Dehradun, May 24
The reprieve given by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj Gen BC Khanduri (retd) will further fuel the infighting between the rival camps in the state.

Party insiders believe that since the statement given by general secretary Arun Jaitley clearly did not say whether the reprieve given to Khanduri was permanent or only up to the Kapkot assembly by-elections scheduled to be held on May 28, there is confusion among the party rank and file.

Khanduri detractors argued that the Central Parliamentary Board did not discuss the situation in Uttarakhand and only listened to the report submitted by party observers who visited Dehradun on Friday.

Koshiyari supporters are of the opinion that the discussion on the political situation of Uttarakhand would be held in the next meeting of the parliamentary board after the Kapkot elections.

Meanwhile, Koshiyari has been asked to canvass for the party candidate in his home constituency of Kapkot.

Koshiyari group feels that if the party is able to win the Kapkot seat, not only will they be able to get another legislator to support their cause and put further pressure on the party high command for change in leadership.

Interestingly, both Chief Minister Khanduri and his rival, former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, had been claiming the support of the majority of party legislators.

Khanduri gave a letter of support signed by 24 party legislators. On the other hand Koshiyari also claimed the support of 26 legislators. Except die-hard supporters, nearly 12 party legislators were unsure. They, reportedly, did not wanted to annoy both senior leaders and pledged support to both.

This confusion and uncertainty will add to the woes of Chief Minister Khanduri unless the party high command clearly spells out its priority. The crisis in Uttarakhand started last week following the owning-up of moral responsibility of the party’s defeat in the Lok Sabha elections by Chief Minister Khanduri.

His rival Koshiyari immediately started pressurising the party president for change in leadership in the light of the crucial Kapkot assembly by-election scheduled for May 28.

Mussoorie, May 24
Five tourists were killed and several others sustained injuries as a tourist bus fell off the road near Bhatta village on the Mussoorie-Dehradun highway.

The incident happened at around 6 am today when the bus carrying 43 tourists from Gujarat fell off the road on a sharp bend about 7 km from here.

The driver could not control the bus on the sharp curve. The driver and co-driver of the bus, including one woman and a child were among those killed.

The deceased were identified as Bharat Bhai, Govind, Mansukh (28), Manisha (26) and Kavan (9). The bus was carrying tourists from Chanala, Amreli district, Gujarat. The injured were rushed to Doon Hospital with the help of ITBP jawans.

The accident has brought to light serious lapses on the part of the transport authorities since 52-seater buses like this one are not allowed to ply on Mussoorie-Dehradun highway.

Although during the yatra season, an RTO check-post is set up each year near Shiv Mandir on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road therefore it is quite surprising that the authorities allowed the 52-seater bus to come up to Mussoorie.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri has expressed grief over the incident.

He ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Khanduri has also announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 for the kin of the deceased and Rs 20,000 for each of the critically injured. Financial aid of Rs 5,000 will be given to those who received minor injuries.

Haridwar, MAY 24
Lakhs of devotees thronged the city on the occasion of ‘vat amawasya’ today.

The city witnessed huge rush right from early morning from across the neighbouring states.

It is estimated that at least 12 lakh devotees took bath at the holy ghats of Har-Ki-Pauri.

The amawasya falls under the Hindu month of Jaisth. Married women pray and perform rituals at the banyan tree, wishing for the welfare of their husband.

Hours-long jams were witnessed in the Har-Ki-Pauri, Bhoopatwala, railway and bus stations, Devpura area of the city.

Haphazard parking and incessant number of vehicles brought city life to halt.

The arrangements of the Kumb administration and local administration been exposed.

Approximately 5 crore people are expected to visit the city during the Maha Kumbh Mela which is scheduled for next year.

The inadequate infrastructure was barely able to cope with the rush of devotees today.

Beggars were another source of nuisance and were seen stalking thedevotees for alms.

Dehradun, May 24
The Dehradun police has arrested Sudhanshu Ranjan Bharti (30) on the charge of trying to extort Rs 15 lakh from a local builder.

Sudhanshu was arrested on Friday morning from his house in Datta Enclave at Kanwali Road. He had allegedly tried to extort money from a builder Rajeev Garg, a resident of Engineers Enclave at GMS Road.

Sudhanshu allegedly wrote a letter to the builder on April 20 and demanded Rs 15 lakh, failing which the builder’s family would be murdered.

The builder approached the police who advised the builder to remain in contact with the extortionist as they wanted to arrest Sudhanshu red-handed. According to the police, Sudhanshu again wrote a letter on April 28 asking the builder to tie a piece of cloth of yellow colour at the roof of his house as a sign expressing acceptance of the extortion demand.

He again wrote a letter to the builder on May 3 asking the builder to send two men to Allahabad and wait for further instructions.

The builder was told that that one of the two men should travel to Allahabad wearing a yellow cap, white shirt and black pant. They were also instructed to hire a room in Shri Ram Hotel in Allahabad.

The builder followed the extortionist’s instructions and kept the police updated about the extortionist’s moves.

Policemen in mufti (plain cloths) travelled with the builder’s driver to Allahabad on May 2. The builder’s driver identified Sudhanshu at the hotel as he was an aide of Rajeev Garg in his business in the past.

The police kept a close eye on Sudhanshu’s movements and later rounded him up.

They matched his writing with the writing in the extortion letters. During interrogation, Sudhanshu confessed to his crime.

Four years earlier, Sudhanshu was an aide of Rajeev and had helped Rajeev in purchasing some property in Shastri Nagar. Later, both parted ways due to a dispute over profit sharing.

Sudhanshu told the police that Rajeev owed him around Rs 1.5 lakh but he had refused to pay the amount.

Sudhanshu also said that he was in dire need of money because of which he had planned to extort money from Rajeev.

Dehradun, May 24
For Indian Forest Service officers above the age of 40, physical fitness will now be all the more important particularly in order to get field postings.

For the first time, Indian Forest Service officers across the country will have to undergo a thorough medical check-up, a report of which will also be an inseparable part of their annual confidential report.

The medical test has been made an essential criterion while filling in the confidential reports thus ensuring that the field postings will certainly depend on an officer’s physical fitness.

Those engaged in the profession of forestry welcomed such a move. They admit that physical fitness is certainly important for those in forest service.

“It is certainly a welcome step as it would lead to a through check-up of Indian Forest Service officers,” said Jairaj, an office-bearer of Uttarakhand Chapter of Indian Forest Service Officers Association.

Uttarakhand’s hill and forest terrain makes field work all more challenging for forest officials and physical endurance levels do play a key role in determining their performance.

The Indira Gandhi Forest Academy that trains Indian Forest Service officers devotes much of the period of the training on field visits which includes conduct of tours to protected areas of the country criss-crossing different landscapes.

Even the aspirants, after qualifying the written examinations, have to undergo a walking test for at least 25 km for men and 14 km for women apart from the standard fitness test before finally making it to the academy.

“Physical ability certainly holds much importance in forestry. This aspect is much emphasised during training,” said Prof SK Awasthi, a faculty member at Indira Gandhi Forest Academy.

Haridwar, May 24
Though the Partition of India divided India and Pakistan into two different nations, yet there remained in both countries many communities and individuals who had roots in one country and were living in the other.

The ‘Bahawalpur’ community, which came from Bahawalpur area in Pakistan, has been living in India since Independence.

The community feels proud to be Indian and are living harmoniously.

They are making attempts to bring closer the people of the Bahawalpur in different parts of the country.

But the members of the community feel that they don’t have a distinct identity in various fields viz politics, social, economic, religion and academics. So, they have got together under the banner of the Bharatiya Bahawalpur Mahasangh (BBM).

HK Vadhwa, president of the BBM, said that as the sangh represents the Bahawalpur community, it is imperative that we work for its development.

“For the past 61 years, we have been living cordially in India. We are as Indian as any other community. We want the community to prosper which ultimately will contribute to making a developed India,” said Vadhwa.

President of BBM, Mukhi Chakan Lal, said that they would mobilise and establish connections with community members spread in various parts of the country.

“We will demand reservation for the poor students of the community in various education institutions and the formation of higher educational institutions for the Bahawalpur community,” said Chakhan Lal.

The memory of Partition still brings tears to their eyes. Hari Krishna Vadhawa, Gyanchand Suman, Vidhya Ratan Arya, Purushottam Alreja, all belonging to Bahawalpur area, got emotional when they recalled the tragedy.

“It was a victory on one side as India got independence from the British but was a tragedy on the other hand as people of same country were bifurcated on the basis of religion.

The Britishers succeeded in instilling seeds of hatred while leaving India which our politicians and people failed to understand.”

The population of the Bahawalpur community in the whole of India is estimated to be about three crore and people of the community have been contributing to the country and society in various fields.

Haridwar, May 24
After showing their academic prowess with a 100 per cent result in class XII examinations, Delhi Public School students cast a spell with their vocal, musical and dancing skills at a cultural fest here.

Students of class IX and X performed Western and classical dances. But the show-stealer was the fusion dance item which was lauded by all.

Abhilasha Manchanda, Khyati, Piya, Aditi, Sonali Shah, Anushka, Pragya, Malikka, Neha Negi, Shubham Bisht, Abhishek Roy, Sonali Dewan, Bharat Sharma, Anchal Somani, Bhaskar and Niharika performed the item in perfect synchronisation.

The school management, staff members and parents gave an standing ovation to the students at the end of the fest.

Meanwhile, Naach Baliye, a dance show, under the aegis of Pulse Production an event management company, was organised with a motive to spread awareness on AIDS, here today.

Twenty-five pairs participated in the audition round. “From past five years we are organising different programmes to spread awareness regarding AIDS. In 2008 we organized Mr and Miss Uttarakhand and in future also we will continue to showcase such talent hunt programmes to spread awareness about the precautions and fatal effects of such diseases,” said Deep Vohra, owner Pulse Production.

The production house believes in spreading message through entertainment. Participants were allowed to dance in pairs only. The judges for the programme were Anjali Nayal, director College of fashion Technology, 2008 miss Uttarakhand winner Abhilasha and Juhi, grooming expert aviation industry.

“As I love belly dancing. Everyone appreciated my performance and for semifinals I am very excited,” said Shaila Sharma, a contestant.

For the semifinals 15 pairs will be shortlisted who will finally compete for finals.

Haridwar, May 24
With the general elections over, the Kisan Sangarsh Samiti (KSS) has decided to resume its agitation if their demands are not met soon.

The farmers who had given their land to the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) years ago are now demanding that the unused land be returned so that they can earn their livelihood through the land.

The KSS, prior to the elections, were on an agitation but on the insistence of the District Magistrate Shailesh Bagholi and his assurance, they had temporarily withdrawn their agitation till the end of the poll process.

Now, after the new government has been formed, the union has once again decided to restart their stir as nothing substantial has been done by the administration in this regard.

The farmers allege that the administration had assured them of some steps and asked them to withdraw their protest. During the elections, some land mafias have illegally taken possession of the vacant land.

“The vacant land hasn’t been given to us despite assurance from BHEL and the administration. We feel cheated from both sides as we gave our land to BHEL sighting development and employment in the region. At least, the vacant plots should be given back,” said convener of the samiti Masoom Ali Gada.

The president of the Kisan Sangarsh Samiti Balwant Singh Chauhan pointed to the apathy of the administration and BHEL management towards the farmers’ demands.

“We were assured of action within a month but nothing in this regard has been done by both the district administration and BHEL authorities.

Among others present were Sanjay Sharma, Hazi Rafi Khan, Islam Gada, Furkan Pradhan, Mehar Singh Chauhan, Shaukat Kuraissi, Dhyan Singh, Laxmi Devi and Santosh Chauhan.

Dehradun, May 24
Cadet Aditya Udupa, cadet Karan Raj Sohi and cadet Sourabh of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) have bagged several gold medals in the Uttarakhand State Swimming Championship (Opens), which concluded at Haldwani (Nainital) yesterday.

A total of 250 participants from various schools, all across the state competed in four categories, divided on the basis of age group.

The main participants included Sherwood College, Oak Grove College, Pine Grove College. RIMC cadets participated in nine events and achieved a total of eight gold and one silver medal and broke eight records.

Cadet Karan Raj Sohi and cadet Aditya Udupa were adjudged as the best swimmer in their respective groups. According to the RIMC authorities, out of the six participants selected for the National Open Championship to be held at Jaipur from June 23 to 27, three are from RIMC.

Col H Dharamrajan, SM Commandant, RIMC congratulated the cadets for their excellent performance and also praised the efforts of College Swimming Coach, Hav Narendra Yadav.

Results:

Group I (Birth year: 1992 - 1994): Cadet Aditya Udupa: 50-mt Butterfly Stroke (Gold), 100-mt Back Stroke (Gold), 100-mt Free Style (Gold).

Group II (1995 - 1996): Cadet Karan Raj Sohi: 50-mt Breast Stroke (Gold), 100-mt Breast Stroke (Gold), 100-mt Free Style (Gold). Cadet Sourabh Thorve: 50-mt Free Style (Silver), 50-mt Back Stroke (Gold), 100-mt Back Stroke (Gold).

Dehradun, May 24
A three-day “Life-Saving Skill Course” got under way at the RIMC premises, here today.

The aim of the course is to make the cadets of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) aware of life-saving skills.

The course is being conducted by the Rashtriya Life-Saving Society. Brig Sharma (retd), a regular member of the RLSS, inaugurated the course in which 29 cadets of the RIMC are participating.

Basic swimming tests were conducted today.

This was followed by lectures by Brig Sharma and Ankit Wagh on first aid and resuscitation.

The lectures also included the first aid required in case of choking, snake bite, and fractures.

In the evening, practicals by the RLSS on life-saving skills and resuscitation were conducted at the swimming pool.