Mandi, March 5
Over 300 passengers, who include a few patients, too await transportation from snowbound Lahaul valley to Bhuntar airport as the “ general administration department (GAD) has been operating chopper service to valley erratically since Saturday. Death of two patients in the valley on Saturday exposed chinks in helicopter service to the tribal belt.

The two patients, identified as Roop Lal, (53) a peon in the Agriculture Department, Lahaul, hailed from Phuladhar, Mandi district, and five-year-old boy from Barring (Lahaul) succumbed to freezing snow on Saturday before they could be lifted by the state-run helicopter.

In fact, Agricultural Department staff members and rescuers had taken Roop Lal on a stretcher from Keylong to Tandi helipad in freezing temperature that day as the road had been remained blocked due to four feet of snow in the valley, said relatives of the deceased.

Apart from this, over 300 passengers still await helicopter services at all helipads in tribal belt, which depends on helicopter for transportation in six harsh winter months. Chief medical Officer, Lahaul-Spiti Dr. Kuldip Sharma said a Bihari labourer frost bite patient was under treatment as the district hospital.

Shimla, March 5
The BJP today said the Budget presented by chief minister Virbhadra Singh could not be considered pro-reforms and populist as it had failed to address problems being faced by the common man.

Former chief minister and leader of the opposition P.K. Dhumal said it was a Budget from a ‘desperate’ man who could not do much in his four-year rule.

He said the government which was claiming that 33,024 posts would be filled had only been able to fill 3,386 in four years. “Being his last Budget, I, too, was expecting that Mr Virbhadra Singh would make some important announcements for which he would be remembered but he has disappointed everyone,” he remarked.

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Viplove Thakur said it was a common man’s Budget.

State BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur said the government had done great injustice to daily workers by not enhancing their wages. “The unemployed youth who had been pinning their hopes on getting an unemployment allowance have been let down, “ he remarked.

Industries minister Kuldeep Kumar said by presenting a tax-free Budget, the chief minister had protected the interests of the common man.

Mandi, March 5
In a major breakthrough, the Mandi district police today solved a case of abduction and murder by recovering the body of the missing person and his luggage from a jungle. The accused has been arrested under Section 302, IPC, in Gohar subdivision.

The victim has been identified as Khim Singh, a forest contractor, who belonged to Mandi Sadar and the accused has been identified as Beli Ram, a resident of Jabal in Gohar police station.

The police team led by DSP Headquarters Kishan Chand and SHO Mandi Sadar Rajesh Kumar today recovered the body of Khem Singh, which was dumped by the accused after he allegedly shot him dead with his gun from the Jual jungle in Gohar. They also recovered a bag, a gold ring and umbrella, a sharp blade, three live cartridges and the gun which is registered in Beli Ram's name, the police revealed.

SP Mandi M.Chander Sekhar said the motive behind the murder was the money as the victim had Rs 17,000 with him. "We got leads following recovery of the bag kept by the accused in the premises of a bank at Gohar just to make it appear that somebody was trying to rob the bank. The bag carried documents that had addresses which helped crack the case The body has sent for post mortem to zonal hospital.

Police investigation has revealed that the accused had lured the victim for hunting in the jungle that day.

"He has confessed to killing the man with the gun with a motive to take his money, which he allegedly had spent since then,” the police revealed.

In fact, Khim Singh had gone missing under mysterious circumstances on February 28 from his home. His brother had lodged an FIR at Gohar on March 3 complaining that his brother had been abducted by some criminals from outside.

Mandi, March 5
CPI leader Des Raj Sharma and All India Youth Federation (AISF) president Prithvipal Singh today charged that the UPA government was beating around the bush by not passing the Rozgar Guarantee Act as demanded by the party.

Talking to reporters here today after holding a rally on the occasion of Shaheed Bhagat Singh's centenary celebrations in the town, the leaders said the Congress-led UPA government had half-heartedly implemented the Rural Rozgar Guarantee programme in 200 districts in the country. This was not a solution to the growing unrest among the unemployed youth in the country.

Des Raj said youth would get employment for only 100 days under the programme, but they were demanding employment for at least 240 days. “This is possible only when they the government implements the Rozgar Guarantee Act in the country”.

As unemployment is high among the youth terrorists and separatist groups active in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East and naxals in the central India are taking advantage of this and enrolling youth in their cadre to launch their agenda in the troubled areas, claimed Prithpal Singh.

Giving example of Himachal Pradesh Des Raj claimed that different companies in the state were employing only 10 per cent youth. “The state government's claim that it has provided employment to 70 per cent Himachalis in all projects remains on paper only as government has done nothing to develop or upgrade their skills as per the need of the projects, he charged.

Dharamsala, March 5
Several students were caught red-handed for allegedly copying in the 10 plus one and 10 plus two examinations which began throughout the state today.

Two hundred and thirtyseven unfair means cases(UMC) were registered across the state.

Mr B.R Rahi, chairman of the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board, said the board authorities and the Education Department were determined to curb the menace of copying.

He said 137 students were caught red-handed copying in Kangra district, followed by 37 in Bilaspur, 20 in Chamba, 20 in Una, 8 in Mandi, 6 in Sirmour, 4 in Solan, 3 in Hamirpur and 2 in Shimla districts.