H I M A C H A L    P R A D E S H    E D I T I O N

One-third of booths in Kangra sensitive
Dharamsala, November 8
The district administration has identified more than one-third of the total polling booths being set-up in 16 Assembly constituencies of the district as sensitive and hypersensitive. It has demanded at least 20 companies of para-military forces for the smooth conduct of second phase of elections scheduled for December 19.

• Delete dual votes: CEO

Tribal in name, high-tech in campaign
Keylong, November 8
Don’t be misled by the word ‘tribal’ when you see it form part of the name of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti constituency. The constituency, which goes to the polls on November 14, is witnessing e-campaigning, a phenomenon that has not become so popular even in the so-called most advanced constituencies in the state.

Bharmour: Parties fear lower turnout
Dharamsala, November 8
The biggest problem being faced by all political parties was that the Gaddis had begun migrating down the foothills of the Shivaliks in search of food, fodder and greener pastures along with herds of sheep and goats, which was the mainstay of their living.

Kaushal flays Cong, BJP
Bilaspur, November 8
The BSP today said the Congress and the BJP were neck-deep in corruption. BSP state general secretary Krishan Kumar Kaushal distributed copies of an order of the Supreme Court regarding alleged illegal concessions to Sagar Katha Udyog by Chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

Bilaspur-based social organisation Chetna trains handicapped and mentally challenged children in making candles, flowerpots, earthen lamps and greeting cards etc. so as to earn some pocket money for celebrating Diwali. — A Tribune photograph

‘Allot’ ticket to women, youth
Shimla, November 8
Demanding 50 per cent of the party tickets for youth and women, chairman of the All-India Minorities and Social Welfare Council Rajeshwar Negi has said that the political parties should encourage professionals and the youth so as to fight corruption and communalism.

Corrupt will be put behind bars: BSP
Kangra, November 8
Sanjay Chaudhary, a Congress rebel, who joined the BSP is a strong contender for the BSP ticket from the Kangra constituency today described the BJP and the Congress as birds of the same feather, where corruption was concerned.

Shift PWD chief: BJP
Shimla, November 8
The BJP today urged the Election Commission to shift the PWD engineer-in-chief and the director, Health Services, for trying to influence the voters in favour of the Congress, as they had been granted extension by the government.

5 killed in accidents
Bilaspur, November 8
Five persons were killed in three accidents in the state during the past 24 hours. Rajesh Kumar (30) and Anil Kumar (28), driver and cleaner of a truck and residents of Kunanu village, were killed when their vehicle (HP 31-3611) went out of control and fell into a gorge near Charol on the National Highway No. 21 yesterday night.

Two police constables convicted
Kullu, November 8
The District and Session judge, Mr. Purender Vaidya, sentenced two police constables to one-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 3,000 each for being in connivance with one of the alleged drug smuggler and helping him to escape while being brought from Shimla to Kullu for hearing.

6 per cent DA for HRTC staff
Shimla, November 8
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation has decided to release a DA instalment at the rate of 6 per cent with effect from July, 2007.

Cricket tourney
Chamba, November 8
The final cricket match of the second Raj Kumar Brijendra Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament was won by the Kiani Cricket Club beating the Banikhet Club by 12 runs.

One-third of booths in Kangra sensitive
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 8
The district administration has identified more than one-third of the total polling booths being set-up in 16 Assembly constituencies of the district as sensitive and hypersensitive. It has demanded at least 20 companies of para-military forces for the smooth conduct of second phase of elections scheduled for December 19.

A total number of 1,275 booths were being set-up in the district, out of which, 284 had been identified as sensitive and 182 hypersensitive.

In the Nurpur constituency, out of 100 polling booths, 36 had been identified as sensitive and 14 as hypersensitive.

In the Gangath constituency, out of 83 polling booths, 16 had been identified as sensitive and 25 as hypersensitive, while in the Jawali constituency, out of 90 polling booths 15 had been identified as sensitive and 18 as hypersensitive. These two constituencies share its borders with Punjab and keeping in view of intrusion by miscreants, the entire border areas had been declared sensitive or hypersensitive.

In the Guler constituency, out of 67 polling booths 15 had been identified as sensitive and 14 as hypersensitive. The Kotla, Nagrota Surian and Jawali areas of the constituency were politically sensitive.

In the Jaswan constituency, out of 68 polling booths 18 had been identified as sensitive and 6 as hypersensitive. In the Paragpur constituency, out of the 79 polling booths 26 had been identified as sensitive and 15 as hypersensitive due to its close proximity with the politically sensitive district of Hamirpur

In the Jawalamukhi constituency, out of 71 polling booths, 26 had been identified as sensitive and 12 as hypersensitive, while in the Thural constituency, out of 79 polling booths 14 had been identified as sensitive and 7 as hypersensitive.

In the Rajgir constituency, out of 67 polling booths 10 had been identified as sensitive and 5 as hypersensitive and in the Baijnath constituency, out of 81 polling booths 23 had been identified as sensitive and 12 as hypersensitive.

In the Palampur constituency, out of 85 polling booths 13 had been identified as sensitive and 7 as hypersensitive. In the Sulah constituency, out of 69 polling booths 9 had been identified as sensitive and 9 as hypersensitive.

In Nagrota Bagwan constituency, out of the total of 82 polling booths 11 had been identified as sensitive and 11 hypersensitive including five booths of Nagrota town as hypersensitive.

In Shahpur constituency, out of the total of 93 polling booths 17 had been identified as sensitive and 5 hypersensitive, in Dharamsala constituency, out of the total of 73 polling booths 11 had been identified as sensitive and 14 hypersensitive and in Kangra constituency, out of the total of 88 polling booths 24 had been identified as sensitive and 8 hypersensitive.

Delete dual votes: CEO
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 8
Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda today directed the officers to ensure proper verification of the electoral rolls at the booth level to check dual voters.

At a review meeting with the Shimla DC and the SDMs and tehsildars of the five Assembly segments of Rohru, Rampur, Jubbal-Kotkhai, Kumarsen and Chopal, she said verification of electoral rolls was being done to ensure free and fair elections. She asked the officials to delete the names of voters who had expired or migrated.

Tribal in name, high-tech in campaign
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Keylong, November 8
Don’t be misled by the word ‘tribal’ when you see it form part of the name of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti constituency. The constituency, which goes to the polls on November 14, is witnessing e-campaigning, a phenomenon that has not become so popular even in the so-called most advanced constituencies in the state.

From “shrewd transporters” to potato and peas growers, hoteliers, professionals and IAS officers, tribals of Lahaul valley have come a long way. Today, they boast of being residents of an area that has perhaps the highest mobile and landline phone density in the state. Small wonder then, party candidates and their supporters are contacting them on their mobile phones and through e-mail.

The reason: over 60-80 per cent tribals have moved out from the snowbound valley for stockpiling “winter ration” from Kullu-Manali or for spending winters there.

As per the data procured from BSNL and Airtel, over 95 per cent of Lahaul residents possess mobile and landline connections, putting the valley on the list of the highest phone-density areas. Obviously, the use of computers and the Internet is no stranger to them either.

With this in mind, supporters of those in fray for the Assembly elections from here - Phunchog Rai (Congress), Ramlal Markanda (BJP), Birsingh Rawal (BSP) and an Independent - have launched e-campaigns, urging voters to return to Lahaul and vote for their candidates.

“I receive more than 12 SMSs every day in support of various candidates,” says Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Lahaul. “Phone lines remain jammed most of the time during the day. E-mail has also become as common a mode of canvassing as SMSs,” adds S. Vidyarthi from Udaipur.

Almost each family in the Lahaul-Udaipur belt has more than two mobile phones. “There are over 9,000 mobile phone connections (around 8,500 BSNL and 500 Airtel) in Udaipur and Keylong,” BSNL and Airtel sources say. “Besides, there are over 2,900 landline connections, out of which over 2,700 are private phones,” they add.

Even the Asia’s highest village and polling station has both road and phone connectivity in the Spiti region.

Lahaulis who have moved to cities like New Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh in connection with their jobs are sending e-mails and SMSs to their friends urging them to support candidates of their choice, residents say. “It has become the easiest and the best way to contact voters.

Bharmour: Parties fear lower turnout
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 8
The biggest problem being faced by all political parties was that the Gaddis had begun migrating down the foothills of the Shivaliks in search of food, fodder and greener pastures along with herds of sheep and goats, which was the mainstay of their living. They had started coming down to Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur, Palampur and Dharamsala where winter was less severe comparatively to the upper areas. All candidates feared to lose a sizable section of their vote bank due to the migration of the Gaddis. As a result of which, the political observers believed that the percentage of polling in this constituency was expected to be less.

With just eight days left for polling in the Bharmour constituency, the arch rivals, Thakur Singh of the Congress and Tulsi Ram of the BJP, were going all out to woo voters. Balbir Kumar of the BSP and two independents Chandu Lal and Munish Kumar were too are doing their best.

Pinning hopes on the anti-incumbency factor against the Congress-led state government, the BJP candidate during the electioneering was highlighting various issues of corruption and non-performance in the public.

Kaushal flays Cong, BJP
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, November 8
The BSP today said the Congress and the BJP were neck-deep in corruption.

BSP state general secretary Krishan Kumar Kaushal distributed copies of an order of the Supreme Court regarding alleged illegal concessions to Sagar Katha Udyog by Chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

He said Randhir Sharma and Baldev Dukhia, state spokesmen of the BJP, had filed a petition in the court three years ago against Virbhadra Singh and some officers concerned alleging corruption in the case. However, later the BJP withdrew the case form the Supreme Court claiming that it would file a case in the high court but that was not done.

He said both parties had struck a deal that the Congress government should suppress the alleged proof of corruption by former BJP government as contained in the hard disk of a computer and, in return, the BJP would forget the Sagar Katha Udyog case.

He said BJP leaders should give clarification to the public on the issue in one week, otherwise the BSP would be forced to make it a poll issue.

‘Allot’ ticket to women, youth
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 8
Demanding 50 per cent of the party tickets for youth and women, chairman of the All-India Minorities and Social Welfare Council Rajeshwar Negi has said that the political parties should encourage professionals and the youth so as to fight corruption and communalism.

He said the political parties must fulfil their commitment of women and youth empowerment by fielding them in the Assembly elections. Staking his claim for the Congress ticket from Shimla, he said despite being selected for the All-India Police and Revenue Services, he wanted to make a difference to the lives of people by joining politics.

“Even if the Congress denies me the ticket from the Shimla seat, I have decided to contest the elections,” he said.

Corrupt will be put behind bars: BSP
Our Correspondent

Kangra, November 8
Sanjay Chaudhary, a Congress rebel, who joined the BSP is a strong contender for the BSP ticket from the Kangra constituency today described the BJP and the Congress as birds of the same feather, where corruption was concerned.

At the press conference held here today, Chaudhary was flanked by Rajender Walia, said that after the BSP forms government. in the state and Major Mankotia assumes the office of the Chief Minister, the BJP and Congress leaders found involved in corruption cases would be dealt under law of the land and would be put behind bars.

BSP general secretary of Shahpur Block Rajander Walia, said Mankotia and the BSP national leadership had decided that 50 per cent tickets would be given to youths.

Shift PWD chief: BJP
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 8
The BJP today urged the Election Commission to shift the PWD engineer-in-chief and the director, Health Services, for trying to influence the voters in favour of the Congress, as they had been granted extension by the government.

In a complaint sent to chief election commissioner N.Gopalaswamy, the BJP said PWD chief S.P. Negi had been camping in Kinnaur for the past several days and campaigning in favour of the Congress. “He is trying to influence the voters with the help of PWD employees, workers and the contractors whom he has obliged in the past,” said H.N. Kashyap, secretary of the state BJP.

Kashyap pointed out that with over 60,000 employees in the PWD, which directly dealt with public services it was possible to influence the voters. The BJP has pointed out that Negi can be seen campaigning in Kinnaur along with the contractors he has obliged.

5 killed in accidents
Tribune Reporters & UNI

Bilaspur, November 8
Five persons were killed in three accidents in the state during the past 24 hours.

Rajesh Kumar (30) and Anil Kumar (28), driver and cleaner of a truck and residents of Kunanu village, were killed when their vehicle (HP 31-3611) went out of control and fell into a gorge near Charol on the National Highway No. 21 yesterday night. The truck was carrying cement from the ACC cement factory to Kiratpur.

In another accident, Rangi Ram, 35, a resident of Sataun village in Paonta subdivision, died after he fell from a moving bus near Rajban on Wednesday.

The private bus was on its way to Sataun from Paonta Sahib when the accident took place. Rangi Ram was killed on the spot.

In yet another accident, two persons were killed and one was injured after their jeep fell into a gorge at Eku Mord in Sarkaghat subdivision of Mandi district yesterday. They were going to Palampur from Tang in Mandi district.

Ravi Thapa, 24, was killed on the spot, while Baljeet Singh, 24, died on way to the hospital. Thakur Dass, 19, was injured in the accident. He was taken to the government hospital at Mandi.

Two police constables convicted
Our Correspondent

Kullu, November 8
The District and Session judge, Mr. Purender Vaidya, sentenced two police constables to one-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 3,000 each for being in connivance with one of the alleged drug smuggler and helping him to escape while being brought from Shimla to Kullu for hearing.

The two constables of the Shimla police, Vijay Kumar and Sohan Lal, were bringing the accused, Ibrahim, a foreign national, who was booked under the NDPS Act in 2001, from Shimla to Kullu to attend the court when he escaped and the information to the police about his dodging them was given after a day.

The district deputy attorney Ajit Singh Thakur while giving arguments here said the delayed information to the department was an example of their help to the accused.

6 per cent DA for HRTC staff
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 8
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has decided to release a DA instalment at the rate of 6 per cent with effect from July, 2007.

HRTC spokesperson Rajiv Gupta said while the arrears for September and October would be paid in cash to the employees, these would be credited into the GPF accounts of the employees for the remaining two months.

Cricket tourney
Our Correspondent

Chamba, November 8
The final cricket match of the second Raj Kumar Brijendra Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament was won by the Kiani Cricket Club beating the Banikhet Club by 12 runs.

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, former Indian cricket captain, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes to the winners. Pataudi advised the players to play the game in the spirit of the game.