Congress leader, 4 others held in double murder case
Our Correspondent

Kangra, October 17
The Kangra police today made a breakthrough in a double murder case of Rakesh Gautam and his driver Vijay Kumar and arrested a Congress women’s wing leader along with four other suspects for murdering the two, destroying the evidence and looting, the police said here this evening.

Kangra district police chief S. Zahoor H. Zaidi today stated at a hurriedly organised press conference at the local police station that Block Mahila Congress Committee general secretary Usha Guleria, a resident of Rasug near Ranital, had been arrested for masterminding the twin murders along with four of her accomplices. Mr Zaidi said Guleria (42), a former zila parishad member and member of the Telephone Advisory Committee, had illicit relations with the deceased Rakesh Gautam for the past more than a decade. Gautam had been visiting her on every Thursday during his tour of the area. Guleria was living separately from her husband, and was running a PCO and owned a taxi.

Mr Zaidi said Guleria also had physical relations with 25-year-old Kuldeep Kumar, a resident of Jaisai, who was running her PCO, her taxi driver, Arun, alias Vicky, Manjoo, alias Munoo, and Ashok Kumar, a jeep driver. He said Gularia told the four youths that Gautam was blackmailing her, so he was to be killed. On the fateful evening of October 10, Guleria asked the four to go in the taxi to the Badoh road. When Gautam came, he was asked by Guleria to come along in his car.

When the suspects and the deceased reached the Badoh road, the former pouched on Gautam and stabbed him to death in his car. The suspects left Vicky behind to guard the body of Gautam and called the driver of the deceased on the pretext that Gautam’s car had broken down. He accompanied the suspects in the taxi and he, too, was stabbed and his throat was slit.

The SP said Guleria then searched out a place where both bodies were put into the car of the deceased and petrol was sprinkled on the car. It was set on fire and pushed down a 100-foot deep gorge to make it appear like an accident.

The motive behind the murder was to get hold of the cash the deceased was carrying with him. Mr Zaidi said Guleria had told the police the location where she kept the looted money and a police party had gone to recover it. He said the five suspects had confessed to the crime.

The police has registered a case under Sections 302, 382 and 201, IPC, for murder, looting and destroying the evidence. The SP said the police recovered the wrist watch of the deceased and the weapon used in the crime.

State BJP chief’s election by November
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 17
The election of the next state BJP chief is likely to be further delayed even as the party high command has stepped up its effort to evolve a consensus on the issue. According to the available indications, the organisational poll will be completed in the state only in the first week of November.

After ascertaining the views of the party leaders and workers, the central leaders have over the past one week held discussions with Mr P.K. Dhumal and Mr Shanta Kumar, leaders of the rival camps, separately. Mr Sanjay Joshi, general secretary in charge of organisational affairs, and Mr O.P. Kohli, secretary and national returning officers for the organisation poll, who carried out consultations with partymen at various levels, will now discuss the issue with Mr L.K. Advani and Mr Venkaiah Naidu before finalising the consensus candidate.

During the process of consultation, the number of probables have gone up. Besides three members of Parliament, Mr Maheshwar Singh, Mr Suresh Chandel and Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, the names of Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, Mr K.D. Dharmani, Mr Ravinder Ravi and Dr Rajiv Bindal are also under consideration. Mr Dhumal was himself a contender for the top party post, but he failed to muster the necessary support in the party.

Initially, the party chief was to be elected by September 30, however, disputes in various districts delayed the organisational poll. In Kangra, the biggest and politically the most important district, the supporters of rival factions came to blows following the postponement of the election of the district president at Dehra.

Finally it was decided that the state president will be elected only after the elections in Kangra district were completed. Since the elections of Pragpur and Nurpur constituency unit are yet to be completed, it will not be possible to hold the election of district president before Diwali. In fact, in these two constituencies, even booth-level committees will have to be elected afresh. As a week’s time will be required for the election of state president, the process will spill over to November.

Most Cong men want Virbhadra’s wife to contest Lok Sabha poll
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 17
Mr Rangila Ram Rao, the Excise and Taxation Minister and a Senior Congress leader, on Wednesday said that an overwhelming majority of Congressmen were in favour of Mrs Pratibha Singh, wife of the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, contesting the Lok Sabha poll from the Mandi constituency and there were no differences in the Mandi district unit of the party on the issue.

Talking to newsmen here, he said the district unit would support her candidature and every party leader and worker would work for her victory.

He said there was no talk of fielding Mr Anand Sharma, spokesperson for the AICC. He said a final decision on the matter would be taken by the high command and the partymen would abide by it.

Referring to efforts being made by the government to increase tax revenue, he said instructions had been issued to all department to make major purchases from suppliers who had sale depots within the state. He said the government had also urged the oil companies which supply diesel, and bitumen worth about Rs 125 crore annually to open their sale outlets within the state. Similarly, the companies supplying galvanised pipes and other such items had been asked to set up sale depots in the state.

He said this would help increase the sale tax revenue by about Rs 35 crore and the total tax revenue in the current year was likely to be around Rs 850 crore, about 100 crore more than last year.

CM opens commemoration ceremony at monastery
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, October 17
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today asserted that religious beliefs and cultural traditions were so deeply rooted in Himachalis that when terrorism was destroying the moral and social fiber in the neighboring states, Himachal was an oasis of peace and communal harmony. The Chief Minister was addressing people after attending the commemoration ceremony at Sherabling Tibetan Monastery at Bhattu near Baijnath, about 60 km from here, today.

In his address, Mr Virbhadra Singh emphasised the need to follow the path of religion as shown by the great masters so that peace, brotherhood and communal harmony prospered. He said to divide people on the basis of caste, community and religion was a sin against mankind.

The Chief Minister had specially come at the invitation of 12th Tai Situpa Rinpoche, head of Sherabling Monastery, an important seat of the Kagyu Karma sect. He was received by Tai Situpa Rinpoche and senior lamas of the sect, including Migur Rinpoche, Thuptop Rinpoche and Gylatsen Rinpoche. He inaugurated the function by lighting a lamp before the statue of Lord Budhha. A religious debate was also held.

In his address, Tai Situpa Rinpoche talked about his long association with India where he came as a six-year-old child and had been living for the past 44 years. He said the monastery was always working for peace and harmony in the world and imparting training in dharma to the initiates.

The Chief Minister later lighted a lamp which marked the beginning of the ceremony of lighting 10,000 lamps to celebrate the day. He was accompanied by the Revenue Minister, Mr BBL Butail, the local MLA, Mr Sudhir Sharma, and Mr Surinder Kaku and Mr Bodh Raj MLAs.

Govt to check purchase of benami property

Solan, October 17
The Industries Minister, Mr Ram Lal, yesterday said that the state government would not allow benami purchase of property for those proposing to set up industrial units in Himachal. Refuted the allegation levelled by the former Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, regarding an official in the Chief Minister’s office facilitating such benami deals he said there was no veracity in such allegations as the working of the former minister too had come under a scanner for alleged irregularities committed during his tenure.

He said the government wanted to ensure that more industries were set up in the backward and far-flung areas and the concentration was not limited to the border areas. Stressing that there was a need to bring in sustainable industries he said it was being ensured that the investors did not get away after enjoying the tax incentives. — OC

Cop’s death: judge rejects police plea

Chamba, October 17
Mr V.K. Gupta, Sessions Judge, Chamba, has rejected the revision petition filed by the prosecution against the orders of the Judicial Magistrate, Chamba whereby the police had prayed for further police remand of Dhian Singh, a special police officer (SPO) who was arrested by the police under Section 302 of the IPC for the death of Mohinder Raj, a constable of the Himachal police in the Bhujhladhar ranges along the borders of Chamba district.

However, the Sessions Judge while dismissing the revision petition filed by the prosecution held the accused Dhian Singh could not be remanded in police custody in view of the legal position.

Fire renders nine families homeless
Our Correspondent

Kulu, October 17
In yet another incident within the past three days, five houses were gutted at Barsheini village in the Parbati valley of this district on Wednesday, causing a loss of about Rs 15 lakh and rendering nine families homeless. Four head of cattle perished in the fire. A teenager who sustained burns has been admitted to hospital.

Ten houses were gutted in three villages of Bagan, Sharan and Bansu during the past three days.

The District Fire Officer at Shaunkhala said though the cause of the fire could not be ascertained, old electricity fittings and low-ampere power meters was reported to be the reason behind repeated fires. He said earlier residents only used bulbs or tubelights but now the load had increased due to improved economic conditions but the meters remained the same.

Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, meanwhile, visited the village yesterday and met the victims. He assured all help by the administration and announced a relief of Rs 1.5 lakh. The district has civil fire-fighting establishments at Kulu and Manali and the residents of nearby towns have been demanding more fight-fighting units. The residents of Barsheini and nearby villages have urged the National Hydroelectricity Power Corporation to set up a fire-fighting unit a Manikaran or Barsheini and Sainj.

Mr R.D.Nazim, Deputy Commissioner, said he would send a proposal to the government in the regard. He said the fire victims had been given relief as per the government manual in all villages where losses had been reported during the past three days. The District Red Cross Society had provided blankets and other material to the victims.

Probe into sexual harassment case conducted
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, October 17
Ms Baby Rani Maurya, member of the National Commission for Women, today held an inquiry into the complaint of a sacked woman scientist against sexual harassment by a senior scientist of the Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology, Palampur.

Talking to mediapersons, Ms Maurya said there were grounds to accept that the complaint was true and that the director of the institute had failed to take action against the erring male scientists but had sacked the woman scientist. She said the matter was grave and needed strict action as the woman scientist was sacked before her probation was completed and the termination letter was so drafted that she would not get any job as scientist in future while the male scientist had been allowed to go scot-free. She said she would submit her report to commission soon.

Ms Maurya said this complaint was fit for judicial reference and the commission would provide legal help to the woman scientist.

The Director of IHBT, Dr P.S. Ahuja, said that action against the male scientist had been taken as soon as the complaint was received but regrettably it was not brought on record.

Probe into misuse of Chowgan sought
Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 17
The District steering committee of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has sought a probe into the recent episode of controversial ‘beauty contest’, which had shown laxity for violation of byelaws of the legendary Chowgan of Chamba.

In a handout issued here today Mr D.N. Pardesi, convener of the committee, alleged that some people had occupied and misused Chowgan No 1 for organising ‘Mr and Miss Chamba Contest’ for two days without permission of the local municipal Council.

Mr Pardesi expressed concern that the gate to Chowgan near the Circuit House was opened and heavy articles for making an enclosure and for decoration etc were taken in the Chowgan on vehicles.

Mr Pardesi asked the municipal council to lodge an FIR with the police to investigate how the door lock of the Chowgan gate was broken for the event.

Release of new potato varieties sought
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 17
The all-India Potato Coordinated Workers Group has recommended the release of four hybrid potato varieties developed by the Central Institute of Potato Research, here, for commercial cultivation.

The new varieties are resistant to diseases like late blight and suitable for replacement of varieties like kufri sindhri and kufri lalima which had become susceptible to blight. One of the varieties (MS/92-2105) will help meet the long-felt need of late blight red skin potatoes in eastern India where they are preferred and the Gangetic plains with increasing demand for red potatoes.

The high yielding (JW-160) variety has excellent keeping quality and is likely to boost potato yield in the country. It is ideal for exports because of its storability.

Another high yielding variety (HT/92-621) is suitable for the warmer areas of the country. It has high dry matter (20 to 22 per cent) and is suitable for processing into French fries.

The medium duration variety (SM/87-185) is resistant to blight, has a good storability and one per cent higher dry matter than the kufri giriraj variety. Its cultivation will supplement potato production in the hills.

Attack on scribe condemned
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, October 17
The Nurpur Press Club has condemned attack on Mr Rajesh Pathania, a correspondent of Hindi daily of Rehan near here on Wednesday by a few local taxi drivers. Intriguingly, the correspondent was beaten up in the presence of the police which had been approached by the correspondent to intervene in the matter of parking of taxis in front of his shop.

Instead of removing vehicles the accused started beating up the correspondent. The Press Club has taken exception to the alleged involvement of the police into the attack and demanded an independent probe into the unsavoury incident.

NGOs’ federation holds meeting
Our Correspondent

Nahan, October 17
The first federation house of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Service Federation (NGOs’) federation Machhan group was held here today under the chairmanship of its newly elected president L.S. Machhan.

Mr Machhan claimed that over 1,500 employees, including 278 delegates from 11 districts of the state, took part in the day-long conference.

Briefing mediapersons, Mr Machhan said on November 3, at the meeting of the State Joint Coordination Committee with the Chief Minister, demands to release 4 per cent DA instalment due from July and Government jobs to dependents of employees who died in harness on priority would be raised.

Legal seminar from today
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 17
Legal luminaries from all over the country will converge here for a two-day seminar on “creating a strong and effective junior bar with special reference to gender justice” to be inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India, Mr V.N. Khare, tomorrow.

The seminar, being organised by the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association, the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh and the state High Court Bar Association, will have six parallel sessions to discuss various issues concerning junior advocates.