One killed as groups clash
KULU, Aug 1 — A feud between two groups of employees of the Malana Power Company led to the death of Sunder Singh (24) of Shat village in the Manikaran valley at Jari on Friday night.

Of roads & accidents
PALAMPUR: The sharp increase in bus accidents in Himachal Pradesh has once again put a question mark on the functioning of the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation which has monopoly on the important and long-distance routes in and outside the state.

Shukla panel report baseless: Butail
PALAMPUR, Aug 1 — Mr Brij Butail, senior Congress leader and President of the District Congress Committee, has described the report of the Shukla Committee on appointments made during the Congress regime as baseless and far from the truths.

Kathware resents neglect of Hatis
NAHAN, Aug 1 — Mr Jeet S. Kathware, General Secretary of the Hati Samiti, Sirmour, has regretted the fact that no political party had taken up seriously the demand of the Hati tribe of trans-giri area regarding the inclusion of the tribe in scheduled tribes, category.

Minjar fair ends with tributes to martyrs
CHAMBA, Aug 1 — The week-long historic Minjar fair concluded here today amidst the performance of traditional and religious rituals but devoid of festivities in the wake of the Kargil developments. Glorious tributes were paid to the martyrs.

17 injured in truck mishap
UNA, Aug 1— As many as 17 persons were injured when a truck in which they were travelling turned turtle near Shitla Temple, Chintpurni, 52 km from here, yesterday.

Media centre opens at Hamirpur
HAMIRPUR, Aug 1 — A media centre has been opened in the office of the District Public Relations Officer for disseminating election-related information during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections to the people, Mr Chander Mani Kapoor, DPRO, Hamirpur, will be the in charge of the centre, according to Mr Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Deputy Commissioner.

• 'Act on Shukla panel report'
• Iraqi envoy meets Dhumal
• SFI threatens agitation

Attempts to bail out accused NJPC scam
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 1 — The manner in which the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation authorities have acted following the exposure of the Rs 1.82 crore scam in the project, has put the management of the corporation in the dock.

In the normal course registration of vigilance cases in connection with such a financial scandal usually led to the shifting of accused officers from the sensitive positions. However, in this case instead of taking action against the three senior officers named in the four FIRs registered by the Vigilance Department, the authorities suspended Mr A K Singh, Deputy Manager Finance, who brought the scandal to light.

Mr A K Singh was suspended while an officer of the Vigilance Department was on way to Jhakri to seize the relevant records. Obviously, the objective was to prevent him from handing over the record and also to dissuade other honest officers from cooperating with the investigating agency.

Lightning strike by officers and employees of the corporation who came out openly in support of the victimised officer, forced the authorities to revoke the suspension. However, yesterday, Mr A K Singh was transferred from Jhakri to Parwanoo. The orders stating that Mr A K Singh has been "transferred and stands relieved" with immediate effect only indicated the urgency on the part of the management to shift him.

At the same time Mr Mohan Bagh, Senior Vigilance Officer, who is one of main accused was also transferred to give an impression that Mr A K Singh’s transfer was a bona fide action. However, when the Vigilance Department warned the corporation authorities that transfer of Mr A K Singh, amounted to a breach of the undertaking given to the High Court by the officers while securing interim pre-arrest bail and that they would oppose the bail on this ground, the transfer was cancelled promptly. But the transfer order of Mr Mohan Bagh was also reversed on the plea that High Court had directed him not to move out of Shimla district. This means that he would continue in the sensitive position of senior Vigilance Officer.

While Mr Gopal Krishnan, Executive Director (Vigilance) who also has been booked in these cases, has been reverted to the Power Grid Corporation following the expiry of his deputation on July 31, Mr V K Sharma, the General Manager (projects), the main accused who has also secured interim pre-arrest bail, is still continuing in this important post. Such actions of the management did not inspire confidence among officers, a senior manager said.

The State Project Engineers Association and the NJPC Officers Association have expressed concern over these developments and apprehensions that the authorities might victimise other ‘honest’ officers. They may be chargesheeted on flimsy grounds or transferred out from the project area.

The two associations have demanded immediate steps to prevent such scams in future. They have also demanded a complete review of the functioning of the Vigilance Wing of the project to bring transparency and ensure that contractors were not allowed to harass honest officers.

The officers and engineers condemned the vindictive attitude and dubious role of the project Vigilance Department and the apathetic attitude of the management. They have urged the Government of India to intervene and take corrective steps to ensure timely completion of the project which already had fallen behind schedule.

Landslide renders 6 families homeless
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Aug 1 — District sub-jail of Chamba is under threat from gushing waters of the flooded Ravi following heavy rains in the alpine regions of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.

A new road needs to be laid to divert vehicular traffic on the Chamba-Pathankot highway to avoid any mishap on this point alongside the jail where Ravi has created a cavity posing threat to the highway as well as to the jail.

Unprecedented rains in September, 1995 swelled Ravi to such an extent that the Chamba-Pathankot highway running alongside the jail was reduced to a small strip. In that year, Ravi changed its course towards the jail and nowadays the flood waters are striking the back wall of the jail.

NURPUR: Heavy landslide in Chhoti-Dhar hill under in Ladori gram panchayat reportedly rendered six families enlisted in the IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Programme) homeless on Friday night. According to the information the victims had their houses at Bassa Janunia village near Chhoti Dhar hill.

Owing to heavy rains the hill started sinking on Friday evening. Sensing landslide threat the families vacated their houses and shifted to safer houses in the village. In the night their house collapsed due to heavy landslides of Chhoti-Dhar.

Agriculture land with standing kharif crops also were damaged. The local tehsildar visited the spot on Saturday. A total loss of Rs 4 lakh has been estimated in the survey. Affected families have been given immediate relief.

Sea of mourners receive body
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI: The body of 22-year-old jawan Yoginder Singh of 16th Grenadier reached here on Friday evening. A large crowd of people from different walks of life had gathered to receive it.

The scene was one that Jawalamukhi has never witnessed during the past 50 years. A sea of mourners started pouring into the old bus stand early in the morning to pay homage to the brave son of Jawalamukhi. A 10-hour delay in the arrival of the coffin did not deter anyone from braving the scorching heat. A large number of mourners gathered here from adjoining villages.

"He died so that we may live", his younger brother Bhupinder Singh repeated over and over. A debt acknowledged in ample measures by the people gathered there.

Yoginder Singh joined the Army’s 16th Grenadier in February, 1997, and was posted at the Dras sector of Kargil after training. His father Mr Kuldeep Singh’s heart swelled with pride when his son’s fellow jawans narrated to him how his son had fought the enemy with extraordinary valour. Though he was badly injured with a bullet, yet he didn’t lose courage.

Yoginder’s coffin was taken in a procession to the cremation ground. Army pall-bearers led by jawans of Grenadier regiments carried the coffin as hundreds of mourners stood on both sides of the road to salute the hero.

Cutting across the party line, the BJP and the Congress displayed banners denouncing Pakistan. A bandh was observed in the town to express solidarity with the family of Yoginder Singh.

Earlier, military officers, politicians and district officers placed wreaths on the coffin. The mortal remains of the sepoy were consigned to the flames with full military honours at the local cremation ground.

Marketing Board to construct link roads
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Aug 1 — The state Marketing Board has decided to construct Marketing Committee branch office at Santohgarh, 16 km from here, at the cost of Rs 40 lakh. The board will also provide vegetable, grain and fruit collection centre at Gagret, 36 km from here. This was stated by Mr Varinder Kashap, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Marketing Board, while talking to reporters here yesterday.

He said in order to facilitate the farmers to bring their produce to road heads in the hilly area, the board had decided to provide link roads. But due to the shortage of funds each link road would not be more than 5 km long. He said the board had decided to provide ropeway facility in areas where road construction was not possible and Rs 60 lakh had been provided for this purpose during current financial year.

Mr Kashap said the Marketing Board had also decided to provide plastic trays to fruit and vegetable growers in the state at subsidised rates

One killed as groups clash
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Aug 1 — A feud between two groups of employees of the Malana Power Company led to the death of Sunder Singh (24) of Shat village in the Manikaran valley at Jari on Friday night. Mr Zahur Zaidi, Superintendent of Police, said that Nanak Chand, Dola Singh and Sunder Singh had minor quarrel with Rafique Mohammad and Safique Khan. The two reported the matter to the seniors who decided to teach them a lesson. It was alleged that the JEs and supervisors started beating up Sunder Singh in a closed room and he was killed.

Later they took him to the Manikaran Police Chowki where he was reported to be brought dead.

Mr Zaidi said that the police arrested Ashok Chauhan and Virender Sharma. A case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against six persons.

The police chief told that the other four were D.P. Rajan, S.K. Singh, Patiyal and Notiyal who were absconding.

Meanwhile, a mob attacked the offices of the Malana Power Company at Jari and damaged furniture and temporary structures, it was also learnt that they tried to set the main offices on fire.

Body of the deceased has been brought here for a post-mortem examination in the district hospital. The situation at Jari village was tense. The Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police went to the village.

Of roads & accidents
From Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR: The sharp increase in bus accidents in Himachal Pradesh has once again put a question mark on the functioning of the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation which has monopoly on the important and long-distance routes in and outside the state. In the past one week over 50 innocent persons have lost their lives in bus mishaps in the state.

Despite tall claims made by the Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister, Mr Krishna Kapoor, nothing worthwhile has been done to ensure passenger safety in the state. In a state where the 98 per cent of the population uses buses, the passenger safety is not a priority? Permits for bus routes for passenger transport vehicles are allegedly accorded on political considerations without taking into account the trafficworthiness of these roads.

Though there has been manifold increase in the state and inter-state traffic but the width of the roads has not changed in the past 20 years. Nothing substantial has been done to improve condition of roads in remote areas where most accidents take place. In 1998-99, over 163 persons died in bus accidents while 289 were injured.

HRTC officials say that 75 per cent of the accidents occur because of human error, the remaining because of mechanical failures in buses, landslides and bad roads. The recent accident near Sundernagar in which nine passengers were killed was caused by human error. The driver jumped off the bus without applying hand brakes, the bus rolled down 800 feet. The accident near Kothkhai in which 22 persons were killed on the spot was because of a bad and narrow road.

Political interference in the appointment and posting of HRTC drivers is an important factor for the high rate of accidents. However the Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Kapoor, denies such interference.

In a short span of one and half years the HRTC has seen five managing directors for they allegedly failed to toe the line of politicians.

The another factor responsible for the increase in bus accidents is the alleged sale of driving licences at the sums ranging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4000 for each heavy vehicle. Long queues of agents who ‘sell’ driving licences can be seen in front of the offices of licensing authorities. Inquiry reports of accidents remain confined to desks of officials till those are thrown into dustbins.

Shukla panel report baseless: Butail
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Aug 1 — Mr Brij Butail, senior Congress leader and President of the District Congress Committee, has described the report of the Shukla Committee on appointments made during the Congress regime as baseless and far from the truths. Addressing a news conference here this morning he said the report submitted by the committee to the state government last week was politically motivated and was intended to tarnish the image of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and the Congress. He said the committee had not gone into the vital issue and circumstances in which these appointments were made. Mr Butail said during the Congress regime all these "controversial" appointments were made after adopting a proper procedure and according to rules and regulations there was no question of any irregularities.

He asked the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to order a judicial probe into the appointments made for Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, where the government had flouted rules and regulations for the appointments. He said Mr Dhumal must publish the list of those candidates who had qualified the written test of the qualifying examination. He told mediapersons that most of the candidates who had qualified the written test were either relatives of politicians or of the officials of the bank.

He said despite repeated requests by mediapersons and Congress MLAs the bank had so far not disclosed the list of qualified candidates.

Mr Butail told newsmen that number of highly qualified candidates like PhDs or post graduates did not figure in the list of successful candidates while Matric pass candidates had qualified the written test. He said there was strong resentment among the unemployed youth over this and demanded immediate cancellation of the test and asked the government to conduct the test again in accordance with the provision of the Banking Recruitment Board rules.

Mr Butail said if the government failed to take any step in the matter then the Congress would raise this issue in the coming session of the state Assembly.

Kathware resents neglect of Hatis
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Aug 1 — Mr Jeet S. Kathware, General Secretary of the Hati Samiti, Sirmour, has regretted the fact that no political party had taken up seriously the demand of the Hati tribe of trans-giri area regarding the inclusion of the tribe in scheduled tribes, category.

He said the BJP had included this demand of the Hatis in its election manifesto but after coming to power it had not taken any step to implement the demand.

Mr Kathware stated the Hati Samiti had decided to give a call to the people of the trans-giri area to support and vote for only a candidate who was committed to their cause. In the coming Lok Sabha elections.

He has demanded that the entire trans-giri tract should be declared a sub-tribal cadre area.

Mr Kathware expressed resentment over the fact that the government had not done anything to save the ginger crop, the only cash crop of the area. The crop has been afflicted by a mysterious disease.

Farmers of the area have been forced to go to other places in search of livelihood. Though the state government was giving incentives and help to fruit and tea growers in the state, ginger growers were being neglected continuously, Mr Kathware added.

The Hati Samiti has also demanded that the shamlat land be returned to the farmers, who in many cases have become landless because of the acquisition of land by the government.

Minjar fair ends with tributes to martyrs
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Aug 1 — The week-long historic Minjar fair concluded here today amidst the performance of traditional and religious rituals but devoid of festivities in the wake of the Kargil developments. Glorious tributes were paid to the martyrs.

About one lakh persons, including tourists from the neighbouring states, participated in the fair.

The immersion of golden ‘minjars’ (top blossoms of the maize plant) with coconuts in the Ravi river by the Himachal Industry Minister, Mr Kishori Lal, who was the chief guest, heralded the end of the fair. The festival symbolises the blossoming of the maize crop, which is the main crop and staple diet in this alpine region. People pray to their gods to seek blessings for a good harvest.

Men, women and children adorn themselves with the sacred gold tassel of ‘minjars’ in the fair pray to Rain God Varuna for timely rain and bumper crop.

Earlier, a Shobha yatra, starting from the Akhand-Chand Palace, passed through the main markets of the town and converged on the right bank of the Ravi for immersion ceremony.

The town’s presiding deity, Lord Raghuvira, was carried in a palanquin accompanied by other local deities and the insignia of God Manimahesh, Lakshmi Narayan and Charpat Nath.

Mr Kishori Lal, Mr Mohan Lal, Minister of State for Ayurveda, Mr Harish Mahajan the local MLA, Mr Tulsi Ram, MLA from Bharmour, Mr K Sanjaymurthy, Deputy Commissioner and Mr Dogra SE(PWD) were among those who took part in the procession.

17 injured in truck mishap
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Aug 1— As many as 17 persons were injured when a truck in which they were travelling turned turtle near Shitla Temple, Chintpurni, 52 km from here, yesterday.

The injured were admitted to Chintpurni Government Hospital. However, 14 injured were discharged after first aid, while Rajiv has been referred to PGI, Chandigarh. The injured belonged to Moga.

The Deputy Commissioner, Una, visited the hospital and provided Rs 5,000 to Rajiv, who was referred to PGI, Chandigarh.

'Act on Shukla panel report'
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 1 — The Himachal Pradesh Employees Confederation today demanded action against those held responsible for irregularities in appointments by the Shukla committee report.

It said the report had proved the charge levelled by the confederation that Mr Virbhadra Singh had given jobs on political considerations.

The confederation urged the government to give allowances to employees on revised pay scales failing which it would be forced to start an agitation. It also demanded amendment in the career progress scheme.

SFI threatens agitation
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 1 — The state committee of the Students Federation of India (SFI) has threatened to start an agitation if the Himachal Pradesh University authorities failed to announce the schedule of elections to the Students Central Association.

The SFI alleged that the Vice-Chancellor, S.K. Gupta, had earlier announced that elections would be held at the earliest and now he was backing out.

Media centre opens at Hamirpur
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Aug 1 — A media centre has been opened in the office of the District Public Relations Officer for disseminating election-related information during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections to the people, Mr Chander Mani Kapoor, DPRO, Hamirpur, will be the in charge of the centre, according to Mr Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Deputy Commissioner.

He said here today that the centre would remain open during the office hours up to the end of the electioneering period and thereafter round the clock up to the end of the elections. The officer-in-charge of the centre would be responsible to provide different kinds of information relating to the elections and could be contacted on phone or by fax No. 22269 for the purpose.

He said through a notification that carrying of all types of arms and ammunition had been banned throughout the district till the completion of the election process. This step had been taken for the smooth conduct of the elections and to maintain law and order in the district.

Iraqi envoy meets Dhumal
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 1 — Mr Salah al Mukhtar, Ambassador of Iraq, called on the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today.

Mr Dhumal apprised him of the progress made by the state and the ongoing developmental activities.

He said Himachal Pradesh had an identified hydroelectric potential of 22,000 MW and the state government intended to exploit it expeditiously by involving private parties in a big way. Foreign investment in the power sector was also being welcomed, he said.

The Chief Minister also informed the Ambassador about the tourism and industrial potential of the state and steps being taken to harness it.

Mr Mukhtar evinced keen interest in the development activities of the state.