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SP denies
infiltration reports Tibet beauty contestants wish to make a point Five contestants for the Miss Tibet contest pose for photographs at McLeodgunj in Dharamsala on Thursday. Cannabis in 10 bighas destroyed |
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School staff to move SC against govt ICDEOL students excel Final
round of Pulse Polio drive from Oct 10 “Satta” thrives in absence of lotteries Boy commits suicide Patwari found
dead 10-yr RI for keeping charas
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SP denies
infiltration reports Chamba, September 30 After taking stock of the situation on the borders here, the SP, Mr J.P. Singh, today claimed that there had been normalcy amongst the inhabitants residing in the villages along the border land for the past six years. Since the para-military forces were deployed on the borders, he said, the people were satisfied with the vigilance and security provided by them. The SP claimed that no untoward incident had occurred during the past six years and the credit went to the soldiers. They had been launching their surface patrolling and round-the-clock combing operations in coordination with 476 special police officers (SPOs) and 159 village defence committees (VDCs) comprising of about 1,440 trained recruits. The SP also appealed to the inhabitants of borderland not to be panicked by the rumours being fanned by certain anti-social elements. Meanwhile, a joint meeting of senior officials of the police and para-military forces as part of an ‘anti-terrorist operation’, was recently held in Jammu to take note of the changing strategies of the militants as had been revealed from an intensive study carried out by the investigating and vigilance agencies. New police strategies had been drawn and drastic measures taken to combat terrorists on the borders, the SP said. |
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Tibet beauty contestants wish to make a point Mcleodganj, September 30 In an interview with The Tribune, the contestant, said more than the crown, they were aiming at making people aware of the issue of Tibet and mobilising public opinion. “No doubt, Tibetan girls are usually shy and feel uncomfortable with the idea of strutting around in a swimsuit but all this is due to lack of exposure and opportunities to show their worth,” said Thinlay Dolma. “I did not know so many things about Tibetan history and culture before I started preparing for the contest. I’m sure that the number of contestants would increase every year,” said Tashi Yangchen from Sikkim. “I have got a chance to stay in metropolitans in India and there people hardly know about the Tibetan issue. So, I thought I would make a difference by taking part in the contest and my parents have been very supportive,” she added. Dhoudup Wangmo of Dehra Dun, a graduate from Delhi University, said she was here for sheer fun and taking a break from her job. “I agree that we contestants are trying to send a message that the issue of Tibet should be better understood. Although India has given us freedom and a democratic set-up, we would still want Tibet back as we continue to be refugees,” she said. Sonam Dickey and Kalsang Dickey, both from Nepal, said there was no feeling of competition among them and all of them were winners for having shown the courage to become a role model for the Tibetan youth. “I was born in Lhasa in Tibet and had my schooling in McLeodganj before my family moved to Nepal. I want to prove that I am educated and confident and capable of winning beauty contests,” she said. Thinlay Dolma from Bir in Dharamsala is the only local participant. “I was inclined to walk the ramp from my childhood and it is like a dream come true for me,” she said. Lobsang Wangyal, director of the pageant, said although this year, too, the swimsuit round would be closed-doors, they eventually wanted to make it open to public. “Some sections of the Tibetan community have to still come to terms with the idea of this contest and we are willing to give them time,” he said. The contestants would go through a week’s training programme wherein they would be given lectures on Tibetan ethics and patriotism. This would be followed by make-up and personality development sessions. On October 8, the swimsuit round would be held, which would be followed by presentation and talent display on October 9. There would be four rounds on the last day, including introduction, interviews, evening gown round and Tibetan traditional costume round. “All judges would be non-Tibetans,” said Wangyal. |
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Cannabis in 10 bighas destroyed Malana (Kullu), September 30 Villagers have described the operation as a direct attack on their only source of livelihood. “We have stopped growing this crop. The police and the NCB have come to snatch our source of livelihood. Villagers have no alternative but to survive on Kathu, a traditional wild crop, and salayara (Amaranth), which does not yield much to farmers,” said Mr Budh Ram, a former Block Development Committee member, Malana. Villagers rued that they had nothing to fall back on as the government had given them nothing over the years despite promises. Villagers have cultivated wheat, potatoes, amaranth and kathu in their fields. On cannabis cultivation, villagers said the demand for charas picked up after foreigners started coming to the valley in the nineties. “They told us that cannabis could change our destiny as charas could fetch a good price in the market,” they said. “It sells for Rs 50,000 per kg,” they said. NCB officials said they expected cannabis in over 500 bighas in the forest areas of the magic valley and Belang, where the team would resume the operation tomorrow. They added that the area under cannabis had reduced by over 70 per cent this year after the NCB and the police launched the Malana mission last year. “This year, there has been a reduction of over 70 per cent in the area under cannabis,” said Mr O.P. Sharma, Superintendent, NCB. This showed that villagers had stopped growing the crop, he added. Tin-roofed houses have come up in the village. Villagers said the money came from charas they produced. “Cannabis is grown here since time immemorial,” said Mr Daulat Ram, vice-president, Malana panchayat. “The bhog for devta is made from the seeds of cannabis and charas here has been used for medicine over the ages,” villagers said. Villagers and women folk who had gone to the forest areas to gather firewood, grass and to graze their sheep and goats were called back to the village following fear of police action. Villagers held a meeting today to work out their future strategy. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Kushal Sharma, who was on the spot to guide the operation, said the charas mafia was exploiting the villagers. “This time we expect a significant drop in charas production. This year we are not registering cases unlike last year when five cases were registered. |
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School staff to move SC against govt Kangra, September 30 Disclosing this here today, Mr Sanjeev Kapoor, spokesman for the union, said the union condemned the state government for neglecting the schools. He said despite providing quality education, these schools were being ignored by the government. He said the union had decided not to resort to an agitation and instead move the apex court. He said the executive of the union would meet on October 9 at Ranital to finalise the date of filing the contempt petition in the apex court. |
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ICDEOL students excel Shimla, September 30 Ramesh Singta, enrolled in the ICDEOL for the MJMC course, topped the examination by securing an all-time high of 81.33 per cent marks. The second position in the university has been bagged by Geeta Sharma (76.33) and third by Saurabh Chauhan (76 per cent). Earlier also five students of ICEDOL had bagged the top five positions in the Bachelors of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC).
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Final round of
Pulse Polio drive from Oct 10 Hamirpur, September 30 Nearly 44,555 children in the age group 0-5 will be administered anti-polio vaccines at 282 booths, according to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Devesh Kumar. Presiding over a meeting here today, he said 1,128 employees and medical officers would be deployed on duty. He appealed to people to help make the programme a success. |
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“Satta” thrives in absence of lotteries Nurpur, September 30 Lakhs of rupees are being invested by a large number of unemployed youths and businessmen. They are putting hard-earned money in “satta”. The local authorities have failed to check this illegal activity as it has its roots in other state. According to information, “satta” agents collect Rs 11 for single digit number and 10 per cent commission. If picked up, the digit strikes the player gets Rs. 100 otherwise the money lost. The result is declared daily at 11.40 am at Pathankot which passes to the players within a few seconds on mobiles. The players picked an 0 by investing about Rs 2 lakh on September 19, but they got a setback when the digit wasn’t declared. |
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Boy commits suicide Kangra, September 30 The Investigating Officer Mr D.N. Sharma told The Tribune that the boy died last evening when Ashish and his 12-year-old sister Archna were quarreling with each other. Their mother Reeta asked the two to study. Archna entered her room and began studying, while Ashish, a student of the Army School, Yol, entered his room and hanged himself from the roof with a dupata of his mother. When his mother asked him to open the door there was no response so she peeped through the window and found Ashish hanging. The villagers broke open the door and took him to Dr R.P. Government Medical Hospital, Dharamsala, where he died this morning, Mr Sharma said. The post mortem report indicated death due to hanging. |
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Patwari found
dead Hamirpur, September 30 The patwari had gone for the demarcation of land at Kotla village along with the local people and the panchayat pradhan. An official spokesman said today he left for his village after the demarcation, but didn’t reach home. Fearing something wrong, his family members and Sukh Dev Sharma, up-pradhan of Kotla Chillian panchayat, started searching for him and found his body in the khud. The spokesman said Rs 1,000 was also found in his possession. The body has been brought to Hamirpur for a post mortem. The Nadaun police registered a case and further investigation was on. |
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10-yr RI for keeping charas Hamirpur, September 30 The judge also issued orders that in case of default in payment of the fine, the accused would have to undergo imprisonment for six months more. |
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