Dehradun, June 21
After a monthlong political turmoil, Chief Minister BC Khanduri (retd) will return to the state capital tomorrow.

“He will be here after attending the national executive meeting of the BJP in New Delhi,” said Dr Devender Bhasin, chairman, Media Advisory Committee.

The BJP government in the state was plunged into uncertainty following the stunning defeat of the BJP that lost all five Lok Sabha seats.

This prompted the dissidents led by former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to demand Khanduri’s removal.

In a bid to pressurise the party leadership, Koshiyari resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat last week. But he was persuaded to take back his resignation.

Party president Rajnath Singh, while addressing the national executive meeting at Delgi, advised state government to work towards winning confidence of the people. Observers believe that for the time being Khanduri has been given another reprieve.

A sizeable number of ruling party legislators unhappy with the style of functioning of the Chief Minister had demanded a change in the state leadership.

Haridwar, June 21
Forest authorities and the police raided Hazarigrant village and seized illegally logged wood from many houses. Yesterday, a group of persons had attacked forest guards, rounded them up and took away their ammunition.

“The wounded employees identified some of their attackers as residents of the village. During our raid today, we found that they had absconded. This proves the nexus between villagers and the wood mafia,” said forest warden Siddiqui.

On Saturday, smugglers, who reside in the nearby village, carried out an attack on forest guards to take revenge for the killing of a smuggler last month in same area.

Suleman had been shot dead when he and his two accomplices were trying to smuggle ‘sagaun’ tree logs from Rajaji National Park. When forest guards tried to stop them, they opened fire and in retaliation, Suleman was killed.

Yesterday, three forest employees Prithivi Singh, Icha Chand Nautiyal and Bhuwan Chand Tiwari, were on night patrol at Senthil beat in Beriwada range.

In a planned move, villagers of Hazarigrant attacked them from behind. They took away the rifles and ammunition from the forest employees and tied their hands. They beat them up with rifle butts.

The forest and park authorities are chalking out plans to counter the increasing activities of smugglers in the park and adjoining areas. Emphasis is being laid on intelligence inputs and patrolling in the protected forest area.

The nexus of Hazarigrant villagers and wood smugglers has made the work of forest authorities tougher while giving smugglers easy access to carry out illegal activity.

Park director SS Rasailly, along with Dhaulkhand ranger MK BahuKhandi, inspected the area where the incident occurred. All injured personnel are recuperating well and a case has been lodged in the Ranipur station against the attackers.

According to police officials at Ranipur station, the injured employees have identified five-six persons involved in the incident and the police is conducting raids to arrest the culprits.

Significantly, Director Rajaji Park had recently categorically refuted accusations that park officials had a hand in illicit felling of trees. He had in particular referred to incidents that occurred on March 14 and March 18-19 this year.

However, it seems the top state wildlife officials have not taken the Director’s claim seriously and have instead transferred one of the Park wardens.

This, despite the fact Rajaji Park authorities, led by Park Warden Gangeshwar Pandey, have been conducting raids against forest mafia at the risk of their life.

Dehradun, June 21
A seven-day national unity camp, being organised by Nehru Yuvak Sangathan, got off to a flying start at the North Point School at Rajpur today.

As many as 83 youths from Jharkhand, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh will participate in the camp.

Nilesh Bharne, SP (city), while inaugurating the camp said youth have a pivotal role to play in society and the process of nation-building. He called upon participants to act as role models for the coming generation.

He said the country was facing the scourge of terrorism and communalism and the youth should come forward to face it boldly.

Bharne exhorted the youth to work for pulse polio, road safety and other social causes, besides propagating the composite cultural heritage of the country.

Bharne said such camps play an important role in channelising the energies of youth so that they do not fall prey to anti-social elements. AP Ghildiyal, Zonal Director, dwelt upon the aim and objectives of the camp.

A programme showcasing the culture of participating states was held on the occasion. Dr. Yogesh Dhasmana, coordinator, conducted the proceedings.

Dehradun, June 21
Very few books in recent years have as inspirational a theme as the “Passion for Courage — A Winners’ Creed”, which has been written by Brigadier Sarvesh Datt Dangwal (retd).

The book will be released at a special function in Dehradun on June 23 by Lt. Gen. Hira Ballabh Kala (retd), former Army Commander of Western Command.

It is primarily a collection of articles, talks, letters sent and received during his 37 years career in the Indian Army.

Dangwal was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles (the 4th Battalion) on November 14, 1971, and received his baptism by fire along with his course mates during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

In his initial years as a Major, during his posting as a Physical Training Officer at the Indian Military Academy he found himself in the eye of a storm.

A Gentleman Cadet of the Technical Wing drowned during training and authorities showed it as an “accident” without negligence on their part.

Major Dangwal, knowing otherwise, informed bereaved father of true circumstances that led to the tragedy. He was later accused of briefing unauthorised person.

“How could the unfortunate and grieving father be an unauthorized person,” he says, recalling those events with much anguish.

What happened subsequently is a long story, told lucidly through a series of articles that Dangwal wrote during his career.

The book narrows the yawning gap between the precept and practice, and lays down cardinal truths for a functional leader.

“The challenges of leadership are met only when our own conscience is put on trial by fire and we choose between right and wrong,” says Dangwal.

Dangwal played a major role in the success of the 4th Military World Games held in Hyderabad in October 2007 as the Chairman of the Games Technical Conduct Committee. For this, he was decorated with the Vishist Seva Medal (VSM).

Haridwar, June 21
The police here has made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the ‘Kanwar Mela’ scheduled to begin from July 7.

Director General of Police Subash Joshi recently held a meeting in this regard and reviewed the security plan put in place by the SSP Haridwar.

Last year, as many as 70 lakh ‘kanwariyas’ visited Haridwar and took a dip in the Ganga and this time the number is expected to rise.

Keeping this in mind, the DGP has sought additional police personnel for the district.

He informed that a meeting of administration officials, police and intelligence units of the nearby states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi would soon be held to ensure better coordination.

The DGP said bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs and police commandos would be pressed into service to ensure that no untoward incident occurs.

On the shortage of police personnel, he said a demand for Rapid Action Force personnel has already been made from the central government.

“We have recruited 1,200 constables and their training has just commenced. In addition, 350 personnel have been promoted to the Sub Inspector rank. We are trying our best to increase manpower,” said Joshi.

Meanwhile, SSP Sanjay Gunjiyal said ‘kanwariyas’ found violating traffic rules will be charged under Motor Vehicles Act and loudspeakers will not be allowed on the vehicles. Usage of LPG cylinders on vehicles will also be prohibited.

Hotel owners and shopkeepers will have to compulsorily display a rate list so that there is no confrontation later.

Others present in the meeting were Inspector General Garhwal range MA Ganapathy, SP City Asim Srivastava, CO City Navneet Singh, ASP Sweety Aggarwal, SP Rural Ajay Joshi and CO Traffic Shweta Chaubey.

Dehradun, June 21
As part of its sensitisation campaign to ensure better education for slum children, Childhood Environment Thought Training and Action (Chetna) took out a rally.

Children in huge numbers participated in the rally which started from Gandhi Park and concluded at Government School, Rajpur Road.

Addressing the gathering, chief guest Sumitra Jugran, Education Officer (Basic), Dehradun district, called for encouraging slum children to take to school education in a big way.

She assured all assistance on part of the education department to any initiative to impart education to slum children.

Jaideep Singh Bisht of Chetna said that the organisation has been working for the betterment of street children for many years and held that 103 slum children had been admitted to various schools by their organisation in the current session.

He stated that it was either due to high fees or the fear of teachers that made these street children avoid schools.

Vishali, assistance project coordinator, Chetna, said that the style of teaching at schools was not at all interesting and, hence, it has failed to attract slum children.

HS Uniyal, principal, Government School, Rajpur Road, said he was committed to imparting education to slum children.

Dehradun, June 21
The Dehradun Chapter of the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD) organised a lecture on ‘HR in Recessionary Times’.

The talk was delivered by MNVVS Prabhakar, Senior Technical Specialist of German Technical Cooperation. Sushant Vats, ED-Chief, ER, ONGC, was the chief guest and the keynote speaker.

Delivering keynote address, Vats doubted whether India was in a recession or not. He said, “Some people say that it is a figment of media’s overactive imagination.”

Vats, in his inimitable style, gave a number of HR tips to help keep the company ‘recession proof’.

He said that this was the best time to recruit and train manpower instead of effecting cuts in personnel.

He added that recession should be seen as an opportunity because it is easier to invest training time for new recruits during slower growth periods.

Prabhakar, during his presentation, emphasised that HR managers should have the capability of visualising the future.

He said that from the HR point of view, the more robust definition of recession would be 1.5 per cent rise in the rate of unemployment within the past 12 months.

He said that fear of job loss is more severe than losing the job. The fear leads to tremendous stress.

Baij Nath, GM (HR), ONGC, who is also the vice chairman of Dehradun Chapter of the ISTD, also addressed the gathering.

Dehradun, June 21
SP Kochar and DS Mann, have been elected president and senior vice-president, respectively, of the Doon Citizens’ Council at its general body meeting held here today. The executive body of the council was elected unanimously.

Chela Ram Sawhney presented the balance sheets for the two terms which were passed by the House.

SP Koacher, whose name was proposed by Dr S Farooq, was elected for the terms 2009-10 and 2010-11.

DS Mann was elected to the post of senior vice-president. DS Mann, secretary general presented the activity report for the two terms before the House.

Dr S Farooq was elected vice-president, Sudhir Arora as secretary general, RK Bakshi as secretary and Brig AN Acharya as treasurer.

Executive members for council are Brig KG Behl, Shyam Sunder Goyal, CR Sawhney, VP Gupta, Dr Aditya Arya and Jitendra Virmani.

Earlier, outgoing founder president MM Tayal expressed gratitude for the respect and cooperation shown to him by his team and council members.

Tayal suggested that the council should arrange a seminar on the problem of water in the city.

The criteria for eligibility are BPEd, DPEd, National Institute of Sports certificate or national-level kabaddi player.

Dehradun, June 21
BC Milan and Doon United played out a draw while Garhwal Sporting registered a 2-1 victory over Roshani Club at the District Football League under way at Pavilion Ground here today.

In the first match played between Doon United and BC Milan, Doon United’s poor finishing denied them the chance to win the match.

Doon United Club dominated the game throughout the match but failed to score a goal. In the first half, Doon United came close to scoring a goal in the 15th minute but the shot sailed over the bar.

In the first half, Doon United Club got scores of opportunities but they could not make use of them. The first half ended 0-0. In the second half, Doon United missed an golden opportunity to score.

In the 40th minute, Doon United got a penalty but the striker hit the shot off the left pole. The match ended in a goalless draw.

In the second match, Garhwal Sporting defeated Roshani Club 2-1. It was close
match between the two teams. But Garhwal Sporting, with better finishing, had
the upper hand.

For Garhwal Sporting, Shashank struck twice in the first half. Shashank found the net in the fifth minute off a pass from the right.

In the 17th minute, Shashank made a solo run to the Roshani goalpost to score his second goal from 15 yards.

In the 28th minute, Roshani team reduced its lead when its forward Vikrant Chaudhari skillfully dodged two players to place the ball in Garhwal Sporting net.

At half time, the score was 2-1 in Garhwal Sporting’s favour. In the second half, Garhwal Sporting held on to their lead to register a 2-1 win.

Dehradun, June 21
Skaters from Delhi dominated the 4th All India Open Skating Competition that was held at Crony Skating World, here today. Delhi skaters bagged five golds, four silvers and two bronzes.

Uttarakhand was placed at the second sport, whereas Madhya Pradesh at the third. In the boys under 4 years category, Uttarakhand’s Aditya Tiwari won the gold while Delhi’s Vihan Cochar bagged the silver.

In 4 to 6 years category, Vihan Goel of Delhi bagged the first spot while Sachet Rawat of Uttarakhand stood second. Uttarakhand G. Ajnami was placed third.

In 6 to 8 years category, Snehshish Tiwari of Uttarakhand was placed at the first spot, while Drashik Garg of Delhi stood second and Madhya Pradesh’s Atharv bagged the third spot.

In 8 to 10 years, Pranjay Kukreti of Delhi emerged winner, Delhi’s Arihant Pawar stood second and Madhya Pradesh’s Nitin third.

Uttarkhand’s Siddharth won the first position in 12 to 14 years category, while Madhya Pradesh’s Rishi and Naman were placed second and third, respectively.

In the girls under 4 years category Uttarakhand team made a clean sweep; Diksha won gold, Shriya silver and Kashish the bronze.

In 4 to 6 years category Delhi’s Khushi Seni won gold, Samridhi Tiwari of Uttarakhand won silver and Sunaina Gulati of Uttarakhand won bronze.

In 6 to 8 years age group, Madhya Pradesh’s Palak Nayak won gold, Madhya Pradesh Akshita won silver and Delhi’s Ankita won bronze.

In 8 to 10 years age group, Harshita of Madhya Pradesh won gold, Uttarakhand’s Ridhi won silver and Madhya Pradesh Shriya the bronze.

In the 12 to 14 years category, Delhi’s Abha won gold and Uttarakhand’s Roshni Valia bagged the silver.

Dehradun, June 21
Abhimanyu Cricket Academy carried on its winning spree at the Krishna Devi Garg Memorial Cricket Tournament at Survey Stadium here today.

Batting first, it was a poor display by the Guru Drona Cricket Academy. Guru Drona Cricket Academy was bundled out for 112 runs in 28.4 overs. The team lost its first wicket when the score was 11 runs in 2.4 overs.

The other opener was dismissed when the score was 36 runs. First-down batsman Abhishek tried to stabilise the innings and scored 36 runs off 53 balls.

But after his departure, no other batsman could occupy the crease for long and got out cheaply to the disciplined bowling of Abhimanyu Academy bowlers. Rajkumar, Gaurav and Vaibhav Pawar took two wickets each.

Chasing a meagre target of 113 runs, Abhimanyu Cricket Academy reached the target with eight wickets in hand in 21 overs. Priyanshu was the highest scorer for the team with 43 runs off 53 balls.

For the opening-wicket partnership, Priyanshu and Dhanur contributed 50 runs in 7.1 overs. After both openers were back in the pavilion, Vaibhav Bhatt and Vaibhav Pawar guided the team to victory.

Vaibhav Bhatt made 26 runs off 44 balls while Vaibhav Pawar made 15 runs. For Guru Drona Cricket Academy, Vishal and Yohesh took one wicket each.