Dehradun, December 10
Protesting against the Mumbai terror attacks, Shiv Sena activists today forced bandh and Chakka Jaam in Dehradun. Fortunately, no major untoward incident was reported from the area and the bandh concluded peacefully with some reports of skirmishes between the police and the bandh supporters at certain places. Bandh supporters resorted to vandalism at Hotel Shalimar on the main Gandhi Road, early in the morning, taking the hotel staff by surprise.

Sena activists, who gathered at the clock tower, staged massive demonstration. Shiv Sena cadres made every effort to ensure that each and every business establishment and offices remain close.

The administration that had issued strong direction had put strong contingent of police at all the major crossings to ensure that the protests did not resort to any vandalism. The police had to resort lathicharge at Dilaram Bazar and arrested some of the bandh supporters to stop them from damaging public property.

Another six were arrested from Survey Chowk area in the morning when they were forcing people to shut down their business establishments in the area. With all business establishment and offices closed in Dehradun, the general public had tough time finding daily necessities.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena claimed the Dehradun bandh a big success. “ People from all walks of life have supported our bandh call”, Gaurav Kumar, Shiv Sena activist observed.

Dehradun, December 10
In the recently held Passing Out Parade of the National Defence Academy, Pune, the ex-students of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, who are popularly known as Rimcollians, yet again brought laurels for their alma mater by bagging the prestigious President’s Gold and Bronze Medals.

Cadet Dikshant Mahajan was awarded the Gold, while Cadet Laldin Puia was awarded the President’s Bronze Medal, respectively. The President’s Gold Medal is the eighth in succession for Rimcollians.

According to the RIMC authorities during their tenure at RIMC Dikshant and Laldin were high achievers and ideal students. Cadet Dikshant, who was the Cadet Captain at RIMC, was not only good in academics but was also awarded College Colours in hockey, athletics, boxing and soccer. Besides being an asset to the College Golf Club and Quizzing Society, he was an outstanding mountaineer who had scaled Mt Bhagirathi-II. Cadet Dikshant was awarded the Sword of Honour and President’s Gold Medal at the RIMC also. Likewise, Cadet Ladin was an outstanding sportsman and was awarded College Colours in soccer. He was also a good hockey player and a boxer.

Other awards won by Rimcollians at the NDA include Best Army Cadet, Best Naval Cadet, Commandant’s Motivational Prize, CNS Trophy, Best in Computers and Best in OLQ (Officer-Like-Qualities). Cadet Siddhartha Gupta once again made RIMC proud by winning the prestigious binocular for standing overall first on board the three Naval training ships namely INS Tir, INS Krishna and INS Varuna.

While at the NAVAC (Naval Academy), Cadet Suraj Aiyappa, a Rimcollian too, was awarded the President’s Bronze Medal at the Passing Out Parade. He was also awarded the best sportsman, best in drill and prizes in academics and service subjects. Meanwhile, Col H. Dharmarajan, SM, Commandant RIMC, has expressed his pleasure and over the achievements of Rimcollians. He said this proves that RIMC cadets have the caliber to achieve anything.

In the past 16 years, RIMC cadets won a total of 18 President Gold Medals, eight Silver Medals and seven Bronze Medals at the National Defence Academy. At the Naval Academy, they won four Sword of Honours, three President’s Gold Medals, three Silver Medals, two Bronze Medal and two binoculars.

Dehradun, December 10
Seeking Sixth Pay Commission benefits, employees of the various state corporations of the state today staged a protest rally in Dehradun.

The rallyists under the aegis of Rajya Nigam Karmachari Mahasangh gathered at the Gandhi Park and marched to the secretariat after criss-crossing prominent roads of the city.

After submitting a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, the rallyists threatened to further intensify the agitation if the state government fails to meet to meet their demands.

“We will be staging a protest at the divisional headquarters on December 15 followed by another protest on December 16,” B.S. Rawat, general secretary of the employees’ association said.

“A signature campaign would be held from December 17 to January 2, which would be followed by a collective hunger strike on January 3,” he added.

Another protester, Kumar Bhatt alleged that the state government was least interested towards resolving the concerns of the employees of the state corporations.

“The corporation employees have always been treated as secondary employees by the state government,” he said.

Employees from Forest Development Corporation, State Industrial Development, HILRON, Mussoorie Dehra Development Authority, Pollution Control Board, Terai Seed Corporation, Khadi Gramudhyog Board, among others were present on during the rally. 

Dehradun, December 10
Sanjeev Yadav, alias Deepak Yadav, who was arrested on charges of undergoing training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) on a fake identity, has been remanded to police custody for five days.Meanwhile, the Meerut police has reportedly arrested Sanjeev’s father S.R. Yadav.

The Dehradun police presented Sanjeev in the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-1 today afternoon and sought police remand of the accused. While accepting the plea of the cops, the court sent Sanjeev into five-day police custody. Earlier, late last evening, a case under section 420/467/468/471/120-B of the Indian Penal Code was registered against Sanjeev.

Sources said police would now interrogate Sanjeev to ascertain his intentions for committing the “serious offence” of getting into IMA on forged documents.

“It is very difficult to confirm whether there is any terror angle related to the arrest of Sanjeev. We would be able to comment only after a thorough interrogation of the accused”, said Amit Kumar Sinha, Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun.

According to sources, after clearing the Service Selection Board (SSB) on a fake identity, Sanjeev, who is resident of New Sainik Vikar, Kankankhera, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) and son of a retired Major S.R.Yadav, entered IMA as a cadet on July 12, 2008.

However, IMA authorities got to know about the real identity of Sanjeev around ten days back when two of the then batchmates of Sanjeev spotted him in IMA and immediately informed the authorities that Sanjeev was expelled from IMA on September 12, 2006. Subsequently, IMA authorities set up a court of inquiry against him and during investigations it became clear that Sanjeev has faked his identity.

Meanwhile, senior police officials in Dehradun have sent a letter to the Meerut police asking them to send the details about the officer who did the police verification of Sanjeev. Notably, the address given by Sanjeev in 2005 and 2008 was same, but still he was given a clearance. 

Dehradun, December 10
Former Chief Minister of the state Bhagat Singh Koshiyari today took oath as member of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi, turning a new chapter in the politics of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand.

Koshiyari, a senior BJP leader originally from RSS, had raised a banner of revolt against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj.Gen. B.C. Khanduri (retd) this year with support from disgruntled party legislators. With his moving to the national politics, new permutation and combinations would emerge in the state unit of the party. His elevation from the Uttarakhand state assembly to Rajya Sabha was also planned by the party high command to stem the dissidence against Khanduri.

Chief Minister Khanduri had emerged as a favourite of the senior party leaders when he outsmarted Koshiyari to get the coveted position of CM after the BJP won the assembly polls in February 2007. The decision left much heartburn in the Koshiyari camp. However, Khanduri failed to win over the party legislators, majority of whom owed allegiance to Koshiyari. The dissidence against Khanduri reached a flashpoint when 24 legislators went to party high command complaining against the style of functioning of the CM. To find a way out, BJP central leadership decided to call Koshiyari to Rajya Sabha on a seat vacated by former Congress member Harish Rawat. 

Dehradun, December 10
Parent Teachers Association continued with their dharna outside the Vidhan Sabha for the third day today. Led by Ashwani Chauhan, the people on dharna pledged to continue with their stir till their concerns were redressed by State Education Department. The protesters alleged that despite their repeated appeal to the education department, relief is still to come their way.

Former minister Hira Singh Bisht, today met the people and assured to take up their concerns with the education secretary. Meanwhile, one of the memeber at dharna had to be taken to hospital after he reported uneasiness. 

Dehradun, December 10
Uttarakhand foresters have proved their mettle in the recently concluded 17 All India Forest Games and Sports Meet. In one of the best ever performances, Uttarakhand bagged as many as 3 Golds, 3 Silvers and 5 Bronze medals, getting 11th position in the overall medals tally.

The duo of Kisan Singh Mehta and Mahesh Pargai won gold in the discipline Power lifting.

Jyoti Bhatt stood as hero for the Uttarakhand Forest Department, who won major chunk of medals for the state. She won a gold in 800 mt and silver in 400 mt and a bronze in 200 metres.

Among the other award winners, Gangotri Tolia and Kusum Hindwan won bronze in Women’s double badminton and duo of D.S. Negi and Gangotri Tolia won Bronze in mixed doubles. Naresh Joshi won Bronze in 200 meters.

As mark of appreciation, Uttarakhand Forest Department has also announced cash awards to the tune of Rs 5,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 3,000 for gold, silver and bronze awardees respectively.

Uttarakhand, principle chief conservator of forests, R.B.S. Rawat, greeted the team participants including nodal officer B.P. Gupta and team manager S.P. Subudhi on the resounding success achieved by the Uttarakhand Forest Department in the games meet.

As many as 40 member team of Uttarakhand Forest Department participated in the 17 All India Forest Games and Sports Meet held in Punjab recently.

Uttarakhand attained 11th position in overall medals tally whereas it stood 20 in the last games held at Gandhnagar. Significantly, Uttarakhand forest department has rendered four percent reservation to the sportsmen in the recruitment of forest guards presently under way.

The Uttarakhand department is also providing other necessary sports equipments to the foresters on priority.

Dehradun, December 10
The Shahid Kharag Bahadur Football Tournament was the most popular tournament in the 80’s. It had attracted many big names like Shyam Thapa, C.B.Thapa, Ratan Thapa, Amar Bahadur Thapa and others. But it lost it popularity in the late 90’s and came to an abrupt end in the year 1999.

The tournament was revived and given a new life two years back by J.M.Shahi, acting president of Shahid Kharag Bahadur Football Tournament Committee. He disclosed that due to the lack of public interest this tournament came to an unexpected end.

“We realised that people need to take up the responsibility and bring life to this tournament. The six years time when the tournament was not played, Nehru Gram region saw decline in sports activity. I with few others who are a die heart football lover felt the need to revive this league here in Doon. It is the oldest tournament of Dehardun and we cannot allow it to come to a uncertain end. Therefore, we made efforts to revive it two year back,” said J.M.Shahi.

Shahi restarted the tournament in the year 2006 by bringing back the trophy that lay with the Gorkha Brigade.

In its popular days a huge crowd that gathered at Sri Guru Ram Rai Inter-college Nehru Gram where the matches were played. Shahi is making all efforts to make the tournament live to its previous glory.

“My liaison with other clubs proved helpful and today we have top 16 teams of the Dehradun, who are participating in this tournament. The number of spectators is also growing with every passing year. Some of the good teams that participate in this tournament are Doon Star, Cantt Blues, Vijay Cantt, Eleven Star, Sundarwala Eleven, Navada Eleven, Chandrabani Eleven, Khukhari Eleven and others. Army teams are also a part of this tournament which includes 1/5 Gorkha Riffles, Second J&K Riffles, Naga team, 3/9 Gorkha Riffles and others.

Paras Thapa, a coach at Guru Ram Rai Inter-College said, “With the start of this tournament again, the youth of Nehru Gram has started taking active participation in the sports. This tournament could be termed as the nursery of Footballers.”

Presently, some veteran football players of Nehru Gram area are managing the whole affair of the tournament, this also include ex-servicemen of army. 

Dehradun, December 10
Little Master Cricket Club Uttarakhand outclassed Little World of Uttarakhand at the 23rd Late Banke Lal Memorial Cricket Tournament match here today.

Batting first Little Master Cricket Club had a flying start with their batsman adding 26 runs for the opening wickets partnership. Sammad was the top scorer with 33 runs. Shiva accompanied him on the other end and made 26 runs. The team piled a huge total of 130 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Chasing a massive total of 130 runs, Little World team was under pressure right from the first ball of the second inning. They lost their first wicket at the score of 10 runs and the second at the score of 13 runs. There was not much resistance shown by Little world batsman as the wicket kept falling at the regular intervals as their whole team was bundled out for 58 runs. It was fine bowling display by Little Master Cricket Club. Amit Pharasi and Shikhar picked up three wickets each and Saurav and Shiva picked two wickets each.

Earlier in the day, in a match played between Bihar and Amritsar, the latter registered an easy eight wickets win over former in just four overs. Winning the toss and deciding to bat Bihar team was all out for the score of 54 runs.

Chasing a meager total of 54 runs, Amritsar openers gave a flying start to the team. The Amritsar’s openers hit 27 runs in the very first over of the second inning. The openers added 39 runs for the first wickets partnership. Sappar and Vikram were the highest scores for their team they scored twenty runs each. In the end Amritsar registered a 8 wickets win over Bihar.