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Thursday,
January 3, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Attack exposes security lapses Cong: Dhumal govt has let down
people Board that looks after soldiers,
ex-servicemen HP Forest Department top
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HC vacates stay on Xen’s
transfer Winter carnival in Manali opens Phone exchange
inaugurated HP bans smoking 10,125 drivers challaned
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Attack exposes security lapses Dharamsala, January 2 Though two armed militants were spotted at the firing range barely a month ago, no precautionary measures were taken either by the police or the Army authorities. Even though the militants have adopted a clear strategy of targeting defence establishments, the Army was taken by a surprise when ultras struck yesterday morning. The Army, Punjab and Himachal police today continued its search operations in the Bhaderoah forests adjoining the firing range. The search operation a repetition of the December 5 drill appears to be a futile exercise, as security agencies feel that the militants had
recede the entire area and planned their escape routes as well. Even though an Army chopper hovered around the area and five tankers and sniffer dogs were pressed into service yesterday, the manner in which the ultras gave a slip to the forces after almost 20 minutes of exchange of fire, shows that it was a well-planned attack, which took everyone by surprise. Meanwhile, the state government today summoned the police force from different parts of the state to join the search operations at Bhaderoah forest. Though the security agencies themselves admit that the chances of the ultras hiding in the forest were bleak, but efforts were on to locate secret hide-outs and hidden arms and ammunition in the dense forest. After the December 5 incident, all that the Kangra police did was to round up Kashmiri shawl vendors and labourers in the Nurpur area. Within a few days the police once again became casual, failing to visualise the seriousness of the matter. Yesterday’s incident has rung alarm bells for the state
government. Despite a number of warning signals like the arrest of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant from a remote Baijnath village and another ultra impersonating as an Army officer taken into custody in Jawali, the police did not beef up security. The bomb blast in the Pooja Express near Damtal and seizure of audio
cassettes containing provocative speeches of the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, from a maulvi in Yol Cantonment were also taken lightly. Intelligence and security agencies admit that the militants had succeeded in penetrating into remote areas of Himachal and had developed local links, who could not only provide them safe havens but exact information for carrying out strikes in the state. |
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Police steps up vigil Shimla, January 2 Mr B.L.Pandit, Acting Director-General of Police, said that as the Army had its own security setup, the police would keep an unobtrusive watch on the cantonment areas. The police had got in touch with central intelligence agencies working in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to trace the militants involved in the yesterday’s attack. It has also urged the Punjab police to step up vigil along the interstate border and keep watch on Kashmiris in the Pathankot and neighbouring areas. A large number of Kashmiris from are working as labourers and shawl vendors in the area. A similar exercise was being carried in the state and efforts were on identify possible sympathisers of militants in the state. The antecedents of thousands of Kashmiri labourers working in various hydel power projects in Chamba and Kinnaur had been verified. Random checking of vehicles moving in and out of state was also being carried out at strategic points. |
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Cong leader: raise anti-terrorism battalion Dharamsala, January 2 He said the state government must shun its “casual attitude” and take steps to prevent terrorists from spreading their tentacles in Himachal. “What we need immediately is sophisticated arms, wireless sets, vehicles and well-trained forces to take on the militants, who now seem to be targetting Himachal,” he stated. Mr Mahajan said the headquarters of the anti-terrorist battalion should be at Dharamsala, so that a strict vigil could be maintained in the Chamba area as well. He said the forces should be imparted commando training. He said the Chief Minister must convene an all-party meeting as terrorism concerned the state and not any political party. He apprehended that after the US attacks on Afghanistan, mercenaries would try to infiltrate into India and create problems in various states. He said sensitive installations like Bhakra Nangal Dam, Pong Dam and other power projects should be guarded against any terrorist attack. Mr Mahajan said the Centre must come to the rescue of Himachal as it had very meagre resources to fight militancy. |
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HP registers first POTO case Dharamsala, January 2 A case was registered in the Nurpur Police station under Sections 302, 307 of the IPC, Sections 34, 25, 54, and 59 of the Arms Act, Section 3 and 4 of the Explosives Act and POTO, today. The Himachal and Punjab police today carried out extensive search operations in the border areas of the two states. |
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Cong: Dhumal govt has let down
people Dalhousie, January 2 Countering the claims of the Dhumal-Cabinet colleagues about development in the state, Mr Upmanyu asserted here yesterday that entire development in Himachal Pradesh was due to efforts of the previous Congress government. Refuting the charges of Mr Dhumal that the state had become bankrupt due to the policies of the Congress, Mr Upmanyu said at present most of the states in the country were bankrupt. Mr Upmanyu blamed the BJP-led government for the crumbling of education system and health services adding that even today schools were being run by a single teacher and the government was playing havoc with the career of children. He opined that the system of education should be employment-oriented. The Congress leader accused the BJP-led government in the state of frittering away funds of various centrally-sponsored schemes on unproductive activities instead of utilizing public money on development. He alleged that funds allocated under Nabard and Integrated Wasteland Development Projects were being spent on futile schemes, which were providing benefits only to kin of politicians. Talking about unity in the Congress, Mr Upmanyu called upon all party leaders to be united, as the Congress was the only alternative to the weak BJP-government in the state. |
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Board that looks after soldiers,
ex-servicemen Hamirpur, January 2 The state has the credit of winning two Param Vir Chakras for exemplary courage in the Kargil conflict. The state has 1,12,980 serving soldiers serving the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Armed forces. The number of ex-servicemen in the state stands at 79,802. The formation of the Himachal Pradesh Sainik Welfare Board in the state and later on shifting of its headquarters to Hamirpur in 1973 has given a new dimension to solve the problems of the serving soldiers and the ex-servicemen and their families. The Central Government and the Himachal Government share on 50-50 basis, the expenses for running of the Sainik Welfare Board Office activities. Families of the war heroes who sacrificed their lives for nation have been given priorities for rehabilitation and to solve problems. According to official sources, the Board has set up a special employment cell for the ex-servicemen, disabled soldiers having more than 50 per cent disability and family members of those who had lost their lives during the war. In all, 15 per cent reservation is given to these categories of the persons in the class III and class IV jobs. It has been running 25 such vocational centres for the families of the serving soldiers and ex-servicemen, where they are trained in the courses of tailoring etc to earn livelihood and stand on their feet. During 2000-01, more than Rs 7 lakh spent for training 427 war widows and daughters of the serving soldiers as well as ex-servicemen free of cost. The Sainik Welfare Department has given Rs 1.80 lakh to 176 beneficiaries relief out of the flag day’s collections besides providing benefits and scholarships worth Rs 10 lakh to the dependents of the ex servicemen. The state government is also committed to help the war widows and it has provided them facility for free-cost travelling in government buses. It has provided such facility to all the 844 war widows of the state. The free bus pass facility is also available to the winners of the gallantry award and their widows. Fiftysix such passes were given last year, according to the department sources. The state government has also been providing commodities on concessional low rates to the ex-servicemen and their families by running 15 CSD canteens in various parts of the state. It has also started the service of mobile canteen facilities for the ex-servicemen and their families living in the remote and far-flung areas of the state. The Himachal Government has started two schemes for the well being of the ex-servicemen and their families in the name of SEMFEX-1 and SEMFEX-2. Loans are provided to the ex-servicemen and their families to set up ventures on concessional rates of interest under these schemes. There is no limit for getting loans in the agriculture sector, whereas it is Rs 7.50 lakh in other sectors. |
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HP Forest Department top
heavy Shimla, January 2 Those promoted yesterday to the post of the APCCF are Mr A.C. Karwasara and Mr K.K. Gupta. Recently, the Forest Department was split by creating a separate wildlife wing to promote two officers, Mr Pankaj Khullar and Mr R.A. Singh, to the topmost post of Principal chief Conservator of Forests. Mr Khullar, who was the senior-most officer in the Forest Department and the only Additional Principal Chief conservator was appointed the PCCF (wild life). While on the one hand the government claimed trying to reduce expenditure by abolishing some posts of the IFS cadre, but the manner in which fresh posts at the top-level were being created particularly in the Forest Department has become a issue for discussion in the officialdom here. Mr Karwasara, who was holding the charge of Chief Conservator of Forests (Protection), now will be the APCCF at the headquarters. Mr Gupta will continue to be on deputation with the Centre where currently he is Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Disinvestments. Mr R.K. Sood, Conservator of Forests, currently on deputation as Managing Director of Handlooms and Handicrafts Corporation, has bee promoted Chief Conservator. He will continue to head the Handloom Corporation. Mr R.K. Gupta, Kandi Project Director at Solan, has been promoted Chief Conservator. Mr R.K. Kapoor, Chief Conservator, Bilaspur, has been made Chief Conservator of Forests (Protection) at Sundernagar. |
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HC vacates stay on Xen’s
transfer Shimla, January 2 Mr Kohli was suspended by the Board and on the revocation of his suspension, he was posted at Kunihar on transfer basis. After this order Mr Kohli filed a petition before state Administrative Tribunal alleging that he had short stay at Damtal. Therefore, his transfer orders may be quashed. On this prayer, the tribunal stayed his transfer from Damtal to Kunihar. Challenging this order in the High Court, the Electricity Board alleged that Mr Kohli was involved in malpractice at Damtal. It was further alleged by the Board that he had caused a loss of Rs 15 lakh to the state exchequer by allegedly allowing a stone crusher owner to run renovation work. The Enforcement Directorate has registered a case against the stone crusher owner. The petitioner Board alleged that the inquiry into charges against him was pending, and if Mr Kohli was allowed to stay at Damtal, there was apprehension that he would tamper with the evidence and record. It was further stated that Mr Kohli was transferred for the fair proceedings of the investigation in the interest of justice. Hence, the order passed by the state Administrative Tribunal of staying the operation of transfer is wrong and same may be quashed. |
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Winter carnival in Manali opens Manali, January 2 Mr Kishori Lal Vaidya, Industry Minister, inaugurated the five-day carnival. Earlier procession was taken out after the worship of Goddess Hadimba at Dhungri Temple in which a large number of artistes and villagers took part. At least 37 folk troupes will participate in cultural programmes. However, the main attraction of the carnival will be the “Winter Queen” contest. As many as 800 participants would enthral the crowds that are expected to gather at the Ram Bagh stadium. The state Department of Tourism has granted Rs 1.5 lakh for the carnival. Mr Kishori Lal, also announced a grant of Rs 11,000 for the carnival. |
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Phone exchange
inaugurated Kulu, January 2 Considering the miserable condition of the telecommunications system in the district, Mr Maheshwar Singh suggested the BSNL authorities to organise ‘khula darbar’ to listen to the difficulties and complaints of the subscribers. He said this would expedite the redressal procedure. |
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HP bans smoking Shimla, January 2 A spokesman for the state government said today that all administrative secretaries of the state government had been directed to ensure prohibition of smoking in public places and take necessary effective steps for ensuring its compliance.
PTI |
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10,125 drivers challaned Shimla, January 2 In all about 40,000 vehicles were checked. While 7,783 drivers were
challaned for not using dippers during night, 1610 were challaned for not having the upper half of headlights blackened. During the campaign, drivers were sensetized about the use of dippers and also made to remove extra lights, pressure horns from their vehicles. Police parties were deployed at 105 places in the state during the drive. |
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