Solan, October 2
Shocked over the loss of their only son and troubled with “illogical questioning” by IMA officials, the family of IMA cadet Devinder Sharma, who committed suicide at Dehra Dun yesterday, is trying to understand what led him to take the extreme step.

Refusing to admit that Devinder could end his life, his family members today alleged that he was first done to death and then hanged. Residing in a far-flung remote village, Taniana, in Kandhaghat subdivision, his mother Kamla, aunt Chandravati, uncles Laxmi Dutt and Narayan Singh are all dazed at the sudden turn of events.

It was following a message received by an ex-serviceman that his father Prem Dutt was made to talk to an IMA official last evening. However, instead of receiving consolation, he was instead asked as to why Devinder had committed suicide. The family was being grilled by officials as to what circumstances had led to suicide, family members said.

Fondly remembered as a devoted, understanding, caring and beloved son, the family is unable to come to terms with the tragedy. Squarely blaming the IMA for this sordid end, his aunt Chandravati said, “It belies all logic that a devoted and understanding person like Devinder could ever commit suicide. Hailing from a poor family, he knew how the family toiled to get him educated. He was keenly awaiting to get commissioned and wanted to help his father shoulder the responsibilities of the family.”

Recalling an unsavoury incident, she added, “Such harsh were the restrictions at the IMA that he could not attend my son’s wedding held about six months ago. When I asked him as to why he had failed to turn up at the wedding, Devinder had said that he wasn’t given leave. In an effort to get it sanctioned, he had pleaded a bit too much which had annoyed some senior official. He was then tortured the whole night. He was beaten up the whole night and cold water was mercilessly thrown on him. It was early in the morning that he was taken to a hospital after he became unconscious. He had remained hospitalised for around 10 days.”

Thinking that his parents would not be able to bear his plight, he had shared this incident with his aunt when he came home about a month and a half ago. The non-descript village of Taniana on the Chambhaghat-Kandhaghat road was a picture of gloom today.

Devinder’s uncle Narayan Singh said Prem Dutt, who reached Dehra Dun late last night, was not allowed inside the IMA till 5 am. The academy took several hours to complete the formalities and it was only after 10 am that he could visit the hospital where his son’s body was lying. The post-mortem was being conducted today after which the body would be handed over to the family. 

Kulu, October 2
Fervour and gaiety marked the beginning of the famous week-long Kulu Dasehra today with the rath yatra of Raghunathji being pulled by hundreds of devotees at the historical Dhalpur ground here.

The atmosphere was filled with rhythmical sound of drums and lilting of shehnai while men, women and children in their traditional folk dresses gathered to watch the spectacular event.

Mr Maheshwar Singh and Mr Karan Singh, descendants of Raja Jagat Singh, former ruler of Rupi (Kulu), led the shobha yatra, which started from Raghunath Mandir at Raghunathpur here. Idols of Lord Rama and Sita were placed in a beautifully decorated wooden chariot and pulled to the centre of the Dhalpur ground where they would be kept for the next six days in a “camp temple”.

The Governor, Mr V.S. Kokje, and the Agriculture Minister, Mr Raj Krishan Gaur, were present on the occasion, besides other dignitaries.

Later, the Governor inaugurated exhibitions of industries and power projects coming up in the state and evinced keen interest in the local handicraft and Kulu shawls.

Raghunathji, the chief deity of Kulu, and over 150 gods and goddesses with their procession and bands arrived at the Dhalpur ground and participated in the yatra.

The district administration failed to resolve the long-pending issue of the Shringa Rishi and Balu Nag, and an unruly scene was created at the beginning of the yatra.

The District Magistrate, today ordered that Balu Nag would participate in the yatra and stand on the left side of the rath. Shringa Rishi would not participate this year and remain in the camp temple at the Dhalpur ground. The issue should be settled within a month, the order stated.

However, the karkoons (people accompanying the devta) forcibly stood on the right side of the rath. The devta was virtually detained and forced to sit on the ground by the administration, cordoned off by about 40 police personnel armed with lathis and shields. The karkoons raised slogans against the administration. Mr Sampuran Thakur, a representative of Balu Nag, told this correspondent here that the issue could not be resolved until they were permitted to stand on the right side of the rath.

On the other hand, the “kardar” of Shringa Rishi said they obeyed the orders of the administration and did not participate in the yatra.

A large number of foreign tourists can be seen this time. Ms Tamy, an Israeli, said she had come to India for the first time and was looking forward to enjoy the Dasehra festival. Mr Zvi, group leader of 12 Israeli tourists, described their visit to Kulu as fruitful.

The town would be the centre of attraction for the next six days due to the festival. 

Solan, October 2
The suspension of 10 local BJP leaders from the primary membership of the party on grounds of indiscipline by state president Suresh Bhardwaj last evening has brought the brewing discontent within the two warring factions led by Shanta and Dhumal loyalists to the fore.

These 10 leaders are Mr Mohan Thakur, Mr Pawan Gupta, Mr Ravinder Parihaar, Mr Virender Sood, Mr Inder Singh Mehta, Mr Shailender Gupta, Ms Sonia Thakur, Mr Rajender Bhardwaj, Mr Rashim Dhar Sood and Mr Babu Ram Chauhan. These leaders, most of whom are office-bearers in the district, had persistently demanded action against the election in charge for the ongoing organisational poll. All suspended leaders belong to the Dhumal camp. They had almost come to blows over non- settlement of poll related issues before BJP national secretary O.P. Kohli on September 28.

These leaders contended that not only had the poll lists been drawn up at home without taking the members into confidence but tainted people had been appointed as election in charge. Illustrating their point, these disgruntled leaders said a candidate who had not only contested against the present chairman and official BJP candidate of the local municipal committee had been chosen as election in charge but he had also faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of the chairman by pocketing merely 150 votes. Such an in charge who had indulged in anti-party activities merely nine months ago had failed to ensure fair conduct of organisational poll.

These leaders, who convened a meeting here, were now finalising their future course of action. They were irate that the party had suspended them without issuing any show-cause notice. Terming it as a ploy to weaken their stand in the party these leaders said they would try to solve the issue in an amicable manner as it had harmed the party image.

Issues like inclusion of active members in the party, finalisation of voter lists from the respective homes of in-charge and complaints of favoritism by the district election in charge Dinesh Kaushal stirred up the trouble when Mr Kohli failed to find an immediate solution on the September 28 meeting at Shimla. Having shown the party in poor light it remains to be seen how the party’s central leadership manages to solve this issue which has exposed the deep rooted chasm within the workers. 

Shimla, October 2
Power generation in the 1,500-MW Nathpa Jhakri project has fallen to 1,000 MW with the water level in the reservior dipping to about 135 cumecs only, a company source today said.

Four units of 250 MW each are generating 1,000 MW of power during peak hours against an installed capacity of 1,500 MW, for the past three days following a low water discharge from the Sutlej into the reservior, the source, requesting anonymity, said.

The power generation in the country’s largest hydel power project had also remained closed for 21 days from July 24 to August 13 earlier this year after the silt level in the reservior went up to 12,000 parts per million (ppm) against a permissible limit of 4,000 pm. — UNI

Shimla, October 2
While Dasehra was celebrated all over the state, the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti used the occasion to create awareness about foeticide.

The effigy of Ravana was set aflame at a function organised by the samiti on the premises of the local Portmore Girls School. It represented the warped thinking which made people resort to the heinous act of foeticide. It signified the destruction of misconceptions that sons were essential for salvation, progeny and support during old age and that daughters were a burden.

During navratri, volunteers of the samiti visited various temples and distributed pamplets to create awareness among the people against foeticide. As many as 30 organisations took part in the campaign covering 60 temples.

The second phase of the campaign will be organised from February 28 to March 8, 2007, to educate people about the misuse of ultrasound machines by unscrupulous doctors.

Kangra, October 2
More than 1.20 lakh pilgrims from all over the country visited the Bajreshwari Temple here to pay obeisance to Goddess Bajreshwari at her Shaktipeeth here and to seek her blessings in connection with the Ashwin Navratras which concluded here yesterday. Thousands of pilgrims daily thronged this temple town during the Ashwin Navratras.

Pilgrims from Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir and from other parts of the country in large numbers visited this temple town during the Navratras.

A large number of pilgrims also visited Jawalamuhki and Chamunda temples in this district during the Navratras.

Shimla, October 2
After four consecutive bumper crops, the apple growers had a lean season this year.

Now that the harvesting is almost over, it has become quite evident the total production will be only around 1.30 crore standard boxes as against 2.65 crore boxes last year. Till yesterday 1.07 crore boxes had been transported out of the state. Evrey day about 200 truckloads of apple were moving out the state and their number was declining. As per the estimates of the Horticulture Department about 14 lakh to 16 lakh more boxes have been left, mainly in the high reaches of Kinnaur where the crop is still to be harvested.

The state had a record outturn of 5.40 lakh tonnes last year. The preceding in 2004 and 2003 seasons were also good when the state produced 5.26 lakh tonnes and 4.54 lakh tonnes, respectively. This year the production may not cross the 2.50 lakh-tonne mark.

The procurement under the market intervention scheme is also on the lower side and so far only 8,000 tonnes of fruit has been procured. Even the state-owned HPMC has been finding it difficult to get enough fruit for processing. It is now planning to get fruit from Jammu and Kashmir.

The only redeeming feature has been that the barring a few days the apple market remained high all through. The past one week has been exceptionally good with the superior royal delicious variety fetching Rs 750 to Rs 850 per box and the rich-a-red and other medium varieties Rs 550 to Rs 650 per box. However, in the lower and mid-hill belt, which account for 80 per cent of the total production, there was hardly any fruit for the growers to profit from the high rates.

Palampur, October 2
The body of Raj Kumar, a resident of Rajpur village was recovered from a water channel near Chowki village this morning. It is learnt that Raj Kumar had accompanied a marriage party to this village last evening.

Mr Salig Ram, an uncle of the victim, told media persons that Raj Kumar had left the marriage party at about 10 p.m. and told his relatives that he would stay with his aunt. But he never reached there. Later in the morning he was found dead in a water channel.

Meanwhile, the father of the accused alleged foul play in the death of his son and said that some one had killed him and later thrown the body in the water channel. He said there was very little water in the channel.

However, SHO of Palampur Sanjiv Chauhan refuted the allegation of family members of Raj Kumar and said that there was no injuries on the body of Raj Kumar. This was also established in the post-mortem report, he added.

Kangra, October 2
The body of a missing youth was today found near the rail track near the housing board bridge with no apparent marks of injuries on his body, police said here today.

Mr Surender Kumar, SHO, Kangra, today said that Manish Kumar (16), a student of Class XI of GAV Senior Secondary School, had left his home in Pallwana village on September 29 but did not return back. He said that Manish was carrying Rs 2,200 with him for depositing in the bank which he did.

His body was found 10 metres away from the Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail track between Kangra Mandir and Kangra railway stations this morning. The body was sent for postmortem.