H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Explanation sought from ASP
Hamirpur, January 23
The Himachal Pradesh Police is reportedly upset over a recent statement of Hamirpur ASP Sunder Lal that more than 80 per cent of the police personnel were corrupt and only 20 per cent of them were performing their duties honestly.

Teacher slaps girl to unconsciousness
Dharamsala, January 23
Annoyed at repeated sneezing by a class VIII girl student yesterday, a teacher repeatedly slapped her till the girl fell unconscious. The incident occurred at Government High School in Ghirtholi under Baijnath subdivision.

Rail traffic disrupted
Kumarhatti, January 23
Traffic was disrupted on the Kalka-Shimla rail track after a heavy boulder rolled down the hill and fell alongside the track near Udai Vihar locality between the Barog and Solan railway stations early this morning.

One killed, 14 hurt in mishap
Solan, January 23
Sanjay Sharma (31), a resident of Jaunajee, was killed and 14 others were injured when a private bus they were travelling in rolled down a 50-foot gorge at Kalaghat on Friday afternoon.

A tableau of Himachal Pradesh during the dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in the Capital on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Explanation sought from ASP
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, January 23
The Himachal Pradesh Police is reportedly upset over a recent statement of Hamirpur ASP Sunder Lal that more than 80 per cent of the police personnel were corrupt and only 20 per cent of them were performing their duties honestly. Mr Sunder Lal had made these comments during a meeting of the police community scheme held at the local police station on January 20.

Highly placed sources in the state government said that high-ups in the police and the Department of Home had taken serious note of the comments of the ASP, Hamirpur, and had directed the Superintendent of Police (SP), Hamirpur, to seek an explanation from the ASP on this issue. The SP, Mr P.L. Thakur confirmed to this reporter that he had issued a letter to the ASP regarding his comments made at the police station.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunder Lal was not available for comments as he is on leave and has gone to his village to attend a marriage.

Teacher slaps girl to unconsciousness
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, January 23
Annoyed at repeated sneezing by a class VIII girl student yesterday, a teacher repeatedly slapped her till the girl fell unconscious. The incident occurred at Government High School in Ghirtholi under Baijnath subdivision.

According to the girl’s parents, Champa Devi was suffering from cold, and this was the reason for her sneezing. Her mathematics teacher did not take this fact into consideration and started beating her. She was later admitted to Civil Hospital Baijnath.

The girl’s parents got a case registered against the teacher.

Rail traffic disrupted
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, January 23
Traffic was disrupted on the Kalka-Shimla rail track after a heavy boulder rolled down the hill and fell alongside the track near Udai Vihar locality between the Barog and Solan railway stations early this morning.

The passengers of the 1KS train to Shimla from Kalka had to wait for over an hour at the site till the clearance of the track. The traffic remained suspended till 7.30 am.

One killed, 14 hurt in mishap

Solan, January 23
Sanjay Sharma (31), a resident of Jaunajee, was killed and 14 others were injured when a private bus they were travelling in rolled down a 50-foot gorge at Kalaghat on Friday afternoon. The injured were rushed to the local Zonal Hospital. A sum of Rs 10,000 was given as immediate relief to the kin of the deceased by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Kumar. — OC