Shimla, November 19
With no foolproof system of having close-circuit cameras or other means of establishing the identity of guests, hotels here are being used conveniently by paramours to eliminate women, mostly from outside the state.

In the latest incident involving a young woman, the police is again clueless as the man accompanying her has not left any clue or traces. A team of forensic experts visited Hotel Ashirwad in Lakkar Bazar, where the woman was found dead, but was unable to get any clue about the man, who registered himself as her husband from Guwahati.

Each time there has been a murder in a hotel room, the police and tourism authorities have said that in future a greater vigil would be maintained and the hotels would be directed to install close-circuit cameras at the reception so that they have the photographs of visitors in case of any untoward incident. There have been more than 12 such blind murders in the state capital.

However, no such system has been evolved where complete secrecy is maintained and at the same time there is proper record of the visitors. It was barely six months ago that a young woman was found dead in Hotel Rajdoot near the bus stand. Other hotels where such murders have taken place include Hotel Gulmarg and Panchsheel.

In another double murder case that took place in Hotel Prashant, the killer of the woman and her daughter was identified but has not been arrested till date. Similarly in the double murder case that took place in Hotel Oaksland, accused, Shymal Rao Reddy has managed to evade police arrest. “We can only convince and educate the hoteliers to be more careful but legally we have no powers to make it binding on them to have close-circuit cameras or any other system,” said Shimla SP A.P. Singh.

On the other hand district tourism officer Surinder Justa said steps could be taken through close coordination among hoteliers, police and the Tourism Department to ensure that such cases did not take place. He added that hotel staff must be educated to be more vigilant in the case of suspicious visitors.

The police has in the past held meetings with the Hoteliers Association to educate them about the do’s and don’ts to be followed to avoid murders or any other mishap in hotel rooms. The hoteliers, on their part, point out that they cannot have a strict system of questioning or installing cameras as this would affect their business.

Police to prepare sketch

With no leads so far in the murder case, the police is trying to get the sketch of the person accompanying her prepared with the help of the waiter who served them and the porter who brought them to the hotel.

Even though there are indications of poison having been consumed by the woman as per the post-mortem report, it can be said with certainly only after the viscera report is received. The police has started the process of getting the sketch of the man prepared. The porter is also being contacted to provide details about the man’s physical appearance and other vital information. The police also wants to find out the exact amount of luggage the couple carried and if the man has taken it away.

Police sources said the address given by the couple was also inaccurate. “Though there exists a Pan Bazar in Guwahati but there are no house numbers assigned there whereas they have mentioned a house number,” said a police official. Moreover, the telephone number mentioned in the hotel register (033-2496) has only four digits which was not possible.

The clothes found on the woman’s body and in the bag have no tags that could give some clue to the police. 

Shimla, November 19
The Election Commission today issued notice to the state government about the holding of a written examination for filling 85 posts of doctor by the Ayurveda Department.

Himachal Pradesh University conducted the written test here yesterday. The commission is learnt to have taken notice of the fact that the recruitment process had been initiated while the model code of conduct was in force.

Moreover, no permission had been sought by the government for filling these posts. Some other departments had sought permission of the Election Commission for filling posts, which had been granted in certain cases.

Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda confirmed that a notice had been issued to the government to clarify its stand and explain why a written examination was held when the code of conduct was in force. The commission took notice of the recruitment after a news item was published in The Tribune yesterday.

It is for the first time that the Ayurveda Department was holding a written examination for filling posts of BAMS doctor on a contract basis. In the past the appointments were made batch-wise by holding interviews.

In fact the government had amended the recruitment and promotion rules of 1992 to enable the filing of posts on contract through written examinations. In fact, the criterion of mandatory registration with the Himachal Ayurveda Department before applying for this post had come in for severe criticism by Himachali candidates serving outside the state.

They have even threatened to move court on the issue as they cannot take the risk of getting their registration in the state where they are practicing cancelled and apply. “There is no guarantee at this stage if we will get selected and registration should be mandatory only before the appointment is given,” said one of them

They also pointed out that with limited opportunities in Himachal, they had to start practice outside. A majority of them are passouts from Ayurvedic College at Paprola in Baijnath.

New Delhi, November 19
The Himachal Pradesh government has challenged the state high court’s order staying a further extension of two years to HPSEB chairman Kanwar Shamsher Singh.

The state through Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) has moved a special leave petition (SLP) against the High Court’s October 4 stay order on the government’s notification.

The apex court has fixed the hearing on the state’s appeal for November 23 after senior advocate Dushyant Dave, had made a special mention for early hearing and also an interim application for stay on the high court’s 
directive.

The HC had stayed the government notification on a PIL, alleging that Kanwar’s appointment itself was contrary to the 2003 HPSEB Act, which provides for reorganisation of the Board by dividing its function in three independent organisations - generation, transmission and local distribution - under the power reforms.

Under the amended law, the chairman of the board should be elected from among its members, was one of the other major ground raised in the PIL, to which the HC had taken 
cognisance.

Kanwar, a former chief secretary was appointed HPSEB chairman in October 2004, a few days ahead of his retirement, initially for one year then granted extension of two more years which was to expire in October last. However, the government had issued fresh orders prior to his retirement granting him further extension of two years till 2009.

Palampur, November 19
Shanta Kumar has indicated that he will contest the Assembly election from Palampur and not Sulaha. He gave hints to this effect at a public meeting held here on Saturday. Earlier, it was being said in political circles that he might not contest the elections this time.

Political observers feel it has become a compulsion for the BJP to field Shanta Kumar as not fielding him might cost the party around six seats in Kangra district alone. Shanta had launched the election campaign in his home constituency recently.

Meanwhile, corruption is likely to emerge as a major issue in the second phase of the Assembly elections in the state. Although the election campaign in the district has yet to pick up, the corruption issue is already on the agenda of various political parties.

Allegations have been levelled against Chief Minister Virbhadara Singh, his Cabinet colleagues and his BJP predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Shanta Kumar has been targeting Virbhadra Singh on the basis of audio CD released by the Major Vijay Singh Mankotia. Prem Kumar Dhumal has also not been sparing any chance to criticise Virbhadra Singh.

Likewise, Virbhadara Singh had been attacking Prem Kumar Dhumal saying his five-year regime was the most corrupt in the history of state. He had been alleging that it was Dhumal who brought corruption culture to the state. Another issue being raised by the Congress is that of the Vivekanand Medical Trust.

The issue of corruption has also been linked to power generation, setting up of cement plants, appointments etc.

Shimla, November 19
Local leaders and workers of the BSP have urged Vijay Singh Mankotia, convener of the party, to contest the Assembly poll from the Shimla constituency.

The Shimla district unit of the party even passed a resolution here yesterday urging Mankotia, who has already been projected as the party’s chief ministerial candidate, to enter the electoral fray from the state capital which has electorate from all over the state, They assured that the partymen would put their heart and soul into the campaign to ensure his victory.

It also decided to forward the list of 24 aspirants who have applied for the eight assembly segments of the district. While the maximum number of five candidates have applied from the Shimla and Chopal seats, there was only one aspirant from Rohru, the constituency of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. General secretary of the party Sita Ram Dhiman made it clear that the party high command could grant the ticket to any winning candidate even if the name did not figure in the list sent by the district unit.

Those in line for the ticket from Shimla included Kanta Sood, state general secretary of the party; Harish Pal, Devinder Chauhan, S.K.Kalia and Ved Praksh Thakur. Megh Ram Kashyap, Rakesh Dogra and Uttam Singh are in race from Kusumpti; B.N.Mehta,, Rajesh Koash and Om Prakash Sharma from Kumarsain; Kamla and Amita from Theog; Roshna Sharma,Ramesh Malik, Mangat Ram, Harish Chand and Lachhi Ram from Chopal; Hira Ram,Deena Nath and Keval Ram from Rampur; Pratap Singh Chauhan, Chet Ram and Govind Chauhan from Jubbal-Kotkhai and Randhir Rana from Rohru.

The final list of candidates is likely to approved by the command by November 22.

Una, November 19
With the authorities being busy in making arrangements for the second phase of Assembly elections in the state, some persons are utilising the opportunity to make illegal inroads into rivulet beds and razing down hillocks.

Encroachments are being made on the bed of the rivulet flowing through Jalgran village. When The Tribune team the visited the area, tractors were seen levelling the hillock and filling a portion of the rivulet. The place is close to the Nangal-Una highway, but no official seems to have taken note of the activity.

Those carrying out the operations said they had been given the task of levelling the land and they did not have any knowledge about the purpose for which that was being done.

Since the land is close to the highway, the perpetrators filling the rivulet might be planning to make a quick buck by selling the land.

District town planner Dalip Singh Thakur said a show-cause notice had been issued to those levelling the hillock. “The people carrying out the activity have not got any plan approved, so we cannot say weather the activity is being carried out on government or private land,” he said. When asked why the activity was not being stopped, he said the department did not have enough infrastructure for the purpose. “We have just one junior engineer who has very large area to command,” he said.

Deputy commissioner Omkar Sharma said he would take appropriate action in the matter. He directed the officials concerned to take stern action against the persons carrying out the activity. He said private persons could not change the nature of “land use” or encroach upon rivulet beds, even if the land was owned by them.

Due to scanty rain over the past many years, little water flows into these rivulets even during the monsoon. This has given an opportunity to land owners to allegedly encroach upon the rivulet bed in connivance with officials concerned. The trend is more obvious near the city where the land prices have skyrocketed.

As per the Forest Act, no felling of trees is allowed within 30 feet of natural rivulets.

The Jalgran rivulet is not the only natural watercourse that is being encroached upon. Many other rivulets near Una city have been encroached upon or at places blocked by real-estate developers. In most of the cases, no permission has been taken from the Department of Forests for felling green trees.

During 1988 floods, almost all rivers and rivulets passing through the area had caused huge devastation in the district. Many people were killed in the floods at that time.

However, the administration does not seem to have learnt any lesson from the past. It is still allowing habitations or colonies to come up right on beds of rivulets. And it will be these persons who would be the worst affected in case there are floods again. 

Kumarhatti, November 19
The repeated cases of minor accidents have failed to force the district administration to improve traffic congestion in this town. Repeated pleas made by local residents in this connection have failed to elicit any response. It is very difficult for residents as well as motorists crossing through this town to drive through the heavily choked local bus stand point.

The roads leading to Barog, Solan, Nahan and Dagshai cross through the bus stand which is was already a congested place capable to accommodate just over 100 persons. Moreover a blind curve on the Kalka- Shimla national highway just near the bus stand from the Parwanoo side makes things more dangerous.

Repeated traffic jams has become routine in the local market as the bus stand is located in the middle of the market. The parking of private taxis there makes the situation more alarming.

The life of people boarding or alighting from buses is always in danger. Ironically no signboard has been put up to warn the motorists.

A traffic policeman is deployed in the market to regulate traffic but he has little work to perform due to lack of a traffic post. The traffic post set up on Dagshai Road was of no use due to its location.

Kumarhatti, November 19
The issue of damage to crops by animals, especially monkeys, could embarrass the political parties during electioneering this time. All other issues have become irrelevant for villagers in this area as they wanted a lasting solution to this problem.

The HP Kisan Sabha held an all-party rally at Garhkhal, near here, yesterday to politicise the issue. The CPI, CPM the Congress participated in the rally. These political parties were asked about their respective plans to handle the problem.

Congress MLA from Kasauli Raghu Raj said it was a man-made problem. It was farmers’ duty to take full care of his cattle. During its rule the Congress had taken many steps to counter the animals’ problem. Solan district already had three gaushalas to house unproductive and abandoned cattle.

Ramesh Chauhan, president of the Kasauli Congress Committee, said the government had already asked all panchayats having over 500 cattle to register them properly. This arrangement had been made to find those farmers who abandoned their cattle after they turned unproductive.

Solan district CPM secretary N.D. Rannot assured to list the problem in the party manifesto. The CPM was contesting the Arki seat in Solan. “If our candidate got elected we would highlight the issue in the Vidhan Sabha”, he maintained.

The subsidy on fodder should be enhanced on the pattern of European countries, said Tikender Singh, president of the HP Kisan Sabha. Farmers were left with no other option than to abandon their cattle in the absence of this facility. The export of monkeys should also be resumed. The successive state governments had failed to tackle this as a result of which large tracts of arable land had turned barren. It was a high time for political parties to come on a common platform to save farmers from this menace.

The animal menace has emerged as a major threat to farming, said Pyare Lal Verma, secretary of the Solan Kisan Sabha. The vet facilities should be made available at grassroots so that farmers could get maximum benefits. Most cattle were abandoned for want of timely vet facilities, he remarked.

G.C.Bhardwaj, a state secretariat Member of the CPI, assured his party’s support for the Kisan Sabha efforts to tackle the problem.

Shimla, November 19
Yamini, a student of class X from St. Joseph School, Faridabad, drowned in the Ravi near Chamba this evening. Three other students, who were also marooned due to sudden rise in the water level, were rescued by the administration.

Students, who had come to Chamba on an education tour, in a group of 60, were having fun at the bank of the river, near Parel, 5 km from the district headquarters. As the discharge in the river rose suddenly Yamini, Asheesh Bhtia and Shreya (all students of class X) and Sunidhi (class IX) were trapped in the middle of the fast flowing river.

Their fellow teachers immediately informed the police which arrived promptly alongwith the firebrigade and rescue workers. While three students stood their ground and waited to be rescued, Yamini panicked and tried to come out. She slipped in the process and was washed away about 30m downstream. The rescue workers managed to pull her out of the water but she could not be revived. The doctors declared her dead at the district hospital.

ASP S.P. Rana said the girl could have died due to shock or hypothermia as the water was very cold. The exact cause of death would be known only after the post-mortem examination. A case has been registered and it was being ascertained whether there was a sudden rise in the water or the four students had ventures too far into the river.

The fellow students and teachers accompanying the group were being questioned.

Shimla, November 19
The government today transferred four Himachal Police Service (HPS) officers.
Rajinder S. Bhatia, ASP, Railway and Traffic, has been posted as ASP, Shimla, against vacant post. Pritam Singh, ASP, second battalion, Sukoh, has been posted as ASP, Dharamsala. 
Anand. K. Dhiman, DSP, State Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau, has been posted as DSP, Leave Reserve, Traffic, Shimla. Arvind Negi, DSP, Leave Reserve, Shimla, has been posted as DSP, third India Reserve Battalion, Pandoh.

Hamirpur, November 19
The Kranti Sandesh Yatra of the ABVP concluded on the schoolground here where a public rally was held. 
Addressing the rally, Sanjay Kumar, Param Veer Chakra winner, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the aspirations of our freedom fighters like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, Sukhdev and others had not been fulfilled after India gained independence.— TNS