Dehradun, November 22
Demanding direct recruitment in the state government service during their third semester of the Basic Training Certificate (BTC), hundreds of teachers undergoing training in different districts of the state, protested in front of the civil secretariat here today. They were lathicharged and many of them were arrested. At least 12 protesters were injured in the lathi charge while one fainted during the police action.

A large number of BTC teachers gathered at the Parade Ground and then marched towards the secretariat. The police had put up barricades in front of the secretariat. When they were stopped there, they staged a dharna there for the entire day. Later in the evening, when they tried to break the barricades, a strong police force present there lathicharged them. The protesters burnt their clothes to register their protest against the alleged step-motherly attitude of the administration.

According to the president of the association, Jayraj Singh Bisht, “We were here just to air our grievances peacefully but the aggressive action of the police has filled us all with anger”.

“We condemn the lathicharge on us and demand from the state government to fulfil our demands or else we will intensify our agitation,” he added.

The BTC teachers have decided to ghereo Uttarakhand Education Minister Matbar Singh Kandari’s residence in protest against the lathicharge, on Wednesday.

Dehradun, November 22
Aryan School defeated Carman School by six wickets in the final to win the Inter-council Schools Senior Boys’ Cricket Tournament played at St Joseph’s Academy here today.

The Aryan team won the toss but decided to put the Carman team into batting. The Carman team scored 80 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Arpan Grover was the top scorer with 18 runs. Aditya Shah of Aryan School rip through the upper batting line up of Carman School by claiming three wickets for 12 runs in four overs.

In reply, the Aryan team scored 83 runs at the loss of four wickets in 10.4 overs to win the trophy. Raj Partap was the top scorer with an unbeaten 23 runs. Brother George, Principal of St Joseph’s Academy, gave away prizes to the winners and the runners-up of the tournament.

Mussoorie, November 22
Even after 64 years of Independence, residents of Chamsari and Khetwala villages falling under Raipur block are awaiting road connectivity to Company Garden and Mussoorie.

The villagers had also submitted a memorandum to Tehri MP Lok Sabha Vijay Bahuguna during his visit to Mussoorie in this regard.

They said in the absence of road connectivity, development was yet to reach their area. Even after 64 years of Independence, they had to walk several kilometers during any medical emergency, they rued.

Ramesh from Khetwala village said residents of the area had also been facing difficulties while finding a good match for their children.

The villagers blamed local public representatives for not paying heed to their genuine demand. They said if the area was connected to road, it would herald a new chapter of development for all villages situated in the region.

Former gram pradhan Ramkishore Chamoli, Narayan Singh Rana, Rajesh and Jagmohan were also present on the occasion.

Dehradun, November 22
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, defeated HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, by five wickets in the quarterfinal of the North Zone Inter- University Cricket Tournament organised by Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) here today.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, HNB Garhwal University scored 170 runs all out in 57.4 overs on Monday. Ravinder Rawat was the top scorer with an unbeaten 59 runs scored in 74 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. It was Abhishek of GND University who had a rich haul of five wickets for 47 runs in 12.4 overs.

At stumps, GND University had scored 127 runs for the loss of two wickets. Resuming the play today, the GND University team scored 174 runs for five wickets winning the match by five wickets. Sharad Lumba was the top scorer with 62 runs while Abhishek scored an unbeaten 45 runs. Sunny Rana, captain of the HNB Garhwal University team, took three wickets for 58 runs. — TNS

Dehradun, November 22
The People for Animals has accused the state Forest Department of failing to take action against the Himalaya Institute of Medical Sciences after the recovery of carcasses of 27 snakes, including a King Cobra, from the Toxicology Lab of the institute on October 4, 2011.

In a memorandum submitted to Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Dr RBS Rawat, People for Animals member secretary Gauri Maulekhi held that it was strange that even after more than 40 days of the recovery, not a single arrest had been made by the Divisional Forest Officer, Dehradun, in the matter that called for a non-bailable and cognizable action against the suspects under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Similarly, on November 18 in another case, a soft shell turtle was recovered from the captivity in a house on Mussoorie Road, Dehradun.

After a long wait for the forest team and many unanswered calls, the turtle along with other recovered animals was taken by the police to the Rajpur Thana, where it was handed over to the Forest Department.

In this case again, no arrest had been made by the DFO, the memorandum said.

The PFA has asked the PCCF to take stern action against the forest officers who are habitual of going soft on wildlife offenders.

Mussoorie, November 22
General secretary of the International Nanbudo Federation (INF) Peter Turkovic was in the town today on the invitation of general secretary of the National Nanbudo Association Arvind Kotnala to teach the intricacies of the unique martial art that is gaining popularity worldwide.

Peter Turkovic and Mahmuljin Zilhad, international president of the Nanbudo Association, were welcomed by coach Roop Chand and the students of Lakshmi Narayan Temple School.

The international experts shared their experiences with the students and explained to them in details the basic techniques of the sport.

Peter Turkovic, shedding light on the origin of the sport, said nanbudo as a system had its roots in Japanese karate. Although it shares many similarities with this system, it is still considered as an independent system. Nanbudo is a martial art and it teaches the traditional Japanese ways of combat. As a true martial art nanbudo includes much more than just fighting techniques. It is intended as a holistic method of self-defense. The training combines “kido ho and budo ho” (the techniques for health and the techniques of combat).

He said the kido ho techniques are are intended to work as a system to strengthen body by stimulating the flow of ki energy in the body, almost like acupressure. “When practised on a regular basis these techniques can prevent many modern day illnesses such as stress, etc,” added Peter Turkovic.

Kotnala told the media that a majority of nanbudo techniques had less chance of injury compared to other martial art sports. An Asian-level championship will be held in Dehradun soon to boost the promotion and development of the sport in the state, he added.

Dehradun, November 22
A Garhwali-Kumaoni video album “Lalita Baand” was released by Uttarakhand Cultural Minister Vijaya Barthwal here today.

Bharat Singh Gadiya and Prakash Shah lent male voice whereas Manisha Daanu and Gitika Asval sang duet with them in regional dialects.

The video album has been directed by Kanta Prasad.

Bharat Singh, who himself was present on the occasion, said four songs in Garhwali and four in Kumoani dialects had been recorded in the album. The songs depict various hues of hills’ life, beauty of hill ranges, lack of development and pangs of addiction of local residents to liquor. The culture of the state is also reflected in the genre of the songs as well.

The album has been shot at picturesque and far-reaching locations such as Saurigaad, Namla, Chanyali, Nagani etc. From snow-clad hill peaks to lush-green patches, all have been shot in the video album.

Bharat, who is a postman by profession, has also given a glimpse of his personal journey in one of the songs, which was penned by him. The financial crunch did not come his way, as he wanted to turn his dream to be an accomplished singer one day. “There were people who tried to deter me but I was determined to give it a final shot,” he said. — TNS

Dehradun, November 22
The district hospitals and government health centres were asked to put in place a Biomedical Waste Disposal Management System and get a yearly certification from the board concerned.

At a workshop organised at the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution 
Control Board office here today, the participants were informed about the different stages of the disposal of biomedical waste.

The Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) Management and Handling Rules, 1998, mandate hospitals to ensure that such waste is handled without any adverse effect on human health and environment. “We issued notices under sections 15, 16, 17 of the Environment Protecton Act to defaulting 41 private clinics and government hospitals on March 31.

They were given 45 days’ time to comply as per the rules but three government and two private hospitals have failed to reply,” added Ankur Kansal, Assistant Environment Officer.

For proper disposal of solid waste, the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board has already asked the nagar palikas/nagar panchayats and corporations but a majority of them have said they were in the process of setting up a solid waste management system.