H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Rs 1.6 lakh bank fraud uncovered
CHAMBA, Jan 22 — A case of defraud involving a sum of about Rs 1.60 lakh pertaining to a retired government servant in the local branch of Punjab National Bank has come to light.

Formation of Dental Council challenged
SHIMLA, Jan 22 — Mr Justice M.R. Verma of the Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a notice to the state and the Dental Council of India on a writ petition challenging the constitution of the State Dental Council.

Poor embrace Christianity
MANDI, Jan 22 — Reports from Sundernagar, Karsog and Jogindernagar subdivisions in the district reveal that many poor families have embraced Christianity.

Two killed, 8 hurt as bus falls into khud
SHIMLA, Jan 22 — At least two persons were killed and eight injured, one of them seriously, when a private bus fell into khud near Tira, about 15 km from Sarkaghat, this evening.

Tibetan minister meets Dhumal
DHARAMSALA, Jan 22 — Minister of Religion and Culture in the Tibetan government Tashi Wangdi today called on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and discussed with him the issue of Karmapa’s stay here and that of his political asylum.

Shastri for active participation of women
NURPUR, Jan 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, has stressed the need for active participation of women in social development.

Decision to close down offices flayed
DHARAMSALA, Jan 22  — The Divisional Commissioners Kangra Divisional Employees Association has condemned the decision of the government to close down the three offices of the Divisional Commissioners in the state.

Rs 1.6 lakh bank fraud uncovered
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 22 — A case of defraud involving a sum of about Rs 1.60 lakh pertaining to a retired government servant in the local branch of Punjab National Bank has come to light.

A complaint in this connection has been lodged with the Sadar police station by a retired patwari, Mr Dharam Singh Kentiyal.

He has alleged that he had deposited Rs 40,000 (his leave salary) on June 2, 1997, and Rs 30,000 (his gratuity) on June 24, 1997, in the bank under account No 1338. He had withdrawn Rs 25,000 through a cheque on October 6, 1997.

Mr Kentiyal also deposited Rs 1.13 lakh (his GPF) in his account on November 5, 1997. He disclosed that all entries, including interest on the amount, had been made accordingly in his pass book upto April, 1998.

He said on December 22, 1999, when he went to the bank to get his amount withdrawn he was told by bank officials that there were only Rs 3,000 in his account.

He reported the matter to the police stating that he was defrauded by the bank for about Rs 1.60 lakh.

The police said a case had already been registered against a bank official involved in the fraud in 1998 and was under investigation.

According to Mr C.L. Arya, Manager of the Chamba branch of Punjab National Bank, a cashier, Mr Yog Raj, has been put under suspension on a charge of defrauding 17 depositors. He said an in-house inquiry against the official had been completed and the report submitted to the high-ups of the bank for action. He said Mr Dharam Singh Kentiyal was one of the complainants.

Formation of Dental Council challenged
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 22 — Mr Justice M.R. Verma of the Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a notice to the state and the Dental Council of India on a writ petition challenging the constitution of the State Dental Council.

The petition filed by Dr Ashok Bhoil and others has sought quashing of the notification dated November 13, 1999, vide which the government constituted an 11-member State Dental Council on the ground that the body could not be notified until it was duly incorporated under Section 24 of the Dentist Act of India, 1948.

Further, rules for constitution of the council, which were notified on October 21, 1999, had not been laid before the state legislature as required under the Act. The rules, thus, had no force of law and any action initiated on their basis was null, void and liable to be struck down.

The petition also pointed out certain fallacies in the newly constituted council like the inclusion of a dental surgeon who died three years ago and omission of the name of the Chief Medical Officer of the state.

Poor embrace Christianity
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Jan 22 — Reports from Sundernagar, Karsog and Jogindernagar subdivisions in the district reveal that many poor families have embraced Christianity.

According to reliable sources, four missionaries — Heerakh Kumar of Balasore district, Orissa, Davis Samraj of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, P. Navastra Rao of Krishna district Andhra Pradesh, and V. Mark of Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu are actively engaged in conversions. They have reportedly converted many families, including those of Gurkhas of Nepal.

The families of Rattan Lal at Jarol village, Rup Kumar of Lalwana village and Onkar Chand of Sundernagar have recently become Christians.

Similarly, in Karsog subdivision, the families of Kanshi Ram of Bakhrot village and Raj Kumar and Mast Ram of Manera village have adopted Christianity.

Two killed, 8 hurt as bus falls into khud
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 22 — At least two persons were killed and eight injured, one of them seriously, when a private bus fell into khud near Tira, about 15 km from Sarkaghat, this evening.

The bus was on its way from Sarkaghat to Gaddidhar.

The Sub Divisional Magistrate and the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Sarkaghat have rushed to the spot to supervise relief and rescue operation.

Tibetan minister meets Dhumal

DHARAMSALA, Jan 22 (UNI) — Minister of Religion and Culture in the Tibetan government Tashi Wangdi today called on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and discussed with him the issue of Karmapa’s stay here and that of his political asylum.

According to sources, the more than 30 minute took place this morning at Government Circuit House here.

Karmapa, who reached here on January 5 after he escaped from a monastry from Lhasa on December 28, is staying in a monastry at Sidhbari near here under tight security cover.

Shastri for active participation of women
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Jan 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, has stressed the need for active participation of women in social development.

Mr Shastri said this inaugurating a two-day-long Regional District Mahila Shakti Mela at Suliali in this sub-division last evening.

He called upon women to make a proper use of their leisure time to improve our socio-economic condition. Praising the people of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Shastri said he had been impressed by their sense of self-respect and hard work. He praised the Social Welfare Board for creating awareness among the women about their social rights and duties.

Mahila Mandals of Kangra, Una, Chamba and Hamirpur districts were participating in the mela.

A number of exhibitions of hand-made products of rural women and government departments has been organised. Competition among mahila mandals were also being held.

Ms Mridula Sinha, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Advisory Board (CSWAB), presided over the function.

Decision to close down offices flayed
From Our Correspondent

DHARAMSALA, Jan 22  — The Divisional Commissioners Kangra Divisional Employees Association has condemned the decision of the government to close down the three offices of the Divisional Commissioners in the state.

Mr Sukhdev Sood, president of the association, said the decision was against the interests of the farmers as most of the revenue cases were being handled by the offices of the Divisonal Commissioners. He alleged the government had taken this decision because it could not interfere in the functioning of the Divisional Commissioners' offices. "Now with these powers going to the Deputy Comissioners concerned, the government will be able to have political interference," he stated.