Plight of TB patients
KANGRA, March 25 — While the world tuberculosis day was being observed today, 20-year-old Madhu, a patient at the tuberculosis Sanatorium in Tanda could not purchase medicines due to poverty.

Call for industrial strike today
SHIMLA, March 25 — The Centre of Indian Trade Unions has given a call for a one-day industrial strike throughout the state tomorrow to protest against the "unprecedented repression" on workmen of the Nathpa-Jhakri hydroelectric project.

"India's Most Wanted" helps nab two
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, March 25 — Batran village of Nadaun revenue subdivision of the district in Himachal Pradesh has come into limelight these days after the arrest of Rajesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar by the police in connection with a major dacoity and a murder allegedly committed in Mumbai and Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh in 1997. Both persons were arrested by the Nadaun police.

They were nabbed after they were recognised by Ajay Sondhi, a trader of Nadaun town in "India's Most Wanted" on Zee television network on Tuesday. Mr Sondhi, a garment dealer, not only rang up Zee TV but also the SP of Hamirpur after identifying one of the persons whose photograph was shown on the television.

Talking to this reporter at his shop yesterday, Mr Sondhi said after watching the programme he immediately rushed to a local journalist, Mr Rajesh Sharma and made the phone calls. He also gave an interview to Zee TV network which visited the town on Sunday. He further said he was pressurised by some persons not to disclose his identity, but he told the truth to Zee TV and others who sought details to this effect from him.

When a team of Hamirpur-based reporters reached Rajesh Kumar's house at Batran village, they were received by Mr Munshi Ram, father of Rajesh Kumar.

He blamed the Nadaun police for arresting his son for the murder of a patwari, Mr Desraj of the Settlement Department. He alleged that the SHO, Nadaun, deliberately involved his son and his friend, Ashok Kumar. He said the real culprits were still moving freely and the police was deliberately not arresting them for the reasons best known to them.

About the alleged involvement of Rajesh Kumar in the crime, the aged father said it was a concocted story. He said his son was never involved in any such incident and he was falsely implicated into the case.

Giving detail he said Rajesh had returned from Mumbai two years ago and was plying a taxi at Nadaun. He had arranged a loan from a local bank for purchasing the taxi. He said, had Rajesh been involved in any dacoity, he would have brought money from there.

The father of six sons said the photograph of Rajesh might have been procured from the hotel where he was working in Mumbai.

According to the father, a group in the village was spreading canard against the family in general, and Rajesh Kumar in particular. This group never wanted the family to prosper, and firstly they tried to stall the marriage of Rajesh. But when they failed in their mission they involved him in the murder case.

The house of Ashok Kumar, the other accused taken to Saharanpur for interrogation, was found locked when reporters reached there. The small mud house was looking deserted. Bimla Devi, mother of Ashok Kumar had gone to Saharanpur to inquire about her son. The brother of Ashok Kumar is working as a barber in Chandigarh.

The neighbours of Ashok Kumar were not ready to say anything. Shopkeepers and others in the village were tight-lipped.

One of the villagers said their arrest had brought relief to them as two had been creating nuisance.

This allegation, however, was refuted by Mr Daljit Singh, elder brother of Rajesh Kumar.

The Station House Officer of Nadaun police station was not available as he had gone to Shimla in connection with the anticipatory bail applications of the two.

However, insiders in the department told reporters that a number of cases of various nature were lying pending with the police against Rajesh and Ashok.

Rs 3-crore health project launched
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, March 25 — A Rs 3- crore Reproductive Health Project funded by the UNFPA has commenced in Sirmaur district. It is one of the five districts in India where such project is being launched. Other districts are Malla Puram (Kerala), Bundi (Rajasthan), Wardha (Gujarat) and Patna (Bihar). This was disclosed here yesterday by the Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, Mr Rakesh Kaushal.

It will adopt a broad-based approach to the family planning programmes and provide better mother and child care (ante-natal and post-natal) services.

Project officer of the programme, Manmeet Kaur said that three ambulances, including one mobile clinic van, have been procured, besides, infrastructure facilities in referral hospitals at Dadahu, Paonta Sahib, Rajgarh, Sarahan and Shillai would be strengthened. She said local panchayats were bring involved to spread awareness about mothercare among the masses.

For the first time in Himachal Pradesh, the HIV (Eliza Test) test facility would be provided in the District Hospital at Nahan, a spokesman of the Medical Department said.

Plight of TB patients
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 25 — While the world tuberculosis day was being observed today, 20-year-old Madhu, a patient at the tuberculosis Sanatorium in Tanda could not purchase medicines due to poverty.

Madhu of Doog Dagyaria village told this correspondent that she required tonics and other medicines but could not purchase them due to acute poverty.

Jasu Ram of Yol said tonics and other medicines had to be purchased from the market.

The bed strength of the sanatorium, which was declared open by the then President, Dr Rajinder Prasad, was reduced from 200 to 96 despite the fact that the tuberculosis graph was rising in the region.

The state government observed the closure of a 24-bedded female ward to set up an office there. As many as 49 patients are indoor patients including 19 women. The hospital now has only three wards, each having a capacity for 24 beds.

Some patients, on the condition of anonymity, complained of the inferior quality of food. The Medical Superintendent of the sanatorium was not available for comments.

Film producer's plea for concessions
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 25 — Mr Sawan Kumar, film producer and director, has urged the Himachal Government to give tax concessions and other facilities on the pattern other states to encourage film units shoot in the state.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said that over the past 50 years a large number of films had been shot in Himachal and there was not much left to be shown. It was thus imperative that the government must give some incentives to encourage Bollywood producers to shoot in the state. The Uttar Pradesh Government grants exemptions in entertainment tax to films shot in the state.

The rate of entertainment tax was 100 per cent which was too high in view of the fact that only the poor went to saw movies in cinema houses. The rate should be on par with sales tax.

Mr Sawan Kumar, who was here to plead his case for the waiving of entertainment tax on his latest film "Mother 98", said the films were commercial ventures and as such producers could not make movies solely to educate the masses or send across a social message. Commercial success of films was must for the growth and sustenance of industry.

Work on Kol dam to start soon
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, March 25 — The Himachal Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, has declared that work on the 800-MW Kol dam project in Bilaspur and Mandi districts will start within the next financial year. The Sutlej Valley Railway Corporation will be set up soon to construct a broad gauge railway line from Bhanupali in Punjab to Bilaspur town. The Bilaspur district hospital will also start functioning as a zonal hospital.

Addressing a Nalwaadi mela gathering here on Tuesday evening, Professor Dhumal said the state government would make all-out efforts to settle the problems of Bhakra Dam oustees which have been pending since the past 40 years. Now new sectors would be added to the new Bilaspur township for the rehabilitation of the remaining oustees.

The Chief Minister declared the state government would immediately release Rs 50 lakh for the completion of the sports complex at Luhnu ground here where the Nalwaadi mela is being held. The government would also provide all additional help for the construction of a stadium. He said sportspersons would be honoured by the state government every year. They would get enhanced reservation of 3 per cent in all government services.

Professor Dhumal announced farmers would be given computerised passbooks and provided bank loans immediately. The Chief Minister paid glowing tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru who sacrificed their lives 58 years ago for the sake of freedom.

Call for industrial strike today
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 25 — The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has given a call for a one-day industrial strike throughout the state tomorrow to protest against the "unprecedented repression" on workmen of the Nathpa-Jhakri hydroelectric project.

In a statement here today, a spokesman of CITU said that the strike will also be observed by workers of the Nathpa-Jhakri joint venture and continental foundation.

The workers of the project are demanding equal wage for equal work, besides other things.