 5 lakh. And for climbing the highest road of Khardungla, Shreya and Nishta Penuli were honoured with Rs 51,000 each.

On the other hand, the players who have been constantly performing for the state at the national-international level were left out. Recently only, Pankaj Dimri of Uttarakhand Police set a national record in the 800m becoming second fastest runner after Sriram. Pankaj who has qualified for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi this year won several medals in the Asian championship, but was not honoured.

Even Reena Dharam Setu, who became the first woman of the country to ski to Antarctica in record 40 days covering the distance of 69,00 km, were denied financial help from the government. "Before going for the expedition and after coming from it I sent several letters to the state government for financial help but my applications were sent from one office to another and I got nothing," Reena said.

"I have not even received a congratulatory call from the state government while honouring is a far fetched thing. Such attitude of the government is really disappointing," she added.

Her husband Loveraj Dharam Setu, a three-time climber of Mount Everest also has a same story to tell. "My husband not only climbed the Mount Everest thrice but has also climbed the Kanchenjunga. But the authorities paid no heed to his achievements," Reena said.

"We are annoyed with this, many deserving players have not been honoured on the Independence Day progamme. This demoralises us and sends a wrong message," said a player sitting among the audience on the I-Day function.