• 2 Tibetan officials rushed to Manali

DYFI to highlight unemployment
SHIMLA, July 6 — The state unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has decided to start a campaign to highlight the growing problem of unemployment.

More come forward with aid for heroes
SHIMLA, July 6 — The students and staff of the local Bishop Cotton School, have donated Rs 1,11,500 to the Army Welfare Fund to help the families of soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the Pakistani intruders at Kargil.

Six killed as bus falls into gorge
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, July 6 — Six persons were killed and 12 others were injured, six of them seriously, when a private bus (HP-31-4800) fell into a 600-metre deep gorge at Chowki village, 65 km from here today.

Three persons died on the spot and three others succumbed to their injuries at a hospital in Ruhanda. Two persons, who had suffered minor injuries were discharged after first aid.

Seriously injured persons have been brought to the Zonal Hospital, here and condition of three persons is stated to be critical.

The Jayuri-Mandi route bus was coming from Karsog when its front tyre went off the road and it fell into the gorge.

An eye witness Mr Jagdish Saini informed the Tehsildar and DSP, Sundernagar, immediately.

Residents of Chowki and member of Truck Union carried out the rescue operations and shifted the injured to the hospital and extricated the bodies. The bus was completely damaged.

Five of the deceased have been identified as Baldev Sharma, ASI police post, Bangana, Manoj Kumar, driver of the bus, Keshav Ram of Kangu village, Banarsi Dass of Chambi village and Sita Ram of Chowki.

A team of doctors has been rushed to the accident site later, ADC and SP Mandi, also visited the site and disbursed ex-gratia relief to the next of the kin of dead and to the injured.

Security tightened in riot-hit Manali
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, July 6 — After imposing Section 144 of the Cr PC last night security was tightened in the riot-hit tourist town of Manali and Samahan suburb on the Manali-Rohtang road here today. Additional police force has been deployed at many key points after the incident of vandalism that took place yesterday following the brutal murder of a local school student by a Tibetan youth. Most of the local schools remained closed for the second consecutive day here today.

As a result of the prevailing tension in Manali town the Tibetans failed to celebrate the birthday of the Dalai Lama with usual religious fervour and pomp and show. The Minister of State for Primary Education, Mr Karan Singh, accompanied by local MLA Chander Sen Thakur was rushed here by the state Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to take stock of the situation arising out of the incident of ransacking and arson.

While speaking to newspersons, the minister said relief of Rs 95,000 had been distributed among 39 riot-hit families by the district administration and an immediate relief worth Rs 10,000 was released to next of kin of the deceased. Besides, the Deputy Inspector-General, Mr Somesh Goyal, pointed out that after the deployment of two reserves of police in addition to already deployed four reserves the situation in Manali was gradually getting normal. He said a case under sections 147, 148, 149, 452 and 436 of the IPC had been registered at the Manali police station.

Six persons suspected to have been involved in setting afire and ransacking the shops have been rounded up for interrogation. Besides, the Executive Secretary of the Central Tibetan Relief Committee, Mr Tseing Wangyal, arrived here yesterday. He held a meeting with the Divisional Commissioner, Mr S. Roy, the Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, Mr Ashwani Kapoor, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and other civil administration and local police officers.

The local non-Tibetan shopkeepers have urged the government that they should not be ignored while releasing compensation and relief by the district administration. The number of affected local shopkeepers is reported to be about 80.

The Divisional Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Somesh Goyal, and the district police chief, Mr Sahoor H. Zaidi, are still camping here to keep a watch on the relief and rehabilitation operation.

2 Tibetan officials rushed to Manali
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 6 — The Tibetan government-in-exile has rushed two of its senior officials to Manali to take stock of the situation, following the murder of a local boy by a Tibetan youth.

Disclosing this, the Minister for Home, in the Tibetan Government here, Mr Tashi Wangdi, said senior officials were immediately rushed to Manali, after an urgent meeting of the Tibetan Cabinet (Kashag) yesterday. "We are in touch with senior officials of Kulu district to have first-hand information of the situation there," he disclosed.

Mr Wangdi said officials of the Tibetan Government would start the assessment of loss to property. A majority of the shops had been set ablaze. "Our immediate concern is to rehabilitate these persons who have been affected due to the fault of a handful of people," he commented.

The Minister for Home said on hearing about the Manali incident they had immediately informed the Dalai Lama, who was very concerned. He regretted that the younger generation was drifting away from the path of peace and non-violence which had always been advocated by the Dalai Lama.

Meanwhile, the district authorities took all precautionary measures to avert any untoward incident at McLeodganj, the headquarters of the Tibetan Government-in-exile. There was heavy police deployment there and in other Tibetan settlements in Kangra district. In fact, the Department of Security of the Tibetan Government had requested the administration to deploy forces in case of any incident.

On the occasion of the 65th birthday of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetans gathered in large numbers at the main temple to participate in the prayer service for the long life of the Tibetan leader. All Tibetan offices, shops and commercial establishments remained closed as today was a holiday on the occasion of the birthday of the Dalai Lama.

Sink differences, pleads Dhawan
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 6 — The AICC General Secretary, Mr R.K. Dhawan, today asked supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr Sat Mahajan to sink their differences and present a united picture on the eve of the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Dhawan was addressing the general house of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee here.

He asked the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, and the PCC president, Mr Sat Mahajan, to undertake election tours together so that the right message was sent to the people.

Several members of the general house pointed out that the BJP had already launched its election campaign, while the Congress was yet to finalise its candidates.

It is learnt that Mr Dhawan asked the state leadership to convene a meeting of the pradesh election committee soon and send their recommendations regarding the candidates for the four Lok Sabha seats to the party high command for approval.

Many senior PCC office-bearers and leaders, including Mr J B L Khachi, Mr Shiv Kumar and Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Kaul Singh, Mr Sagar Chand Nayyar, Mr Vijay Singh Mankotia and Mr Vikram Katoch did not attend the meeting. Mr Khachi and Mr Mahajan were not keeping well, sources said.

Mr Manjeet Singh Dogra and Mr Kuldeep Singh Pathania were allowed to take part in the meeting and also present their viewpoint by Mr Dhawan although they were not members of the general house.

Certain Congressmen alleged the ruling BJP had unleashed a reign of terror against Congress workers. False cases were being registered against them to harass them.

It was decided at the meeting that the failure of the BJP government on the Kargil front would be highlighted in the elections.

Sources said the BJP was also criticised for scandalising the Bofors guns issue although these guns had helped the Indian Army in giving a crushing jolt to the Pakistani intruders in the Kargil area. The Kargil battlefield had proven a successful test for the Bofors guns.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Sat Mahajan and at least 24 other Congressmen spoke.

DYFI to highlight unemployment
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 6 — The state unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has decided to start a campaign to highlight the growing problem of unemployment.

The two-day conference of the federation, which concluded here on Sunday, urged the government to undertake work on the Swan channelisation project, set up industries based on fruit and agriculture and take up other projects to generate employment opportunities. It also decided to hold a state-level rally on August 12 at Shimla to focus the attention of the government on the problem of unemployment.

It demanded the extension of the rail track from Kiratpur to Rampur, Yamunanagar to Paonta Sahib, Kalka to Ropar via Nalagarh and Joginder Nagar to Mandi.

It adopted a resolution urging the Centre to declare Himachal a special category state.

It decided to contribute Rs 1 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for Kargil heroes. It would also organise blood donation camps all over the state. Its members would send 10,000 postcards to brave soldiers fighting the intruders on the front.

The conference elected Mr Kaushal Bhardwaj and Mr Tikender Singh as president and secretary of the federation, respectively. A 25-member executive committee was also elected.

Local call rate for Shimla-UT
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 6 — Local call charges will be applicable for telephone subscribers of Shimla and Kinnaur for dialling any number in Chandigarh from today.

According to Mr B.R. Kashyap, General Manager, Telecom, Shimla, telephone subscribers will be charged on 180-second basis.

The access to Chandigarh will be by dialling 0172 as earlier, but the pulse rate has been revised as the aerial distance between here and Chandigarh is less than 50 km. The new pulse rates have been made applicable as per directions of the TRAI

More come forward with aid for heroes
From Tribune Reporters

SHIMLA, July 6 — The students and staff of the local Bishop Cotton School, have donated Rs 1,11,500 to the Army Welfare Fund to help the families of soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the Pakistani intruders at Kargil.

Mr Kabir Mustafi presented a cheque to Major General Jitender Singh, Chief of Staff of Army Training Command (ARTRAC) here today. He said the management of the school would soon come out with schemes to provide education to the wards of the martyrs.

The members of the State Bank of Patiala, Sanawar branch, have decided to donate their one-day salary to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for Kargil Heroes.

The state unit of the youth Congress has decided to raise Rs 1 lakh for the purpose. The sum would be deposited in Sonia Gandhi's relief fund.

AMRITSAR: A meeting of the executive of Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers Association (GNDUTA) was held here today and it was unanimously decided to contribute one day's salary to provide support to the soldiers fighting the intruders in Kargil and their families.

This was stated by Dr R.K. Bedi, president and Dr Davinder Singh, secretary of the association. They also announced that a meeting of the National Secretariat of the All-India Federation of University Teachers Association (AIFUTA) would be held at Delhi on July 8.

FARIDABAD: The local Apeejay School donated Rs 2 lakh for the families of Kargil martyrs at a function organised here today.

Mrs G. Anupama, Administrator, Haryana Development Authority, Faridabad, was the chief guest.

Mr Arora, Principal of the school, said about Rs 20 lakh had been contributed by the Apeejay schools throughout the country and a cheque for the amount would be presented to the wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, tomorrow in New Delhi.

On the occasion, the school children also prepared a special greeting card (23 ft x 6") glorifying the bravery of soldiers fighting in Kargil and to boost their morale. The card will be sent to the Army Headquarters.

The children also presented a cultural programme on the occasion.

JAMMU: The employees of the Jammu unit of the Passport Authority of India today donated their one day's salary for the welfare of the jawans fighting the enemy troops in Kargil sector.

The announcement was made at a meeting of the employees here today by the joint secretary of the All-India Passport Employees Association. The employees pledged to raise funds for the Defence Fund and paid rich tributes to the soldiers fighting Pak troops and infiltrators.

SONEPAT: The local Rotary Club (Uptown) organised a rally here today in order to raise funds for the Army Relief Fund. Many prominent citizens and schools children participated in the rally.

People donated generously and a sum of Rs 51,000 was collected on the spot, which would be sent to the Army Relief Fund.

The Haryana Government Pharmacists Association today urged its members to contribute their one-day salary to the Chief Minister's War Heroes Relief Fund.

The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association also hailed the sacrifices of the soldiers and paid tributes to the martyrs.

Mr Rajiv Jain, general secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party and the political press adviser to the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, has donated his one-month salary towards the Chief Minister's War Heroes Relief Fund.

A cheque for Rs 15,211 was sent today by the people to the Secretary, Sainik Board, Panchkula, for contributing the same towards the National Defence Fund.