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| Friday, December 1, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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People backing ceasefire: Kaul Students start relay fast OBCs to oppose
BJP candidates HC acquits murder bid
accused Community policing scheme launched |
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Parishad poll: 57 file papers Tribal students hold
protest march Speaker calls on Governor 1 killed as tractor
falls into khud
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People backing ceasefire: Kaul SHIMLA, Nov 30 — Mr Gautam Kaul, the Director-General of ITBP, today said the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Centre in Kashmir had brought about a dramatic change in the valley overnight with the common man yearning for permanent cessation of hostilities. Addressing a press conference here today, he said the initiative taken by the Centre had reduced local tensions providing much needed respite to the people whose economy had been completely destroyed by the prolonged spell of militancy. The step, he said, would go a long way in instilling confidence among the people that the government was serious about resolving the problem. Besides, it would also create the much-needed goodwill for the government and the security forces among the masses which would go a long way in effectively handling militancy in the valley. Once the forces were able to win the confidence of the common people, they would be flooded with vital information regarding the links, armoury and activities of foreign militants who would then find it difficult to continue their operations. Mr Kaul said the popular support to the ceasefire had to be seen to be believed and people were hoping that it would become a permanent feature, leading to the revival of the tourism, the backbone of the local economy, by the next spring. Whatever the political parties and leaders might have to say about it, but the step had been welcomed overwhelmingly by the people. He said the escalation of violence by militants was expected as there were certain elements which did not want the efforts of the government to materialise. He said the security forces were not taking aggressive action but they were not lowering their guard. He said the Centre had approved a proposal to reorganise the ITBP under which two ad hoc battalions were to be inducted as regular groups with a total strength of 4900 personnel. The new regular battalion would be provided more fire power, better transport and other facilities. Underlining the need for proper demarcation of the Indo-China border, he said at present the patrolling parties of the two countries frequently strayed into each other’s territory at times up to 5 to 6 km. He said in the first-ever effort the maps of the border near Garhwal were exchanged by at the initiative of the Indo-China joint study group. He claimed that there was no presence of militants in Himachal Pradesh at present and the deployment of the ITBP at Chamba had helped to check them. He said one of the two new battalions of the ITBP would be located in Himachal Pradesh and the other in Ladakh. He said unlike Mr Virbhadra Singh, during tenure as Chief Minister, the ITBP was virtually thrown out of the state, Mr P.K. Dhumal, had promised land for the battalion. |
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Students start relay fast CHAMBA, Nov 30 — The members of the Students Central Association (SCA) of the local Government College today started relay fast in the college premises in protest against the dictatorial attitude of the college administration for deciding the date sheet of house examinations during the ensuing Panchayati Raj elections. In a hand-out issued here today by Mr Baldev Negi, President of the SCA of the local degree college accused the college administration of depriving the college students of their right to vote in the panchayat elections. He demanded that the college authorities to change the schedule of date-sheet for the house examinations so that the college students could be able to exercise their franchise during the panchayat and municipal elections. He said that the house examinations should be conducted after the panchayat and municipal elections. He threatened to intensify the agitation if the date-sheet was not rescheduled in view of the ensuing three-tier panchayati raj poll. |
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OBCs to oppose
BJP candidates DHARAMSALA, Nov 30 — The Himachal Pradesh Other Backward Class Youth Organisation has decided to oppose the BJP-supported candidates in the panchayat elections for the party’s anti-OBC stance. At its emergency meeting held at Kangra the organisation accused the BJP of adopting a double policy regarding reservations to the backward classes in the panchayat elections. It said that instead of providing more facilities to the OBCs the BJP was trying to cut down the percentage of reservation. |
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HC acquits murder bid
accused SHIMLA, Nov 30 — A Single Bench of the high court comprising Mr Justice
R. L. Khurana yesterday set aside the order of the District and Sessions Judge, Bilaspur, and allowed a criminal appeal of Ms Lachmi Devi who was sentenced to three-year rigorous imprisonment vide a judgement dated November 5, 1997. Ms Lachmi Devi was tried under Section 307 of the IPC for having attempted to murder Mr Mahant Ram by causing injuries on his head with an axe. The judge observed that in the present case, there was no eyewitness of the occurrence. The entire prosecution case was based on the sole testimony of Mr Mahant Ram coupled with medical evidence. Looking into the evidence, the only conclusion is that the prosecution has not been able to bring home any offence against the accused. It is not safe to maintain conviction on the sole testimony of Mr Mahant. As a result conviction and sentence imposed upon the accused by the Sessions Judge. Bilaspur are set aside and the accused Lachmi Devi acquitted of the offence under Section 325 of the IPC and the amount of fine if already deposited, shall be refunded to her forthwith. |
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Community policing scheme launched NAHAN, Nov 30 — The community policing scheme was launched here today by Mr I.D. Bhandari, DIG (Police) Southern Range. On the occasion he called upon the people to come forward boldly to help the police and check culprits and antisocial elements. Mr Bhandari said the proposed scheme would reduce the communication gap among the residents and the police. Ward-wise committees have been constituted at Nahan and Paonta Sahib. The DIG said at present such schemes had been launched at 20 police stations in the state and as a pilot project six police stations in rural areas have been selected under the scheme. Mr Bhandari said identity cards would be issued to the members of these committees. MANALI:
The community policing scheme was launched by Mr Somesh Goyal, DIG, Central Range, Mandi, here on Thursday. While inaugurated the scheme at the Wildlife Awareness Information Centre here, Mr Goyal said Manali had been divided into six different wards and a committee would comprise residents of the ward and a police constable would be its member secretary. |
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Parishad poll: 57 file papers MANDI, Nov 30 — Fiftyseven persons today filed their nomination papers from two nagar parishads — Sundernagar and Mandi and three nagar panchayats — Jogindernagar, Sarkaghat and Rewalsar. Nagar parishads have 13 wards each while nagar panchayats have seven wards each. The local bodies and the panchayati raj institutions will elect 3860 candidates in the ensuing elections including 422 panchayat pradhan, 422 vice-presidents, 2692 ward panches, 241 panchayat samiti members and 36 zila parishad members. Meanwhile, the scrutiny of the zila parishad nomination papers was concluded this evening. Of the total 272 candidates the nomination papers of three candidates were not found in order. |
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Tribal students hold
protest march NAHAN, Nov 30 — Tribal students of Kinnaur district took out a march here today to protest against the rape of a tribal minor girl, a student of class IX, by a son of local wine contractor. The march turned violent when it was passing by a liquor shop. Angry students threw stones at the shop and damaged its upper storey in which the State Bank of India has its branch office. An HRTC bus which was passing from that place, near Chougan was also damaged. Agitators blocked the Nahan-Shimla road for more than one hour and lifted their blockade after the
Deputy Commissioner, Sirmour Mr Rakesh Kaushal and SP Mr SP Singh assured the students of action. |
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Speaker calls on Governor SHIMLA, Nov 30 — Mr Gulab Singh Thakur, Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, called on Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, here today. The Speaker apprised the Governor about the forthcoming winter session of the Vidhan Sabha from December 21 to 29. The session will have five sittings. Mr Gulab Singh presented to him a set of publications brought out by the Vidhan Sabha, which included a compilation of the Governor’s Addresses, Chief Minister’s budget speeches, book on privileges, Vidhan Sabha rules and directions by the Vidhan Sabha Speaker. |
1 killed as tractor
falls into khud MANDI, Nov 30 — One person was killed today when his tractor fell into a khud near Matt, 3 km from here, on the Arth
Bari-Gumanu road. He has been identified as Subhash Sen (30). His real brother Pawan Sen had also died in a tractor accident at the same spot about eight months ago. Cause of the accident could not be ascertained. |
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