IG: Women arrested in sex racket should be rehabilitated
Dehradun, January 31
Inspector General Of Police, Law and Order, Ram Singh Meena, has opposed registration of a case under the Gangsters Act against all the nine women arrested yesterday in a sex racket from a house in Defence Colony, where 12 men were also nabbed.

Dehradun, January 31
Taking into account the rising incidents of vandalism being created by student leaders, the DAV (PG) College authorities in Dehradun, in assistance with the police authorities, today set up a police chowki inside the college campus as part of precautionary measure. On the other hand, student leaders from both Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and National Students’ Union of India resorted to dharna in the college today.

Announcing the setting up of the chowki, the Principal of the DAV (PG) College, Dr Devendra Bhasin, said due to unceremonious scenes inside the college in the past few months, it had been decided to strengthen the security arrangements inside the college. He reiterated college’s commitment to ensure that academic atmosphere in the college does not suffer due to hooliganism of a few student leaders.

“Students, who are serious about their studies, must not suffer due to hooliganism created by a few of student leaders,” Bhasin pointed out. He said it was not for the first time that presence of the police had been increased in the college. Such measures have been taken in the past, taking into account the safety of students in the college, he stated.

On the other hand, few days after ABVP members from DAV (PG) College students’ union resorting to manhandling of the DAV (PG) College Principal, the NSUI members today reached the office of the Principal seeking prompt action against the ABVP members responsible for his manhandling. The NSUI members also staged a dharna outside the main gate of the college seeking speedy action.

The ABVP members also tried to shield their leaders by staging a counter dharna inside the college campus. Both the dharnas were called off only after the intervention of the college administration.

Meanwhile, the Dehradun police administration is still to arrest the ABVP leaders, who are part of the DAV (PG) College students’ union and are responsible for manhandling of the Principal.

Mussoorie, January 31
The Forest Department has finally conceded to the demand of reducing the area falling under the ambit of the proposed eco-sensitive zone around the Benog mountain quail sanctuary near Mussoorie.

The DFO, Mussoorie, Dr Dheeraj Pandey, held talks with local representatives and the stakeholders today. He told them that the Forest Department keeping in view the concerns of the locals had decided to reduce the eco-sensitive zone and limit its area to 1,500 hectares of the reserved forest.

Pandey said around 84 villages, which are thickly populated, had been removed from the area to be covered by the eco-sensitive zone. “The eco sensitive zone proposal is being redrafted and will be submitted to the wildlife park authorities soon,” he added.

The DFO said a list of activities to be prohibited, regulated and permitted in the eco-sensitive zone had also been prepared.

Former president of the Mussoorie Municipal Council Manmohan Singh Mall also apprised the DFO about the fact that earlier only 384 hectares were to be covered under the Benog mountain quail sanctuary and other areas were added later, increasing its total area to 1,082 hectares. He said the final notification of the sanctuary had not been issued yet and therefore any decision on the eco-sensitive zone should be taken after resolving all issues.

He thanked the government for considering their concerns on priority and involving public representatives in the process for determining the zone.

The DFO said the state government on the directions of the Union Ministry of Environment formed a committee comprising the director of the Benog sanctuary, one ecologist and three block level officers from Sahaspur, Jaunpur and Raipur. The committee after a detailed survey would submit its report to the wildlife park authorities for further action.

The Tribune has learnt that the report on the eco-sensitive zone is to be submitted till February 2 but the Forest Department it seems will not be able to submit it on time. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has clearly stated that in case the committee fails to submit the report in time an area of around 10 km would be declared as eco-sensitive zone which could result in more trouble for all concerned.

Forest officials were also of the view that Forest Department had been given the leverage of determining the eco-sensitive zone area from around 2 km to 10 km considering the local geographical conditions prevailing around the sanctuary area.

Environmentalists think that it is important to determine the buffer zone around the sanctuary to save the environment as it acts as an aquifer, thus providing much needed drinking water for the population residing in urban areas adjacent to the sanctuary. President of the Municipal Council OP Uniyal said the problem had arisen as local representatives were not involved in the process of determining the zone. But now as most of the concerns had been addressed the proposal could be sent to the authorities concerned without delay.

Mussoorie, January 31
The BSNL’s optical fibre cables were damaged due to the sewerage project being carried out in the town under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, thus disrupting the broadband and telephone services for around 12 hours here today.

The BSNL officials found immense difficulty in restoring the telephone and broadband lines as they were damaged due to haphazard digging being conducted by the Peyjal Nigam, which has been assigned the task of the sewerage project in Mussoorie.

The livid BSNL officials have begun the exercise to determine the loss and have taken action against the department concerned, seeking adequate compensation for the damage incurred to its services in the town.

SDO of the BSNL Ganesh Kothari informed the media that his department had incurred damage in tune of Rs 1 lakh.

The work of restoring the telephone and broadband services was on till the filing of the report. He also said the BSNL had given notice to the Peyjal Nigam and have also reported the matter to the police for further action against the erring contractor.

On the other hand, nigam officials said in order to complete the work on due date, the contractor was using the services of JCB machine for digging Mall Road to speed up the process and mistakenly some telephone lines have been damaged. They have directed the officials to work, carefully avoiding the telephone cables in near future.

Dehradun January 31
Five persons thrashed Jugal Kishore Sarin, property dealer, and his son Kunal at their house in Danda Khudanwala in Raipur and absconded with Rs 3 lakh, a gold chain and aring.

The victims, who were admitted to Max Hospital, were discharged in the evening.

The incident took place in the afternoon when five men knocked the door of the house. When Kunal's wife opened the door, they entered the house and attacked Jugal Kishore with pistol handles. When his son tried to rescue him, they also injured him. They tied Sarin, his son, daughter-in-law and grandson Ishu.

Thereafter, they ransacked the entire house and tried to take away a 40 inch LCD TV and a laptop but failed. They took away cash and a gold chain and ring.

Sarin estimated that the cash was around Rs 3 lakh. Sarin had married off his daughter seven months ago where he had arranged a lavish wedding party. He had also built a new house for himself.

According to the police, the thieves appeared to be from labour class who knew Sarin. Sarin, who also sells built-up houses, is usually visited by people of labour class at his home. The police suspects the handiwork of some of them.

The way they tried to steal the TV or laptop but could not as they did not seem to have any vehicle and similarly their admiration for good clothes in the house led the police to suspect the thieves to be labourers.

The finger prints of the thieves have been taken by the police who is hopeful of solving the case soon. 

Haridwar, January 31
A freshers' party was organised at Methodist Girls' BEd College here today. Garhwali, Kumaoni and Punjabi folk dances were the highlight of the function. Students, staff members and members of the students' families enjoyed every folk performance.

Legislator Pradeep Batra, who was the chief guest, stressed the need to remain in touch with the folk culture. He said today's generation was attracted more towards the western culture.

Ayesha Tyagi was declared 'Ms Fresher' and Kiran Mishra 'Mrs Fresher'.

Dehradun, January 31
Dhruv Pal won the U-16 category title of the All-India Talent Series Tennis Tournament played at Shanti Tennis Academy here today.

Dhruv Pal defeated Krishna Rajput of Uttar Pradesh 6-0, 6-1 in the final match.

In the U-14 category (singles), Saurab Kalkal of Delhi beat Sanket Tomar of Delhi 6-1, 6-2.

In the girls' U-14 (singles) category, Rishika Sharma of Delhi defeated Harleen Kaur of Chandigarh 6-2, 6-0 in the final match.

In the U-16 (singles) category, Kiran Shah of Delhi beat Harleen Kaur of Chandigarh 6-2,7-5 to win the title. 

Dehradun, January 31
Khalsa Cricket Club (B) defeated Brothers’ Cricket Academy, Vikasnagar, by eight wickets in a match during the 61st Dehradun District Cricket League here today.

After winning the toss, Brothers’ Cricket Academy elected to bat first and scored only 72 runs in 17.1 overs. Shiva was the top scorer with 18 runs. Umang Gandhi and Gautam Taneja took three wickets each. In reply, the Khalsa Cricket team scored the required runs at the loss of two wickets.

Opener Hunny scored 31 runs.