H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Pamphlets against Virbhadra at rally
Shimla, November 10
Even though leaders of the two rival factions in the state Congress tried to project a united picture before Mrs Sonia Gandhi, distribution of pamphlets against the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, at the venue of the rally on The Ridge, belied all claims of unity in the party.

Indira longed to settle in HP: Sonia
Shimla, November 10
Had former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi not fallen to the bullets of her assassins in 1984, she intended to spend her last days in the quiet and calm hills of Himachal Pradesh, after her retirement from politics.

• Sonia relishes Himachali dishes

Leopard hides seized
Solan, November 10
Mahinder Singh from Vashar village, near Deothi, and Inder Singh of Ludharpur, Dehra Dun, were nabbed by the CIA branch of the district police on Monday from Kleen village and two leopard hides were seized from their possession.

Quacks duping people
Mandi, November 10
Hakims and quacks are duping villagers in the region promising them magic cure within seven days. Their shops are running under the nose of the police and health authorities, revealed complaints.

Youth dies after falling from tree
Kumarhatti, November 10
A Nepalese youth, who had come to 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu for recruitment in the Army, died while trying to extract honey from a beehive on a tree at a village downstream the centre.

Pamphlets against Virbhadra at rally
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 10
Even though leaders of the two rival factions in the state Congress tried to project a united picture before Mrs Sonia Gandhi, distribution of pamphlets against the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, at the venue of the rally on The Ridge, belied all claims of unity in the party.

While the Congress leaders were showering praises on the AICC chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, these pamphlets accusing Mr Virbhadra Singh of alleged corruption, nepotism and favouritism were being quietly distributed among party workers who had come to attend the rally.

Interestingly, the black and white pamphlets printed on computer, bearing a photograph of Mr Virbhadra Singh, were even delivered to mediapersons. The pamphlets enlisted six allegations against the Chief Minister. There was a mention of the party’s defeat in the Guler byelection where the blame for the debacle was put on Mr Virbhadra Singh.

The pamphlets, which termed Mr Virbhadra Singh as “Shere Himachal” alleged that the development in the state had come to a standstill as there was virtual bankruptcy during his rule. It also made mention of the anti-employee stance being adopted by the government.

After the rally when mediapersons asked Mr Virbhadra Singh and the Himachal PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes, about their differences, they brushed aside any such speculation while terming it as a media creation. Some Virbhadra loyalists who learnt about pamphlets being distributed against the Chief Minister, accused certain leaders within their party for being responsible for such vicious propaganda.

The two factions within the Congress had been at loggerheads over the selection of the site for the construction of the state Congress office building.

Indira longed to settle in HP: Sonia
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 10
Had former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi not fallen to the bullets of her assassins in 1984, she intended to spend her last days in the quiet and calm hills of Himachal Pradesh, after her retirement from politics.

Dwelling on the special fondness that members of the Nehru-Gandhi family had for this beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh, the AICC chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, today said her mother-in-law wanted to have a small place here in Himachal to spend her time in solitude after retirement.

“But destiny willed otherwise and unfortunately she could not fulfil her dream of spending her time in the hills,” said Ms Gandhi in her address at a public meeting on the Ridge.

It was not just the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and the HPCC chief, Vidya Stokes, who said that the members of the Nehru-Gandhi family had always given Himachal a special status and preference but even the AICC chief spoke about it in detail. “It is not just that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had special fondness for Himachal, but even Pt Moti Lal Nehru, spent some time here during the Satyagraha,” Ms Gandhi said.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, even quoted from the speech made by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971 after Himachal attained statehood. “The way the hard working people of the state brave the cold and harsh climate, I am confident that they will make their best efforts to make it a prosperous and developed state of the country,” the Chief Minister quoted from her speech made on that historic day.

Sonia relishes Himachali dishes
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 10
It was not just grilled trout fish, which the Congress chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, savoured but she was equally appreciative of the Himachali cuisine, especially Sepu-vadi and kaddu-ka-khatta.

The chefs of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation had specially prepared 13 Himachali dishes for the Congress leader. No continental or Italian dish could find its way to the table laid out for the Congress leader at Qak Over, the official residence of the Chief Minister. Trout, special cold water fish, which was a favourite with former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was brought from Kullu for Mrs Gandhi.

The ministers and Congress leaders who were present at the lunch, said Mrs Sonia Gandhi, specially relished sepu-vadi and kaddu-ka-khatta, specialities from Mandi, which were part of the Himachali meal. The other delicacies that were prepared for Mrs Gandhi included guchhi-mattar, saag and makki-ki-roti, chicken anaardana, rongi-ka-dum and curry-pakora.

Mrs Gandhi, who arrived for lunch after addressing a public meeting, spent some time posing for photos with ministers, MLAs and other party leaders. Attired in a beige and maroon salwar-kurta, she spent almost one and a half hours interacting with party leaders before she left for Delhi.

People attired in their traditional dress from Kinnaur, Kullu, Chamba, Shimla and Sirmaur were present at the rally in large numbers. They presented their folk-dances as the traditional Pahari musical instrument were being played.

Leopard hides seized
Our Correspondent

Solan, November 10
Mahinder Singh from Vashar village, near Deothi, and Inder Singh of Ludharpur, Dehra Dun, were nabbed by the CIA branch of the district police on Monday from Kleen village and two leopard hides were seized from their possession. They were booked under Sections 51 and 52 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The police is investigating their alleged links with a gang dealing in this trade. The SP said they were yet to verify the links and added that their criminal antecedents were also being looked into.

A leopard had been killed in September near Deothi and a gun licensed for crop protection had been used. Nine persons, including a minor, had been booked for the offence. Investigations revealed that they were first timers and had killed the animal to earn quick money between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000. The police, however, nabbed them while they were still looking for a buyer.

The Forest Department has reportedly not shown much keenness in pursuing the case and the police is helpless to proceed in the case. The police said samples of the leopard hide had to be sent to the Wildlife Institute, Dehradun, by forest officials to verify the class and weapon used. It said despite completing the investigations, forests officials were reluctant to come forward to help it. The forest officials on the other hand maintained that the police investigation was taking more time and it was responsible for sending the samples for analysis.

Quacks duping people
Kuldeep Chauhan

Mandi, November 10
Hakims and quacks are duping villagers in the region promising them magic cure within seven days.

Their shops are running under the nose of the police and health authorities, revealed complaints.

“He had promised to cure my health problem and charged Rs 2,500 but there was no relief”, complained Mr Hans Raj. He said “my house was under the influence of some evil spirit and prescribed some herbs and medicines like kasturi, a silver churan” and other rare items not available here for hawan, but he fled the city.

He complained that this was not the only case. Even shopkeepers in their bid to get more clients were falling in their trap.

On October 29, Mandi residents Mr Piyar Singh from Paddar and Khem Ram Sharma Jawalapur, both shopkeepers registered a complaint with the Sadar Police Station, that three jyotishis, who claimed to be from Rajasthan duped them after getting Rs. 46,000 from them.

Acting on the complaint, the Mandi police swung into action and nabbed three jyotishis from Swarghat in Bilaspur district the next day. “The case has been registered under Sections 406 and 420, IPC, against them said Mr NK Sharma, SHO, Sadar.

Residents complained that these jyothishis and quacks operated their shops in the town, hiring a hotel room promising magic cure in seven days.

According to police sources, they promised cure for the ailments related to sex problems or evil spells.

Mr Ajay Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Mandi, said only one case had come to light so far and the police had arrested three persons. “But quacks are operating their shop in the town, health authority should verify quacks’ credentials”, he said.

Dr PS Dogra, Chief Medical Officer, Mandi, said there was no provision of the registration of the registered medical practitioners and ‘quacks’. “Some practice as homoeopaths or ayurvedic doctors or the like. The police can take action under the Quackery Act”, he added.

Youth dies after falling from tree
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, November 10
A Nepalese youth, who had come to 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu for recruitment in the Army, died while trying to extract honey from a beehive on a tree at a village downstream the centre.

The deceased, Rahul Dev Gurang, was staying at centre’s rest house along with his friends. On the intervening night of November 8 and 9 the deceased along with his three friends decided to extract honey. After reaching the spot, Rahul climbed on the tree having beehive. The enraged bees pounced upon him and he lost his balance and fell down.

His friends rushed him to rest house where he was given first aid. Next morning he complained of chest pain followed by repeated vomiting. He died while on his way to Zonal Hospital, Solan.

The centre authorities reported the matter to the police yesterday. The body was sent to community health centre, Dharampur for post-mortem nomination.

Awarded
Our Correspondent

Una, November 10
District Public Relations Officer Gurmeet Bedi has been awarded the "Best Creative Writing Award" for 2003 by the Andhra Pradesh Hindi Sahitya Parishad.

The award carries Rs 15,000 and a citation.