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Hamirpur Byelection
Sonia to decide candidate

Shimla, April 26
Although the state Congress leadership has left the final decision about the candidate to be fielded for the Hamirpur parliamentary byelection to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, former MLA O.P. Rattan from Una is likely to take on the BJP in the election to be due on May 22.

TCP norms to be relaxed: CM
Khera (Nalagarh), April 26
Acceding to the long-standing demand of easing the rural areas from the purview of Town and Country Planning (TCP) Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said today that the rural areas would be provided this relaxation.

No formal Chinese invitation for talks: Rinpoche
Dharamsala, April 26
The Kashag (Tibetan government-in-exile) has adopted a cautious approach with regard to the reported statement of the Chinese government that it was ready to meet envoys of the Dalai Lama. According to Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche, normalcy in affected areas of Tibet was a prerequisite for formal resumption of talks between the Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama.



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EARLIER STORIES



Narrow escape for 8 as plane tyres burst
Kullu, April 26
Eight persons, including four crew members, of the MDLR airlines had a miraculous escape as the rear under-carriage (all four tyres) got burst on landing of the ‘test flight’ today at Kullu-Manali airport, 10 km from here.


A major tragedy was averted when the tyres of an MDLR plane burst at the time of landing at the Kullu-Manali airport, Bhuntar, on Saturday. This photograph was taken by a local resident, Ashwani Kumar.

A major tragedy was averted when the tyres of an MDLR plane burst at the time of landing at the Kullu-Manali airport, Bhuntar

Bilaspur boy tops class XII (science) exam
Dharamsala, April 26
Students from Bilaspur have bagged the first two positions in the plus-two (science) examination of the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board (HPSEB). The result was declared today.

Himachal Pradesh University
Panel to probe cases of victimisation
Shimla, April 26
The executive council of the Himachal Pradesh University today constituted a committee under the chairmanship of former Rajya Sabha MP Kripal Parmar to look into cases of victimisation. The committee will submit its report in 15 days.

Policemen patrol The Mall in Shimla
Policemen patrol The Mall in Shimla on Saturday. — Tribune photo by S. Chandan

Nod to 4 more pvt varsities
Shimla, April 26
The state has approved the opening of four more private universities in the state, officials said today. “Letters of intent have been issued to the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis of India, Hyderabad, Reetanand Balvaid Education Foundation, New Delhi, Centre for Advanced Study in Engineering Baddi, Solan and K.D. Educational Trust for opening four private universities,” said P.C. Dhiman, principal secretary (education).

Administrative reshuffle
Shimla, April 26
The government today appointed Dr D.K. Gupta, secretary, State Election Commission, as the additional district magistrate (ADM), Kaza, Lahaul-Spiti. B.R. Koundal, ADM, Kaza, has been posted as the regional transport officer, Kullu, relieving the SDM, Kullu, of the additional charge.

No-confidence motion ‘unconstitutional’
Kullu, April 26
Mahender Thakur, executive officer of the Bhuntar Nagar Panchayat, said the move of no-confidence motion was lacking constitutional procedures as the Municipal Act, 1994, Section (8A), had fixed norms to move the motion.

5 killed in road mishap
Shimla, April 26
At least five persons were killed and one was seriously injured after their jeep rolled down a gorge in Kinnaur district last evening, the police said today. While three persons died on the spot, two succumbed to their injuries on the way to a government hospital at Reckong Peo. 

Missing girl found dead
Kangra, April 26
The police today recovered the body of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl from Margoti Machyal village in a Khad, who was missing since April 23. P.S. Thakur, additional district police chief, said Akrati, a resident of Kadiyara Rajol village, had gone along with her deaf and dumb uncle Harnam (32) on April 23, to Dola Goan village to attend a religious ceremony.

Kerosene Case
Police remand for accused
Solan, April 26
A Kasauli Court today remanded driver Narang and cleaner Sandeep to four days in police custody. They arrested yesterday with a truck, which was caught carrying about 11,000 litres of kerosene near Parwanoo.

Sabji mandi awaits completion
Palampur, April 26
Though the state government had already released Rs 2 crore for the construction of a sabji mandi in the town the construction is far from the way. No serious efforts were made in the past two years to complete this project.

HC orders demolition of hotel floor
Shimla, April 26
The high court has ordered the demolition of the fifth floor of Harsha Hotel building situated at a prime location in the state capital. Mr Justice Rajeev Sharma said no construction could be carried out in the core area of Shimla.

State seeks 4,000 cr from Centre
Shimla, April 26
The state government has requested the Centre to sanction a special package of Rs 4,000 crore to it for ensuring overall development of all 52 towns. Minister for urban development Kishan Kapoor made this request to union minister Ajay Makan in New Delhi today.

Book fair concludes
Hamirpur, April 26
A four-day book fair concluded at the Bachat Bhawan here today. The fair was organised by the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti. More than 500 books on child psychology, social awareness and general knowledge etc were on display at the fair which was inaugurated by DC Nandita Gupta.





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Hamirpur Byelection
Sonia to decide candidate
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 26
Although the state Congress leadership has left the final decision about the candidate to be fielded for the Hamirpur parliamentary byelection to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, former MLA O.P. Rattan from Una is likely to take on the BJP in the election to be due on May 22.

In charge of the party affairs in Himachal R.K. Dhawan, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Viplove Thkaur, CLP leader Vidya Stokes and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh held a meeting in New Delhi to decide the party candidate for the byelection.

“As per the Congress tradition we have left the matter to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, who will take the final decision,” said Viplove Thakur. Within a day or two, the name would be announced by Oscar Fernandes after the AICC took a final decision, she said. The names of all four persons who had applied for the ticket, including O.P. Rattan, Ranjit Singh Verma, Tara Chand Chaudhray and M.P.S. Rana, would be forwarded to the AICC.

The leaders also discussed the party strategy for he elections and the logistics of the campaigner along with entrusting of duties to senior leaders and MLAs.

After much deliberation, these leaders came to the conclusion that no sitting party MLA would be fielded. At present, the Congress has only four MLAs in Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur districts.

The names of state Youth Congress chief Sukhwinder Sukhu from Hamirpur, Mukesh Agnihotri and Rakesh Kalia from Una and Rajesh Dharmani from Bilaspur were discussed.

With the BJP almost certain to win the seat in its traditional stronghold, none of the Congress legislators is keen to contest from here. The BJP is almost certain to field Anurag Thakur, son of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal.

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Carrying of arms banned
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, April 26
DC Nandita Gupta has banned the carrying of arms, ammunition and explosives in the district under Section 144 of the CrPC in view of the Hamirpur byelection.

She said the ban would remain in force till a week after the declaration of the result and strict legal action would be taken against persons violating the order.

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TCP norms to be relaxed: CM
Our Correspondent

Khera (Nalagarh), April 26
Acceding to the long-standing demand of easing the rural areas from the purview of Town and Country Planning (TCP) Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said today that the rural areas would be provided this relaxation. He said since a recommendation for the same had already been received from the deputy commissioner the change would be brought about soon.

Dhumal said as per the recommendation all constructions executed 50 to 100 metre of the roads in the rural areas would be provided relaxation from the TCP norms. He was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of a Government High School building at Khera village near Nalagarh today. The building, which is being constructed by a national English daily, has been dedicated to a Kargil martyr, Subedaar Tarachand, who lost his life while fighting for the nation nine years ago.

Dhumal lauded the efforts of the newspaper in undertaking this novel work and said it was a matter of happiness that newspapers come forward to share the responsibilities of the society. Such efforts should be lauded and imitated by others in society. It was a matter of pride that the Himachali youth had always extended liberal contribution to the society and it was a matter of pride that as many as 52 soldiers had laid down their lives during the Kargil War while out of the four PVCs two had been won by the state’s soldiers.

He lauded the sacrifices made by the farmers in surrendering their fertile land for construction of various hydroelectric dams even though they failed to get their dues. He said the state had a culture of sacrifice though after commissioning of various projects its farmers have been waiting endlessly for adequate compensation.

Also present on the occasion were Resident Editor of Chandigarh edition of The Indian Express Vipan Pubby, Chief of Bureau Shisir Gupta, regional photo editor Swadesh Talwar, Jansatta Editor Mukesh Bhardwaj, health minister Dr Rajiv Bindal and other MLAs.

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No formal Chinese invitation for talks: Rinpoche
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 26
The Kashag (Tibetan government-in-exile) has adopted a cautious approach with regard to the reported statement of the Chinese government that it was ready to meet envoys of the Dalai Lama.

According to Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche, normalcy in affected areas of Tibet was a prerequisite for formal resumption of talks between the Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama.

Sonam N. Dagpo, secretary of the department of information and international relations in central Tibetan administration (CTA), said the Dalai Lama had always advocated resumption of talks with the Chinese government. The two special envoys appointed by the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyary and Kelsang Gyaltsen, had visited China six times since 2002 for holding talks with representatives of the Chinese government.

“Both the envoys are based in the USA these days. These envoys will once again go to China if talks resume,” Dagpo said. To his knowledge, no formal invitation had been received from the Chinese government for resumption of talks till date, he added. “We have come to know about the offer from a Chinese media site,” he said.

The first formal contact between the Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama started in 1979 when Gaylo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama, visited China. Since then, offers were made by China and representative of the Dalai Lama at various platforms. The Dalai Lama even suggested a five-point approach to resolve the Tibetan issue. The basic constituent of that approach was seeking autonomous region status under the sovereignty of China. However, formal meetings started only on September 9, 2002, when Lodi G. Gyary, special envoy the Dalai Lama and representative of the Chinese government held talks. Six meeting have taken place since then, but nothing concrete has materialised.

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Dalai Lama back from USA

The Dalai Lama returned to Dharamsala today after completing his visit to the USA.

He attended a series of conferences and delivered lectures on “Seeds of Compassion” including discussions on scientific research into compassion, business philanthropy, inter-faith dialogue and nurturing kindness in children in the USA.

He discussed spirituality and compassion with fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and leaders of different religious faiths.

He was also conferred with an honorary degree by the University of Washington.

He expressed his commitment to adopt a middle path for resolving the Tibet issue. He met Chinese reporters and expressed support for Beijing Olympics. During his meeting with Chinese students in Rochester, he said there was a wrong impression that Tibetans are anti-Chinese. He underlined the need for more face-to-face meetings between Tibetans and Chinese, rather than staying distant with unnecessary suspicion.

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Narrow escape for 8 as plane tyres burst
Our Correspondent

Kullu, April 26
Eight persons, including four crew members, of the MDLR airlines had a miraculous escape as the rear under-carriage (all four tyres) got burst on landing of the ‘test flight’ today at Kullu-Manali airport, 10 km from here. The BAE AVRO RJ-70 aircraft earlier had a successful trial landing on April 12.

The director-general of civil aviation (DGCA) team was on board to approve the proposed operations of the MDLR from April 28 on Delhi-Kullu-Delhi sectors.

The mishap forced the MDLR management to cancel their operations on Delhi-Kullu-Delhi sectors. The passengers booked on the flight have been informed about the cancellation of flights on April 28 and 29, the MDLR authorities said.

Koustav M. Dhar, executive director, MDLR, said on telephone from Delhi that the normal operations would start from April 30 now. A.K. Ghosh, in-charge at the Kullu-Manali airport, said the incident was normal and regular and did not amount for stopping of permission to fly. Ghosh said the inquiry would be “as per format” by the DGCA.

The MDLR pilots and DGCA team was sitting inside the VIP lounge and mediapersons were not permitted to go inside the Terminal Building. Sreejith, assistant manager, Air Traffic Control, Kullu-Manali airport refused to give permission to mediapersons to enter the 'terminal building'.

S.S. Aggarwal, manager Communication, Kullu-Manali airport said they would have to seek permission from the director general of civil aviation to permit the media to enter the 'terminal building' and "that could not be done as today was Saturday and offices were closed".

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Bilaspur boy tops class XII (science) exam
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 26
Students from Bilaspur have bagged the first two positions in the plus-two (science) examination of the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board (HPSEB). The result was declared today.

Apurav Chandel from Him Sarvodya Senior Secondary School, Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, secured the first position securing 472 marks, while Jyotsana Sharma of Vision Convent School Ghumarwin and Damini Thakur from MCM College, Kangra, stood second by securing 468 marks.

Other toppers in included Akanksha Gupta of Blue Star Senior Secondary Public School, Hamirpur, third (463); Rahul Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School, Thathal (Una), fourth (460); Ashish Gupta of Government Senior Secondary School, Nahan, fifth (459); Meenakshi Sharma of New Era Senior Secondary School, Parol (Hamirpur) and Yashwant Singh Thakur of Him Academy Public School, Hamirpur, sixth (458); Ruchi Saka of DAV Senior Secondary School, Una, and Nidhi Sharma of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bilaspur, seventh (457); Anshul Thakur of New Era Senior Secondary School, Parol, eighth (456); Roopa Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School, Chamba, ninth (454); and Shuchi Singh of CRC Government Senior Secondary School, Rehan, and Sachin Mankotia of Him Academy Public School, Hamirpur, 10th (453).

Interestingly, boys have fared better than girls. Out of total candidate who passed the examination, 6,858 are boys and 4,815 girls. Among the top 10 toppers, seven are from private schools.

Meanwhile, secretary of the board Rajesh Sharma said at a press conference that 15,500 students, including 9,309 boys and 6,191 girls, had appeared in the examination this year. “Out of these, 11,539 students have passed, while 1,816 students got compartment in one subject. The total pass percentage is 74.59 per cent. The pass percentage this year is much better than 57.47 per cent recorded last year,” the secretary claimed.

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Himachal Pradesh University
Panel to probe cases of victimisation
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 26
The executive council of the Himachal Pradesh University today constituted a committee under the chairmanship of former Rajya Sabha MP Kripal Parmar to look into cases of victimisation. The committee will submit its report in 15 days.

The executive council (EC) met under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor Sunil Kumar Gupta. New members of the council, Suresh Bhardwaj (MLA), Dhani Ram Sharma and Amar Nath Sharma, attended the meeting.

The council decided that a special committee be constituted to examine the cases in which services of three teachers, Kuldeep Agnihotri, Mamta Sharma, Ajay Srivastava, and a security officer were terminated.

Other members of the committee included Amar Dev, principal, and dean of studies V.P. Sharma, who also happens to be the chairman of the screening committee. “The report of the committee will be placed before the council and a decision will be taken accordingly,” said the VC.

The council also constituted another committee headed by Kripal Parmar to look into the grievances of over 100 employees of the university working at various projects. Amar Dev would be the other member of the committee.

A decision was also taken to withdraw the case pending in the high court regarding rustication of 19 students. “After seeking legal opinion, we have decided to withdraw the case. Moreover, the one-year period of rustication of these students is already over,” said Parmar. He added that the VC was empowered to withdraw the case.

The issue of delay in completion of the girls’ hostel was also discussed. The SCA also gave a memorandum to Kripal Parmar and requested that the work be expedited so that the problem of accommodation could be dealt with. “Since the delay is because of non-receipt of permission for felling a green tree, the EC has decided that the HPU should move the high court,” said Parmar.

The EC also nominated Suresh Bhardwaj as a member of the finance committee of the HPU. The EC also approved the filling of the vacant posts of teaching and non-teaching employees. Pending cases of pay fixation were decided and annual increments released.

The EC also approved grant of ex-cadre superintendent to 29 employees.

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Nod to 4 more pvt varsities

Shimla, April 26
The state has approved the opening of four more private universities in the state, officials said today.

“Letters of intent have been issued to the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis of India, Hyderabad, Reetanand Balvaid Education Foundation, New Delhi, Centre for Advanced Study in Engineering Baddi, Solan and K.D. Educational Trust for opening four private universities,” said P.C. Dhiman, principal secretary (education).

These universities, which will be set up at various places across the state, will focus on quality professional courses. The state government had earlier this week given its nod for setting up two other private universities - one by Chandigarh-based Chitkara Education Trust and the second by the Kalgidhar Trust. All these institutes will have 15 per cent reserved seats for Himachal Pradesh domicile students.

The government is examining several other proposals for setting up more private universities in the state, officials said. — IANS

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Administrative reshuffle
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 26
The government today appointed Dr D.K. Gupta, secretary, State Election Commission, as the additional district magistrate (ADM), Kaza, Lahaul-Spiti. B.R. Koundal, ADM, Kaza, has been posted as the regional transport officer, Kullu, relieving the SDM, Kullu, of the additional charge.

B.R. Jamwal, special secretary, information and public relations, excise and taxation, shall also hold the charge of the secretary, State Election Commission. Sunil Kumar Chaudhary, controller, printing and stationary, shall hold the additional charge of project director, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. Dev Dutt Sharma, project director, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, has been posted as the additional director, higher education, relieving Hukam Singh Thakur, additional director, elementary education, of the additional charge.

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No-confidence motion ‘unconstitutional’
Our Correspondent

Kullu, April 26
Mahender Thakur, executive officer of the Bhuntar Nagar Panchayat, said the move of no-confidence motion was lacking constitutional procedures as the Municipal Act, 1994, Section (8A), had fixed norms to move the motion.

He said the resolution was passed in the meeting with five members voting in favour of the motion and one member was abstained from casting vote.

Though the majority comprising vice-president Khimi Devi, members Anil Sood, Dinesh Sood, Neerat Ram and Rakesh Bodh had favoured the no-confidence motion but legal procedures were allegedly not followed. Anil Sood, who initiated the no-confidence motion, claimed that the move was constitutional as per the amendments made in 2003 in the Municipal Act.

The deputy commissioner here confirmed that the motion was moved and she would take action according to the Act. She said that Subdivisional Magistrate, Kullu, would look into the matter and conduct the re-polling on the motion.

Present president Meena Thakur refuted the charge and said that she had initiated developmental works in the whole Nagar Panchayat jurisdictions.

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5 killed in road mishap

Shimla, April 26
At least five persons were killed and one was seriously injured after their jeep rolled down a gorge in Kinnaur district last evening, the police said today.

While three persons died on the spot, two succumbed to their injuries on the way to a government hospital at Reckong Peo. The accident occurred near Sapni, around 225 km from here, on the Karcham-Sapni link road around 7.45 pm.

One of the seriously injured, identified as Vijender, 25, has been referred to the IGMC, Shimla.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known. SDM Raman Sharma reached the site to supervise the rescue operations. Those killed in the accident were driver Kewal Ram (35), Nand Kumar (40), Ami Chand (45), Sher Singh (55), and Surat Lal (48).

A case has been registered. — UNI

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Missing girl found dead
Our Correspondent

Kangra, April 26
The police today recovered the body of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl from Margoti Machyal village in a Khad, who was missing since April 23.

P.S. Thakur, additional district police chief, said Akrati, a resident of Kadiyara Rajol village, had gone along with her deaf and dumb uncle Harnam (32) on April 23, to Dola Goan village to attend a religious ceremony. Since then the duo was missing.

Harnam was recovered in an injured condition near Machiyal on April 24. Being deaf and dumb he could not express himself before the police, Thakur disclosed.

He said additional police force was deployed in the area to search for Akrati. The body of the girl child was recovered this evening from Machayal Khad.

The police was keeping its fingers crossed regarding the cause of the death of the child in view of the injuries her uncle had received.

Thakur said the things would get clarified only after the post- mortem report was received.

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Kerosene Case
Police remand for accused
Our Correspondent

Solan, April 26
A Kasauli Court today remanded driver Narang and cleaner Sandeep to four days in police custody. They arrested yesterday with a truck, which was caught carrying about 11,000 litres of kerosene near Parwanoo.

The police is conducting further investigations into the matter. Meanwhile, Solan SP S.P.S. Verma clarified that the petrol pump owned by Mela Ram Chandel had no connection with the kerosene racket and only the transaction of oil from one tanker to another took near his petrol pump.

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Sabji mandi awaits completion
Ravinder Sood

Palampur, April 26
Though the state government had already released Rs 2 crore for the construction of a sabji mandi in the town the construction is far from the way. No serious efforts were made in the past two years to complete this project. At present the sabji mandi is situated in the heart of the town, which has become a major traffic hazard and garbage-dumping site, causing great inconvenience to the families residing nearby. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal laid the foundation stone of the new sabji mandi in 2000 and had announced that it would be ready within a year. He also announced the allocation of funds amounting to Rs 2 crore for this project. But in 2003, the BJP government was voted out of power and this project also finished along with it.

Later, the Congress government came into power in the state and then revenue minister B.B.L. Butail again laid the foundation stone for this project in February 2004. He also announced that the sabji mandi project was a time bound project of the Congress government and it would be ready in a year. His announcement also remained confined to files of the state marketing board.

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HC orders demolition of hotel floor
Legal correspondent

Shimla, April 26
The high court has ordered the demolition of the fifth floor of Harsha Hotel building situated at a prime location in the state capital. Mr Justice Rajeev Sharma said no construction could be carried out in the core area of Shimla.

The owner of the hotel had challenged the decision of the municipal council, whereby it had rejected the plan of the petitioner to allow him to construct the fifth floor. Petitioner had constructed four floors in 1978 and sought permission to construct another floor but the same was rejected by the MC authorities. The court granted three weeks to the owner of the hotel to demolish the construction or the MC would demolish it.

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State seeks 4,000 cr from Centre
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 26
The state government has requested the Centre to sanction a special package of Rs 4,000 crore to it for ensuring overall development of all 52 towns. Minister for urban development Kishan Kapoor made this request to union minister Ajay Makan in New Delhi today. Kapoor said the state government had formulated an ambitious plan of Rs 2,900 crore for improving basic services in Shimla and 11 projects worth Rs 119.64 crore had already been submitted.

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Book fair concludes
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, April 26
A four-day book fair concluded at the Bachat Bhawan here today. The fair was organised by the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti.

More than 500 books on child psychology, social awareness and general knowledge etc were on display at the fair which was inaugurated by DC Nandita Gupta.

District secretary of the samiti Satish Shukla said thousands of students and other people visited the fair.

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