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 Shimla, January 31
Lieut-Gen J.J. Singh, the new General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, feels that his varied experience, specially his stint at the Army Training Command, will be immensely helpful in carrying out his new assignment.
Heaviest snowfall in state in 14
years
Man gets wife married to another
person
NDA will be back in power, says Shanta
Sundernagar, January 31 Prosecutors, who were appointed in fast-track courts in the state have not been paid salary.
Resentment over JBT entrance test forms
Villagers threaten stir
Lease of land to |
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Four hurt in group clash
Health mela from Feb
14
Test postponed
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ARTRAC stint of great help, says Gen J.J.
Singh
Shimla, January 31 “Every assignment has its own importance, but the one at ARTRAC, the think-tank of the Army, has been quite different as it plays a crucial role in preparing the Army for future challenges in a constantly changing battlefield milieu. The responsibility involved development of new concepts and doctrines at the strategic and operational levels for the emerging security environment, besides framing of the training policy and providing training support to the Army in all its facets, he told TNS. Gen J.J. Singh left for Chandigarh today. The new assignment was significant for the reason that most of the sensitive frontiers of the country, including Shipki La, bordering China, and most of the Indo-Pak border fell under the Western Command. It has been the theatre of war in the past, he observed. The General, who has seen a variety of first-hand combat experiences, was reticent about his plans and priorities for the Western Command, but agreed that the new assignment would provide an opportunity to put into practice the concepts and doctrines evolved at ARTRAC. While the General found his tenure at ARTRAC professionally rewarding, the cool climes and scenic splendour of the queen of hills made it a pleasant one. The General has fallen in love with Shimla. More so, because of snow. It snowed the day he took over as the GOC-in-C of ARTRAC and today, when the relinquished charge, the hill resort experienced the heaviest snowfall in the past several years. He said he considered himself extremely fortunate in this regard as snow was considered a good omen. He said he was not going too far and Shimla was under the Western Command. There would be plenty of occasions to visit the hill resort. |
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Heaviest snowfall in state in 14
years
Shimla, January 31 The entire Kinnaur and most parts of Shimla district were cut off as the queen of hills experienced the heaviest snowfall since December 1990. Traffic in the entire region came to a grinding halt as a thick blanket of snow covered roads. No buses left Shimla as the snow affected vehicular traffic even on the Shimla-Chandigarh highway. The supply of milk, vegetables, newspapers and other daily necessities was affected beyond Shimla. The Hindustan-Tibet road was under 50 to 80 cm of snow and it may take a few days to open it as it was still snowing. Consequently, the upper areas like Theog, Kotkhai, Jubbal, Narkanda, Rohru, Chopal and Khara Pathar were likely to remain cut off. The Kulu-Manali highway was blocked beyond Patlikuhl and the Chamba-Pathankot highway was blocked due to heavy snow at Banikhet. Mount Jakhoo, the highest peak of the city, had recorded 60 cm of snow by the evening, while the lower areas received 30 to 50 cm snow depending on the altitude. The state capital received more than 100 cm of snow in January after a gap of 22 years. It had recorded 137 cm of snow during the month in 1982. Severe cold gripped the region as the city recorded a maximum temperature of 0.7 degree Centigrade and a minimum of -2.1 (minus 2.1) degree Centigrade. The nearby tourist resort of Kufri was under 90 cm of snow whereas Narkanda had one metre and Manali 60 cm of snow. Dalhousie had 105 cm, the heaviest for the past decade, and Banikhet 50 cm. The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed for the second day today due to landslides triggered by overnight snowfall and rain, official sources said in Srinagar. The arterial road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country was closed to traffic, even as the authorities cleared almost all vehicles stranded on the highway. As the snowfall and rain stopped this morning, the Border Roads Organisation pressed its men and machines to clear the highway. The intense cold wave claimed one life in Burahali village in the Balh area of Mandi district, a report from Mandi said. Sita Ram, a Gujjar, was frozen to death following heavy snowfall and incessant rains in the Murari Mata Temple mountain ranges which created biting cold-wave conditions. The ski resort of Gulmarg, host to the fourth National Winter Games, was covered by a thick white blanket at 15 cm. Dras sector also had another light spell of snow during the past 24 hours, the Meteorological Department sources said here. Srinagar was lashed by 9.3 mm of rain and the maximum there yesterday was a bone-chilling 4.2°C. The low touched 0.2°C. Normal life in Jammu was thrown out of gear following heavy rains at 34.7 mm. |
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Snow in Kasauli draws
tourists
Solan, January 31 Tourists were from Chandigarh and surrounding areas. Vegetation including housetops and parked vehicles were covered with snow. Several vehicles were stuck in snow. Most of the Kalka-Shimla road was snow-bound. Snow also restricted movement of birds and monkeys in Kasauli, Barog, Dagshai, Chail, Karol hill in Solan and Churdhar in Chail were also covered in snow. Kiosks selling tea and snacks did brisk business as demand for these was all-time high. With foggy weather persisting on the Kalka-Shimla highway movement of vehicles was affected. Sky remained overcast. Hailstones lashed the region in the day. Children and youngsters enjoyed the thrill of snow at Kasauli. Hotel owners benefited much as hotel had a good number of tourists. Roads were deserted. Tourists from Chandigarh and surrounding areas could be seen experiencing the thrill of snow. Tourists started visiting the town since last evening. Simarjeet and Harjot from Chandigarh, specially here from Mohali said they were delighted to see whiteness around. Being their first snow experience they looked excited. Hotels were booked with requests for bookings pouring. Kasauli Resorts, had the best season in three years. Tourists were more by 70 per cent. Nearly 50 delegates of Lions Club International from all over North India including Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Delhi had been waiting for the snowfall. Kasauli charmed them. Town’s oldest hotel Alasia also had more customers today. The tourists mostly from Chandigarh after spending day were looking for a place to spend the night. Visitors planned to stay for the night. Sale of woollens like caps, gloves, etc., registered an increase. Some had music systems to break monotony. The town wore a festive look. |
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Man gets wife married to another
person
Kulu, January 31 Mr A.P. Singh, Superintendent of Police here, confirmed that a case had been registered on the complaint of the father of the girl, Mr Mehar Chand, of Shuru village near Manali. Mr Mehar Chand reported the matter to the police post at Patlikuhal and according to his statement he got his daughter Leela (18) married to Lal Chand of Dohlu Nallah, village about 18 km from here, in November 2002. The father of the girl further said that they lost contact with their daughter since December 22, 2003, and learnt that she had been married off to Balbir of Shekhonwala village in Una district by her husband. The SP said a case had been registered and the husband, Lal Chand, and another person, Tape Ram, who helped in solemnised the alleged second marriage were detained on Thursday. Another mediator, Purkhi Devi was yet to be arrested, he added. According to the police authorities, Lal Chand confessed that he had got his wife married to Balbir with the help of Purkhi Devi and Tape Ram. The in charge of the police station, Manali, said the arrested persons were remanded in police custody till February 4 by the Senior Sub Judge Manali. It was learnt that the chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, Ms Viplav Thakur, has ordered an inquiry into the case by a gazetted officer. Mr Devender Thakur, Additional Superintendent of Police, will investigate the matter. Meanwhile, police sources here confirmed that a police party had left for Una yesterday to recover the daughter of Mr Mehar Chand. |
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NDA will be back in power, says Shanta
Nurpur, January 31 Mr Shanta Kumar, who is also a prospective BJP candidate from Kangra parliamentary constituency, reiterated that the NDA government would be back in power as no such strong political alliance like NDA could emerge in the country. He also gave Rs 1 lakh for the ongoing construction of the Press Club building at Nurpur. Mr Shanta Kumar laid the foundation stone of girls common room on the premises of the local Arya Government College. The Students Central Association
(SCR) of the college organised a cultural programme on the occasion. |
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Prosecutors not paid salary
Sundernagar, January 31 On the intervention of the high court, the Himachal Government had cleared the creation of fast-track courts. In the first phase, two fast-track courts were created in Shimla and Dharamsala. Later, seven more fast-track courts were created in Mandi, Kulu Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Solan and Chamba districts. These courts have started functioning and have even decided some cases, but the prosecutors, who were deputed in these courts, have not been paid salary. According to the Director (Prosecution), Mr Chander Shekhar Sharma, the Prosecution Department has placed the services of these prosecutors at the disposal of the judiciary. He said the scheme of fast-track court was funded by the Center and hence the salary would be paid by it. At present, no one is ready to pay salary to these prosecutors due to misinterpretation of provisions of the scheme. |
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Resentment over JBT entrance test forms
Hamirpur, January 31 There are only 16 sale depots of the board in the state and in most of the districts there is only one such depot and that too at districts’ headquarter towns only. These sale shops are located at Dharamsala, Jassore, Paprola, Hamirpur, Bhoranj, Shimla, Rampur, Rohroo, Chamba, Kulu, Mandi, Nahan, Una and Solan. In the case of Lahaul and Spiti these forms will be available with the SDM concerned. The forms will be free of cost but only one form will be given to a person. The forms will not be available through the private bookshops. There is feeling among people that the order of the board has put them in great financial problems. They are of the view that the board should have allowed the bookshops to sell such forms. They have demanded that the entrance forms be made available to them at all book shops. |
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Villagers threaten stir
Lease of land to stone crusher
Palampur, January 31 Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Sansar Chand and Mr Jagan Nath, presidents of Kona and Sanooh, gram panchayats, respectively, said they were not taken into confidence and the matter was arbitrarily finalised by the authorities. Under rules, a no-objection certificate from local panchayats was mandatory, they said adding that even at the time of spot inspection, they were not informed. Both said if the government did not withdraw its order, they would move the Himachal Pradesh High Court. They said the stone crusher would cause large-scale land erosion, flash floods and deforestation. They said Kona and Sanooh areas were already facing problems of land erosion. They urged the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter. |
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Four hurt in group clash
Palampur, January 31 According to reports, trouble started when two trucks of the Lambagaon Truck Operators Union were loading wood at a village near Thural. Members of the Palampur Truck Operators Union arrived on the spot and said the area was theirs and so the former had no right to lift firewood from here. They were asked to deposit fine which led to exchange of blows and lathis. A case has been registered against both groups under various sections of the IPC. Mr K.C. Chaman, SDM, and Mr Sanjiv Gandhi, DSP, Palampur, visited the spot. |
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Health mela from Feb
14
Dharamsala, January 31 As many as 40 stalls manned by health specialists will be set up and free diagnosis, laboratory test facilities and consultation will be provided there. He said medicines free of cost will also be given to the poor and needy. |
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Test postponed
Shimla, January 31 A spokesman of the board said the new date would be announced shortly. |
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