H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Challan fabricated, says Virbhadra
Ropar, October 24
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said today that the “author” of the challan presented against him by the Vigilance on October 22 should be awarded with the “best fiction writer” award as the challan was “fabricated” and not “based on facts”.

Fake certificate racket detected, 2 held
Shimla, October 24
The police has unearthed a major fake certificate racket which had been operational in the state for the past over six years. 

UK team calls on Governor, Dhumal
Shimla, October 24
A 12-member delegation of the 2nd Punjab Regimental Officers Association of the UK and members of their families, on a four-day visit to Himachal Pradesh called on the Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan and the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today. The Governor presented Himachali caps and scarves to them.

Battle-hardened boys
Subathu, October 24
Rasoolpur village, near this cantonment was stormed by a small company of under-training recruits of the Indian Army this afternoon for a mock exercise with fake bullets.

Paddy moisture content ‘inaccurate’
Nahan, October 24
The Kisan Mandal, Sirmaur, is resentful over the method of purchase of paddy being followed by the rice millers. Members of the mandal alleged that paddy growers of the Paonta valley were being exploited by the rice millers by using machines which according to them, show at least 5 per cent more moisture content, causing heavy losses to the farmers.

Demand to fill varsity posts
Solan, October 24
Terming the decision of the state government to scrap the vacant posts in the Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry as an attempt to jeopardise the career of the students, research scholars have demanded the authorities to advertise and fill the posts.

Delimitation panel’s proposals opposed
Dharamsala, October 24
General secretary of the HPCC and MLA from Chamba Harsh Mahajan, who is also a member of the Delimitation Commission, has opposed the proposals put forward by the commission and said the Congress would raise the issue during a meeting to be held in Delhi on October 30.

• Passenger throws acid on conductor

Challan fabricated, says Virbhadra
Tribune News Service

Ropar, October 24
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said today that the “author” of the challan presented against him by the Vigilance on October 22 should be awarded with the “best fiction writer” award as the challan was “fabricated” and not “based on facts”.

Talking to mediapersons at the residence of Nangal MLA Rana K.P. Singh here today, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the challan had been presented against him to embarrass him. He said earlier the Himachal Vikas Congress had levelled 24 charges against him but the CBI had given him a clean chit.

Mr Virbhadra Singh was on his way to Santoshgarh, 8 km from Nangal, to address a public gathering in connection with the ensuing Himachal Assembly elections.

He said corruption would be the main election issue, dubbing the Dhumal government corrupt.

He said nobody would be projected for chief ministership by the Congress during the elections. He said the Congress had a rich convention of electing its leader through MLAs.

He said Mrs Sonia Gandhi would address a public rally at Mandi on October 28. He said there was a proposal to reserve his Assembly constituency, Rohru, for the Scheduled Castes. He said he would appeal to the Election Commission not to implement the proposal.

Fake certificate racket detected, 2 held
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 24
The police has unearthed a major fake certificate racket which had been operational in the state for the past over six years.

The racket involving two employees of the state School Board of Education and a private school owner of Karot village in Hamirpur, was detected after some candidates who had applied for re-evaluation of answersheets failed to get the result card and complained to the police.

While Sohan Singh Rana, a senior assistant, and Tilak Raj, a clerk, have been arrested, Ashwini Kumar, another accused is still at large. The police seized about 400 fake certificates and marksheets of matriculation and plus two, some of which were complete and ready for distribution, besides re-evaluation forms, stamps of various offices and other documents in simultaneous raids conducted in Hamirpur, Kangra, Bilaspur and Mandi districts.

Mr I.D. Bhandari, IGP, said so far it appeared to be a statewide racket, however, it might have inter-state links as some seals of the district education board, Ambala, Assam University and Uttar Pradesh Shiksha Parishad had also been seized.

He said the accused board employees would ask candidates to apply for re-evaluation. They would collect the forms and the fee and charge Rs 5,000 per student. The students were later given fake marksheets.

UK team calls on Governor, Dhumal

Shimla, October 24
A 12-member delegation of the 2nd Punjab Regimental Officers Association of the UK and members of their families, on a four-day visit to Himachal Pradesh called on the Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan and the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today. The Governor presented Himachali caps and scarves to them.

Battle-hardened boys
Ajay Banerjee

Subathu, October 24
Rasoolpur village, near this cantonment was stormed by a small company of under-training recruits of the Indian Army this afternoon for a mock exercise with fake bullets.

The setting was almost real, complete with signboards in Urdu, the mountains and dense jungles. The place simulates the ground situation of any other place in the valley where cordon and search operations are a matter of routine.

In today’s mock operation, “three terrorists” were killed while a “fourth one” was captured alive by the forces. Such an offensive operation in this make-believe village is carried out daily by recruits at the 14 Gorkha Training Centre here.

This is part of the 42-week training course before these men join various units. The training methods have gone hi-tech, making the jawan more than just a gun wielder. However, the old methods which battle-harden the boys into men continue.

Deputy Commandant of the training centre, Col Tarun Poddar, says “The jawan is also taught the basics in computers as the present day bombs and machinery are guided through hand-held computers.

The recruits also use guns which emit a laser signal when a blank is fired. If the enemy is hit, a jacket worn by all of the recruits emits a signal that the bullet has hit a critical area of the body. This jacket has receivers, which catch all laser signals.

Special computer simulated screens are used is another training session to have life-like pictures of the battle-field.

A media contingent watched as young men hurled grenades and fired rounds of ammuntions at targets. All the time the officers gave commands in Gorkhali, a language which is a must for all Gorkha officers.

The primary role of the training centre is to transform raw recruits into efficient, motivated and trained young soldiers. Nearly 60 per cent of Gorkhas are drawn from Nepal while the rest are from India. Physical fitness and weapon training are given prime importance. Physical proficiency and battle physical efficiency tests have to be passed with excellent gradings. This includes route marches in full battle gear and a battle obstacle course.

The new recruits are also taught how to use maps and do rock climbing.

Paddy moisture content ‘inaccurate’
Our Correspondent

Nahan, October 24
The Kisan Mandal, Sirmaur, is resentful over the method of purchase of paddy being followed by the rice millers. Members of the mandal alleged that paddy growers of the Paonta valley were being exploited by the rice millers by using machines which according to them, show at least 5 per cent more moisture content, causing heavy losses to the farmers.

In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner here, Mr S.S. Gill, president of the mandal has alleged that the percentage of moisture in the paddy grain is measured by a meter manufactured in Ambala. The meter is based on the principle of applying pressure on the grain in a cup and then measuring the conductivity of a grain. This instrument gives a direct digital reading of the moisture contents of the grain. Mr Gill has pleaded that the meter used by the rice millers is susceptible to a number of errors. He said the readings of these meters should match with the tests by the oven method detailed in IS:4332 or standard No. 109/1 which, was not being done at present. Mr Gill has demanded an immediate inquiry into the matter. The instruments to measure moisture should be calibrated by a standard government agency, he said.

Demand to fill varsity posts
Our Correspondent

Solan, October 24
Terming the decision of the state government to scrap the vacant posts in the Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry as an attempt to jeopardise the career of the students, research scholars have demanded the authorities to advertise and fill the posts. Showing concern over the recent notification of the Principal Finance Secretary, dated September 12, which states that in order to improve the financial health of the university, a decision to scrap the existing vacant posts has been taken.

The students have described the decision as totally unjust and harsh. Holding the bureaucrats responsible for not projecting the correct financial position of the university, they have blamed the government for taking the one-sided decision without consulting the university.

They lamented that research work was hit as the state government failed to release the required funds on time.

Delimitation panel’s proposals opposed
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, October 24
General secretary of the HPCC and MLA from Chamba Harsh Mahajan, who is also a member of the Delimitation Commission, has opposed the proposals put forward by the commission and said the Congress would raise the issue during a meeting to be held in Delhi on October 30.

Mr Mahajan, who is in charge of Kangra districts, was here in connection with the proposed rally of Ms Sonia Gandhi at Mandi on October 28. Talking to mediapersons, he said the Dhumal government was trying to complete the delimitation process in a hurry, appearently with an eye on the forthcoming election. He said it was apparent from the draft proposals that the BJP government had distorted the entire process so as to be benefited.

He said it would not be tolerated and the matter would be raised before the Election Commission.

Passenger throws acid on conductor
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, October 24
Amit Kumar, a resident of Harnota village and conductor of a private bus, received burn injuries on his face when Naval Kumar, a passenger of the bus, allegedly threw acid on him following an altercation yesterday.

According to police sources, the conductor has been admitted to the Civil Hospital here. The police has arrested the accused. A case under Section 307 of the IPC has been registered.