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| Thursday, August 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Manimahesh: security forces on toes 8 killed, 25 hurt
in two mishaps Building bridges ‘Ramayana way’ Land revenue Act: lawyers boycott work Thakur Ganga Singh dead Legal aid camps boon for poor |
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First Kalchakra of millennium concludes HP shifts 4
IAS officers 
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Manimahesh: security forces on toes CHAMBA, Aug 16 — With the commencing of Manimahesh pilgrimage from August 23 and its concluding on September 6 in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh and in the wake of Srinagar blasts and killings of Amarnath pilgrims at its base camp in Jammu and Kashmir, the Himachal Pradesh police forces, including other paramilitary forces like Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), have stepped up vigil to combat militant activities in the border areas in Chamba district of the state adjoining Jammu and Kashmir during the Manimahesh pilgrimage. Disclosing this here today, Mr Rajinder Mohan Sharma, District police chief of the Himachal Pradesh Police, informed that the security forces, in close coordination with the ITBP and other paramilitary forces, were all set to flush out ultras from their hide-outs along the border of Chamba district. He said surface patrolling along the timber-line joining border belts of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir had already been intensified and a round-the-clock surveillance was being kept on the militants and strangers. Mr Sharma said the security forces were fully equipped with night vision devices, sophisticated weapons, mortars and explosives and modern telecommunication system. They were alert to thwart terrorists activities and their
infiltration bids from across the border. The district police chief claimed that the entire border stretching 230 km along the J and K timberlines was under strict vigil. Night patrolling by the jawans of security forces and other paramilitary personnel camping at checkpoints on the high altitude alpine regions of Chamba district ranging at an altitude from 2000 to 4500 metres from Khundi Mural to Kalaban Satrundi and border belts of Pangi tribal valley of the Chamba district adjacent to Doda district of J and K were some of the measures adopted. Hunt was on to sniff out terrorists, he added. The police chief said that the police forces were keeping an eye on the strangers and allowing entry from across the border into Chamba district after proper verification at the checkpoints set up in the highlands. The police chief said during this year, a large number of pilgrims was expected for the Manimahesh pilgrimage. Under a new strategy to be adopted by the police forces in coordination with paramilitary forces, these forces were committed to fight a battle against the terrorism in the light of mounting pressure in the J and K state security personnel. The police chief said that the village defence committees (VDCs) and the special police officers (SPOs) deployed by the police forces had been recruited from among the local youths of the border villages who were conversant with the local culture and languages and aware of the strategic points of the infiltrators. The police chief further said that these SPOs were also helpful to the police forces to ascertain the vulnerable passes on the high altitudes from where the militants could sneak into Himachal Pradesh. 8 killed, 25 hurt
in two mishaps SHIMLA, Aug 16 (PTI) — Eight persons were killed and 25 others injured 11 of them seriously in two separate accidents occurred in the state today. According to the official reports reaching here this afternoon three persons died on the spot and 12 others injured when a private jeep no HPO 27-241 fell into Dingoo nullah near Pooh in Kinnaur district. The vehicle was on its way to Pooh from Dingoo nullah. The condition of three persons is stated to be serious. Injured persons have been admitted to government hospital in Pooh. Meanwhile five persons were killed and 13 others injured when the tractor-trailer in which they were travelling met with an accident near Haroli, 12-km from Una today. The condition of eight of the injured persons was serious, police sources said. The ill-fated tractor carrying some devotees from Punjab was on its way to a nearby gurdwara. More details were awaited. The injured had been rushed to the hospital at Una. |
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Building bridges ‘Ramayana way’ SHIMLA, Aug 16 — Centuries ago Lord Rama used the bow and arrow to pave way for building a bridge across the sea to reach Sri Lanka. Engineers of the Public Works Department are being forced to bank on the same primitive instrument to instal
trolley ropeways across the turbulent Sutlej whose span has, at many points widened manifold by flashfloods. Indeed, the water “hurricane” that flowed down the river on August 1 changed the face of its banks permanently in a matter of few minutes, cutting deep into the banks, it wiped out everything, including the 50 odd small and big bridges, which came in its way. The width of the river at some places, where these bridges stood, has been increased to such an extent that engineers are finding it difficult to launch ‘jhullas’ (simple rope trolleys) across it. There are about six sites at which the width has been extended to more than 150 m where the bow and arrow is likely to be used to put the cable across. A special bow and arrow is being fabricated by mechanical engineers for the purpose using steel. First the arrow will take across a light but strong jute thread which will be replaced by a plastic rope and finally by the steel cable. At Suru in Kinnaur, where the span of the river is about 125 m, the engineers used a kite to take the cable across. A big kite was specially made at Juri for purpose. The idea worked as a strong wind in the right direction blew the kite away to the other side of the river. The destruction of infrastructure like roads and bridges has created a situation where modern and ancient modes and methods are being used side by side. For instance, helicopters and the ever reliable ‘mules’ have been pressed into service simultaneously for carrying essential commodities to the cut-off areas. Similarly, on one hand INMAR-Sat (satellite based mobile telephone) are in operation and on the other mail runners are toiling to deliver posts. The massive ‘restoration’ exercise is being monitored by senior bureaucrats in the state secretariat using the computer-based PERT (programme evaluation review technique) and CPM (critical path method) to ensure expeditious completion of works. Over the past one week as rope trolleys have been installed to provide minimal communication to the people of cut-off areas. Another 15 rope trolleys were under constructions. According to Mr Sanjiv Gupta, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, PWD, rope trolleys, which involved
masonry works for anchoring, required a longer time. He said the field staff of the department had been working round the clock to restore roads, rope trolleys and bridges which were washed away by flood. Meanwhile, the department has restored mule track from Wangtu to Tapri on the right bank. The old Hindustan-Tibet Road has also been restored from Kalpa to Tapri. This will facilitate movement of essential supplies by mules. The 5-km stretch from Tungling Bridge to Purbani has been opened to pedestrian traffic. A rocky precipice at Urni is coming in way of construction of mule track from Tapri to Choelling, he added. The state electricity board has been able to restore power supply to Karcham, Tapri, Nichar, Sangla and Peo. The Pooh area was being supplied power from Kaza side. However, the entire Moorang sub division and some other pockets were still without electricity. In all, about 120 helicopter sorties have been made to airlift over 2000 quintals of foodgrains and other essential items, including kerosene and cooking gas, to the cut-off areas. |
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Land revenue Act: lawyers boycott work SHIMLA, Aug 16 — Advocates all over the state today boycotted courts in protest against the amendments to the HP Land Revenue Act, 1954 effected recently. No business could be transacted in any of the court because of the strike. Representatives of all Bar Associations of the state will assemble here tomorrow and submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to draw his attention to the ambiguities in the amendments which would have serious implication for the litigants and the public at large. The Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association passed a resolution supporting the call of all District Bar Associations in the state to go on strike in protest against the amendments. The members of the High Court Bar Association also
abstained from courts today. The Chairman of the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, Mr R.K. Gautam, said that the state government had not taken the lawyers’ fraternity into confidence while carrying out the amendments. He also stated that a deputation of the Bar Council would meet the authorities concerned and call for a review of the amendment. Mr Gautam said that most of the amendments, would hurt the interest of litigants, who would be denied the opportunity to seek judicial remedy. The revisional powers of the Commissioner had been given finality, taking away the legal remedy of further revision to the Financial Commissioner. Similarly, with the insertion of a provision in Section 45 of the Principal Act, the litigants would not be able to challenge the wrong entries in the record of rights which might have crept in due to bona fide mistake or mala fide intention. The amended Land Revenue Act has come into force with effect from August 15. |
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Thakur Ganga Singh dead MANDI, Aug 16 — Thakur Ganga Singh, former Member of Parliament, died at his native village Chauk, near here, last night. He was 71. He had been elected to the Himachal Vidhan Sabha in 1972 on the Jan Sangh ticket. During Emergency he spent 10 months in jail. The first non-Congress MP from Himachal in 1977 he romped in the Mandi Lok Sabha seat as a Janata Party candidate. He was also the state president of the party. After the fragmentation of the Janata Party he became the founder president of BJP in the state on April 6, 1980. It was in his tenure that the BJP won 29 seats in the Vidhan Sabha and emerged as an alternative to the Congress in Himachal. Later he left the BJP and floated the Himachal Desham. He was an ex-serviceman, a lawyer. He also spearheaded an agitation against the silting on the Balh valley by the BSL project. A large number of people, including the Forest Minister, Thakur Rup Singh, HVC leader Dina Nath Shastri and well known persons of Sundernagar and Mandi towns attended the funeral. A former Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Thakur Kaul Singh, and a former minister Thakur Moti Ram, have mourned the death of Mr Ganga Singh. The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has expressed grief over the death of Thakur Ganga Singh. In a condolence message to the bereaved family, the Chief Minister, prayed for peace to the departed soul. Mr Dhumal said Thakur Ganga Singh was an honest and sincere politician who devoted his life to the service of the people. Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, has also expressed grief and shock over the demise of Thakur Ganga Singh. |
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Legal aid camps boon for poor PALAMPUR: The district Legal Aid Authority has been making earnest efforts to implement the free legal aid scheme in the region. The idea behind this scheme is to provide justice to those people who cannot afford to knock at the door of justice due to poverty and illiteracy. In Himachal Pradesh, Mr C.K. Thakkar, Chief Justice of the HP High Court, is the patron-in-chief of this scheme, while Mr Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta, is executive chairman of the state Legal Aid authority, under whose directions all District Judges in the state have been assigned the job of educating the people to make them aware of about their legal rights and how to get the justice with the assistance of the state and district Legal Aid Authority. In Kangra district, to popularise this scheme among the various sections of society, the district Legal Aid Services Authority, held five legal literacy camps in different and remote parts of district under the chairmanship of Mr V.K. Ahuja, District and Sessions Judge-cum-chairman of the authority. These camps were organised at Palampur, Baijnath, Nurpur, Kangra and Pong Dam, where the panchayat pradhans, members of mahila mandals and other elected representatives of local bodies participated. According to Mr Ahuja, any person having an annual income below Rs 25,000 is covered under the scheme. Besides, for women and members of the ST and the SC there is no income bar. He says litigants can also avail of the benefits of the scheme for the cases pending in courts. He says at these camps a large number of women have come forward to get the benefits of these schemes for civil cases pending in courts relating to divorce and maintenance. The district and sub-divisional headquarters are also being approached through submissions by the people from far-flung areas for free legal aid so that they can fight their causes. In this way, the people are becoming more aware about their rights. Mr Ahuja says that if more such camps are continued these would prove a boon for the poor and downtrodden to get justice, as guaranteed by the Constitution. The legal literacy camps will prove a boon to the poor, women and downtrodden to solve their problems relating to matrimonial disputes, bank loans, land acquisition disputes, tenant and landlord disputes and petty criminal cases, of which there is a huge backlog in courts. |
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First Kalchakra of millennium concludes SHIMLA, Aug 16 — The first Kalchakra ceremony of the millennium concluded at the historic Key monastery in the Spiti valley today. The main event performed by the Dalai Lama lasted for four days. Prior to this there was preliminary teachings, while the monks prepared the mystic Kalchakra Mandal. A sacred dance to consecrate the mandala by the Namgyal monks was performed. The local people presented their own folk dances as offerings. The Kalchakra is an endeavour by the teacher to help disciples to awaken their Buddhahood by the
combined force of prayer, blessings, mantra, devotion and meditation. It is an effort to awaken enlightened peace in the minds of the people. Thus Kalchakra initiation is considered to be a unique and a practical step towards establishing lasting peace in the world. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people from surrounding regions of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Ladakh and Zanskar, the Kulu valley and 2000 monks and nuns had assembled at the Key monastery to obtain the blessings. Nearly 5000 Tibetans and 1000 foreigners were also present to receive blessings from the Dalai Lama. The recent flash-floods in the Sutlej, which disrupted road link from Kinnaur to Spiti affected the turnout at the celebration. The Key gompa is a famous old monastery located in a small village with no infrastructure available. The state government provided basic facilities, including tents, drinking water, communication, roads, sanitation and rations for the large gathering. A special prayer hall was also erected for the initiation and the surrounding hill side was terraced. A seminar on “culture and language of the Indian Himalayas tradition and change” was also held from August 11 to 13 and an exhibition of photographs on the western Himalayan Buddhist heritage was also organised on this occasion. |
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HP shifts 4
IAS officers SHIMLA, Aug 16 — The Himachal government today shifted four IAS officers. Mr Subhash Ahluwalia, Managing Director of the state Agro-Industries Corporation, has been posted as Special Secretary and Director, Youth Services and Sports relieving Mr Balram Sharma of the additional charge. Mr Balram Sharma, Special Secretary and Director Information and Public Relations, will also function as Director of Tourism, relieving Mr Anil Khachi of the charge. Mr J.P. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, under transfer as Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, is now posted as Managing Director of the Agro-Industries Corporation, Mr Onkar Chand Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kangra who was under transfer as Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti goes as Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur. The transfer orders of Mr Bharat Khera, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, have been cancelled. |
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President’s Police Medal for IG Bagai SHIMLA, Aug 16 — Mr Deepak Bagai, Inspector General of Police, has been awarded the President’s Police Medal for meritorious service. Mr Kanshi Ram, Inspector, Criminal Investigation Department, Shimla and Mr S.R. Potan, Inspector, Anti-Corruption Zone, Nahan, have also been awarded the medal for conducting themselves creditably while carrying out various assignments. |
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