H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Minister gets HC notice on poll plea
Shimla, May 8
The HP High Court today issued notices to the Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr Rangila Ram Rao, and others on an election petition filed by BJP candidate Inder Singh from the Gopalpur constituency wherein he challenged the election of Mr Rao on the ground that he induced voters by illegal acts and practices.

Solan halt station to be closed
Solan, May 8
Even as the Railways celebrated its 100 years of existence in November last year it has decided to close some of its non-profitable stations. The first one to face closure is the Solan Brewery halt station here. A notification in this regard was received by the local office from the General Manager, Northern Railways, recently.

Stokes ‘behind’ slander campaign
Shimla, May 8
Mr Rakesh Verma, MLA from Theog, today alleged that Mrs Vidya Stokes, state Congress chief, was behind the slander campaign launched against him by the local Congress unit.

• Seva Dal wants new PCC chief

Rs 5.90 lakh looted from bank
Nurpur, May 8
A gang of robbers looted Rs 5.90 lakh from the Damtal branch of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank at about 11 a.m. today.

Orders to enforce traffic discipline
Hamirpur, May 8
The District Magistrate, Mr Devesh Kumar yesterday issued three separate orders to enforce strict traffic discipline in the district head quarter’s town of Hamirpur. This step has been taken under the provision of Motor Vehicle Act.

World Red Cross Day observed
DHARAMSALA: To celebrate World Red Cross Day, a blood donation-cum-AIDS awareness camp was organised at Industrial Training Institute, Shahpur, by the Kangra District Red Cross Society.

Rahi HP education board chief
Shimla, May 8
A former teacher union leader and retired Principal, Mr B.R. Rahi, has been appointed Chairman, Himachal Board of School Education, at Dharamsala with immediate effect.

Martyrs’ families to be honoured tomorrow

House gutted

Minister gets HC notice on poll plea
Our Legal Correspondent

Shimla, May 8
The HP High Court today issued notices to the Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr Rangila Ram Rao, and others on an election petition filed by BJP candidate Inder Singh from the Gopalpur constituency wherein he challenged the election of Mr Rao on the ground that he induced voters by illegal acts and practices.

These notices were issued by Mr Justice M.R. Verma. The petitioner had alleged that Mr Rao has been elected from Gopalpur by 2,519 votes and he influenced the voters by illegal acts.

Petitioner prayed that the court should set aside the election of Mr Rangila Ram Rao from Gopalpur constituency in the election held on February 26, 2003, by declaring the election as void.

In an another election petition, Mr Justice Verma issued notice to Congress MLA Bodh Raj from the Gangath constituency, on a petition filed by BJP candidate Desh Raj wherein he challenged the election of Mr Bodh Raj.

Petitioner said that Mr Bodh Raj does not belong to the Schedule Caste category and he was not eligible to contest the election from that category, because the seat was reserved for an SC candidate.

Solan halt station to be closed
Our Correspondent

Solan, May 8
Even as the Railways celebrated its 100 years of existence in November last year it has decided to close some of its non-profitable stations. The first one to face closure is the Solan Brewery halt station here. A notification in this regard was received by the local office from the General Manager, Northern Railways, recently.

The station was set up in 1979. to facilitate the Mohan Meakins wine distillery in transporting its manufactured liquor. The railways was providing trans-shipment facility to the Meakins at Kalka from where its cargo was being shifted from a broad gauge to a narrow gauge. This was found to be an inconvenient proposition by the Meakins and they decided to route their cargo via trucks from Kalka to the brewery. Moreover, the railway facility was used for transporting empty bottles and barley from Punjab, which led to revenue losses for the Railways.

In February, 1997, the station was finally reduced to a halt station where only sale of tickets was being done. Officials stated that sale of tickets also received a major blow with the introduction of private buses. They regret the decision and add that there were many other loss-incurring stations on the Kalka-Shimla railway line. They feel that the declaration of the entire line as heritage line would ensure its adoption by the UNESCO which would make funds available for its upkeep.

Stokes ‘behind’ slander campaign
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 8
Mr Rakesh Verma, MLA from Theog, today alleged that Mrs Vidya Stokes, state Congress chief, was behind the slander campaign launched against him by the local Congress unit.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said if required he would initiate legal action against Mr Rajinder Verma, the defeated Congress candidate, for making baseless insinuations. He made it clear that he would not declare his assets on the demand of Congress leaders and would do so only if legally required.

He said there was no truth in the allegation that he was trying to join the Congress . However, he had extended unconditional support to Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister.

Seva Dal wants new PCC chief
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 8
Mr Kuldeep Rathore, general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, has reiterated that the issue whether Mrs Vidya Stokes should resign from the party presidentship after joining the government as Power Minister, would be decided by the high command, even as the state Seva Dal has demanded that she should be replaced by Mr Sat Prakash Thakur.

The Seva Dal passed a resolution at its meeting held here yesterday, demanding that Mr Thakur be made the PCC chief.

Rs 5.90 lakh looted from bank
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, May 8
A gang of robbers looted Rs 5.90 lakh from the Damtal branch of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank at about 11 a.m. today.

According to Mr G.D. Sharma, branch manager, at 10.40 a.m. three armed robbers, two of whom were clean shaven, entered the bank and committed the crime at gunpoint.

After committing the crime the robbers locked the staff inside the bank and fled in a Maruti car on the Mukerian-Jalandhar.

Interestingly, no security guard of the bank was present. Some passersby opened the locked door and the police was informed.

Orders to enforce traffic discipline
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, May 8
The District Magistrate, Mr Devesh Kumar yesterday issued three separate orders to enforce strict traffic discipline in the district head quarter’s town of Hamirpur. This step has been taken under the provision of Motor Vehicle Act.

Under the first order, the District Magistrate has declared Bhota Chowk, Hospital chowk, Nadaun Chowk near Video hall and Sub Jail, Hamirpur as the no-parking zones.

Through another order, the District Magistrate has declared the space about 200 metres away from Hotel Hamir on Hamirpur-Nadaun national highways as parking place for heavy vehicles.

He has also declared the areas near the Housing Board Colony and petrol station on the national highways as no-parking area.

All orders will come into force with an immediate effect.

World Red Cross Day observed
Tribune Reporters

DHARAMSALA: To celebrate World Red Cross Day, a blood donation-cum-AIDS awareness camp was organised at Industrial Training Institute, Shahpur, by the Kangra District Red Cross Society.

Dr Kuldeep Kumar, Dr Thapa and Mr S.M. Abrol, secretary of the society, addressed students and apprised them of AIDS. More than 50 youths donated blood on the occasion.

MANDI: A declamation contest on AIDS and a baby show was organised here to mark World Red Cross Day in the declamation contest, Surbhi Mehra won the first prize while Rakesh Kumar got the second prize.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-chairman of the District Red Cross Society, lauded the global role of the Red Cross Society.

He said during 2002-2003, the society had spent Rs 10,13,298 for curing patients in the district. Expenses on heart surgery of six persons were also borne by the society. Ambulances were provided for Karsog, Sundernagar and Dharampur hospitals.

He said an intensive care unit was set up at the regional hospital in Mandi by spending Rs 13,28,650. Other equipment for the hospital was also provided by spending Rs 4.5 lakh. As many as 123 persons were given artificial limbs by the society.

Rahi HP education board chief

Shimla, May 8
A former teacher union leader and retired Principal, Mr B.R. Rahi, has been appointed Chairman, Himachal Board of School Education, at Dharamsala with immediate effect.

Mr Rahi will hold the post for three years. PTI

Martyrs’ families to be honoured tomorrow
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, May 8
Families of nine martyrs of Himachal will be honoured on May 10 at 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu by the Centre Commandant, Brigadier Raghuvinder Kapoor. Certificates and badges signed by the Chief of the staff Army will be presented to families as recognition for the supreme sacrifice they made for the nation.

House gutted

Nahan, May 8
The house of Mahi Ram, a resident of Kolwa village in the Dana Ghaton panchayat in Sangrah tehsil was completely destroyed along with a cow shed in a fire which broke out yesterday. OC