Police focus on cases of crime against women
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 9
The police in the Kumaon region has decided to give special attention to cases of crime against women and increasing incidents of missing children and women. Besides, it will also focus on the problems of senior citizens.

Dr Sadanand Datee, SSP, Udham Singh Nagar, at a monthly meeting today instructed police officials that they should act promptly in cases concerning women. “We have decided to take immediate action in cases of molestation and domestic violence against women. We have instructed the officers that any information about crime against women should not go unnoticed in the region,” said Sadanand after the meeting.

He said the cases of children and women going missing had increased in the district in the last three years. Keeping this in mind, the Udham Singh Nagar police had decided to focus on these cases since 2012 and also maintain a register of these. “We have also decided to review these cases every month and keep a register of the cases of missing persons in the district,” said Sadanand.

The Pithoragarh range police has also started a special campaign to make the people aware about women’s rights and crimes against them. “We have also decided to ensure that every woman in the range has the phone number of the women helpline for use at the time of need,” said GS Martolia, DIG, Pithoragarh range.

Martolia said the police had also decided to prepare a list of senior citizens in the jurisdiction of every police station in the range so that they could be protected in the time of need. “We have also decided to speed up the verification of outsiders living in Pithoragarh, Champawat, Almora and Bageshwar districts,” said Martolia.

Punjab National Bank opens new branch at Herbertpur hospital
Tribune News service

Dehradun, February 9
Punjab National Bank inaugurated it's new premises at Christian Hospital at Herbertpur in order to provide better services to customers in this rural area.

The new premises was inaugurated by Mahesh Kumar Pangtey, Field General Manager, Meerut. Speaking on the occasion, he said that this branch shall also be authorised for selling e-stamps. Punjab National Bank is the only bank authorised for sale of e-stamps in Uttarakhand state by the state government. E-stamps means instead of purchasing physical stamp papers, now buyers and sellers of property in this area will be in a position to purchase electronic stamps from this branch at no extra cost.

These stamps are available for above Rs 500. E-stamp is state -of-the-art Internet application that gives convenience to the customer for paying stamp duty without hassles.

Ashok Aneja, Circle Head, Dehradun, further disclosed: "Our bank will focus especially on agriculture loans in this rural area and will also issue kisan ATM cards to all eligible farmers."

Vijay Singh Khera, Branch Manager, expressed his thanks to all the customers attending the ceremony with the promise to provide excellent customer service to them.

Govt teachers stage protests
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 9
Demanding benefits of assured career promotion scheme, government school teachers today staged protests at the block level in the region. They also threatened to launch an indefinite agitation if their demands were not met by February 22.

“Besides benefits of assured career promotions, we have raised 19 other demands, including increasing the age of retirement to 62 and giving senior pay scale to non-postgraduate teachers working in government schools,” said Yogesh Joshi, block president of the Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh in the Pithoragarh block.

Teachers’ unions also demonstrated at Champwat, Almora and Bageshwar districts for their 20 points demands and decided to stage a dharna before the district headquarters on February 22 in support of their 20 point demands charter. “We have also demanded raising the limit of earned leaves to 16 and appointment of teachers in added schools, besides giving teachers benefits of the pension scheme,” said Pratap Singh Bisht, block president of the Lohaghat block in Champawat district.

CPM seeks public distribution system
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 9
The Uttarakhand unit of the Communist Part of India (M) conducted a signature campaign to demand universal public distribution system (PDS) for the citizens of the country. The party demanded formulation of food security Act in which each family should be provided 35 kg of ration at Rs 2 per kg every month.

The party also demanded scrapping of cash doles in lieu of the PDS. As part of the nationwide agitation, the CPM workers collected signatures from various localities of the city. The campaign was undertaken at Neelkanth Vihar, Pathriyapeer, Vijay colony, Salawala, Adhoiwala, Vani Vihar, Raipur, Ranjhawala, Nathuwala and the Balawala areas.

Vijay Rawat, state secretary of the CPM, said during the first 100 days of the campaign, a total of 1,000 signatures has been collected. 

15-year-old Dhruv a rising tennis star from Doon
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

From the beginning I was more inclined towards individual games, and tennis certainly gave me that individual satisfaction. I like Australian Open 2013 winner Novak Djokovic’s game and will certainly like to emulate him in further pursuance of my career. Dhruv Pal

Dehradun, February 9
Budding Tennis player from Uttarakhand Dhruv Pal is a rising star. This 15-year-old boy from Dehradun has given excellent performances at various tennis tournaments across the country in recent years.

Dhruv holds the 9th rank in the under 16 boys category and the 40th rank in the under 18 category. A class X student at Doon International School, Dhruv started playing tennis at an age of eight, taking inspiration from his father DK Singh, a tennis enthusiast himself and businessman. After initial days of practising with his father, Dhruv soon decided to make tennis the ambition of his life. “From the beginning I was more inclined towards individual games and tennis certainly gave me that individual satisfaction,” he said.

He had participated in a number of tennis tournaments in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and became the junior tennis champion of the country last year. Besides routine practicising at the Shanti Tennis Academy, Dalanwala, which is close to his home on Balbir Road, Dhruv also goes for practise at the Srifort Sports Complex in Delhi before going for big matches.

Dhruv admits that striking a balance between studies and sports was certainly a tough task. “I have to undertake Class X examinations in March and taking out time from gruelling match sessions is also quite tough. But I have decided to make a career in the game of tennis,” he said.

The recent success for Dhruv was when he won the doubles title in the Under 16 National Tennis Series Championship. He was partnered by Dheer Anuj in the doubles. The championship was organised by the Andhra Pradesh Association.

Dhruv showed excellent tennis skills in the National Tennis Series Championship held at Guwahati in August last year. He was the winner in both under 16 and under 40 categories.

For Dhruv, Australian Open 2013 winner Novak Djokovic is his ideal. “I like his game and will certainly like to emulate him in further pursuance of my career,” he said. 

Film on life of Jaunsar Bawar people out
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 9
Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi released a 45-minute documentary, “The Kingdom Comes" at the Raj Bhavan auditorium yesterday The concept, narration and camera work of the film have been done by Lokesh Ohri, founder trustee of REACH.

The film depicts the way of life of people in the Jaunsar Bawar area of Uttarakhand and some neighbouring villages of Himachal Pradesh where people still worship the divine king Mahasu and their lives revolve around this worship

The film highlights the facets of an entire system of worship and justice based on the authority of the Mahasu Devta who is not just a deity of the region but also its king.

A “wazir” and an oracle of Mahasu conveys the decisions of the deity to the people. The Governor appreciated the effort and said the film would go a long way in familiarising people with the unique traditions of this area of Uttarakhand.

Ohri and REACH general secretary RK Singh threw light on the film before it was screened.

Among those present were former MLA Munna Singh Chauhan, Chairperson of zila panchayat, Dehradun, Madhu Chauhan, and several eminent citizens. 

One village each selected in four districts or minorities’ development
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 9
As part of the efforts of the Uttarakhand government to focus on the development of the minorities, one village of the minority communities each in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Naintal districts have been selected. Uttarakhand Minorities Development secretary MH Khan today interacted with the residents of Rampur Kalan village in the Sahaspur block of Dehradun district to discuss their problems and the implementation of various development schemes for the minority communities. Rampur Kalan village has been selected in Dehradun district for the purpose.

Khan informed the villagers about various schemes launched by the state government for the minority communities. He said the Minorities Welfare Corporation had been set up and the Chief Minister had been reviewing the progress of the corporation from time to time.

He said the corporation was providing loans up to Rs one lakh to the members of the minority communities. Khan added that a Madrassa Board had been set up in the state and it would conduct examinations for the madrassa students. A sum of Rs 4 crore had been given for the Haj house at Piran Kaliyar and a minorities’ bhawan would be built at Adhoiwala in Dehradun. A budget of Rs one crore would be earmarked for the purpose.

Khan listened to the problems of the villagers and directed the officials concerned to look into the demands of including left out BPL beneficiaries.

Sports meet at Gurukul Mahavidyalaya
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 9
A two-day sports and cultural meet being held at Gurukul Mahavidyalaya concluded here today. The meet was held to commemorate the 151st birth anniversary of Swami Darshanand Saraswati, founder of Gurukul Mahavidyalaya.

Speaking as the chief guest of the concluding session, Chancellor of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University Mahaveer Aggarwal emphasised the need of instilling sports skills in students at early age.

“Yoga is important for good health. We must spread the art of yoga in the country,” said Aggarwal.

Principal of Gurukul Mahavidyalaya Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya assured the students of more sporting facilities and equipment in the coming academic session.

Dr Suresh Chand Tyagi, coordinator of sports and co-curricular activities, lauded the students’ enthusiasm and participation in various sports activities.

Pawan Chand was adjudged the overall champion.

Safety of country paramount: CM
Tribune News Service

Vijay Bahuguna

Dehradun, February 9
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, reacting on the hanging of 2001 Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru, has said that there would not be any compromise on national unity and integrity. " Any attack on the Indian state would be repulsed strongly and firmly," he said.

He further said that as per the judicial process of the country, every accused gets ample chances to prove his or her innocence. " It is the strength of our judicial system that no innocent gets punished," he said.

On the allegation by the BJP about the delay in the hanging of Afzal Guru, Bahuguna said that when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in office, why did they not hang Afzal Guru. " They could not do it because of the lengthy judicial process, and since now it has been completed, the union government has hanged him," he added.

He further said that there would not be any compromise on dealing with terrorism with a firm hand. Union Water Resources Development Minister Harish Rawat, reacting on the development, said that it was the end of the judicial process, and the accused has met his end. But he deplored the attitude of the Opposition BJP in demanding early execution of the accused. " Political parties should refrain from indulging in politics on such sensitive matters of national security," he added.

No indication as to who will head state BJP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 9
While the newly elected national president of the BJP Rajnath Singh had a smooth sailing as far as the nomination of Vasundhra Raje as president of the BJP unit in Rajasthan was concerned , the nomination of the president of the Uttarakhand unit continues to elude him, keen as he is to stamp out intra- party wrangling.

A meeting held in New Delhi yesterday and today of the party bigwigs remained inconclusive, though the leaders in Dehradun kept on sounding their supporters about the selection of the party being finalised during the two days.

All the top leaders from Dehradun who were in New Delhi, including the former Chief Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt and BS Chuphal and other office- bearers, the party sources said were heading home.

"The national president, Rajnath Singh, managed to hold one on one talks with all the leaders to ascertain their views on the leadership crisis that engulfed the party in January, when the candidates supported by former Chief Ministers BC Khanduri and BS Koshiyari were under duress and were forced to withdraw their nominations," said a senior party leader.

The BJP president is expected to strike a balance, keeping regional and caste backgrounds in mind. During his previous tenure as president, Rajnath Singh had managed to keep the different factions in the party on an even keel. "An image- conscious Rajnath Singh, though on good terms with BS Koshiyari, may not like to fuel factionalism fire at this juncture. Therefore, it remains to be seen if he would again repose his faith in Koshiyari," said a party leader.

High alert in Uttarakhand
Tribune News service

Dehradun, February 9
A high alert was sounded in Uttarakhand following the hanging of Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru in the Tihar jail in New Delhi today. However, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state.

After the hanging, the Union Home Ministry had sounded the Uttarakhand Police chief to be alert. In turn, Uttarakhand DGP Satyavrat alerted the district police chiefs.