Dehradun, December 11
Indian Military Academy (IMA) commandant today said that the IMA would have to look for more land as their requirement has increased with the rising number of cadets.

At a press briefing held at the IMA, Commandant Lt Gen Rajinder Singh Sujlana said that the number of vacancies has increased from 1,650 to 2,065 from the past two terms at the academy.

“At present, we have 1,716 cadets in our institution and, with the number rising, we obviously need more space. One more ground, a large shooting range, an all-weather swimming pool and training stand have to be made here,” said the Commandant.

Lt General Sujlana said, “We have more number of cadets in the IMA than National Defence Academy (NDA). The NDA has more land as compared to us and less number of cadets.”

Sujlana said that the IMA requires land, but not at the cost of making villagers or others residing nearby homeless.

He said that he had recently met Kamal Nath, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, to discuss about building an underpass.

“We know it creates hassles for the general public, when due to the IMA’s programme, traffic is diverted from the road in front of the institute.

“Secondly, due to security reasons we want that an underpass be built here,” the Commandant added.

Throwing light on cyber training, Sujlana said that 15 e-classrooms have been made and more would be added in the future.

“Efforts are on to provide every cadet with personal computers. Final-term cadets will be provided with the PCs on a priority basis,” he said.

Elaborating on the security arrangements, he said that security has been enhanced and four closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at vital points of the IMA premises.

Snifter dogs and other important security measures have been taken that cannot be disclosed for security reasons.

Meanwhile, for the first time, a remembrance ceremony was held today in the memory of 802 martyrs of the IMA. The next of kin of four martyrs were given special mementos during the ceremony.

The stage is set for the passing-out parade (POP) tomorrow. In total, 536 gentlemen cadets will pass out during the ceremony.

Out of these, 18 gentlemen cadets are from friendly neighbouring countries including six from Bhutan, four from Sri Lanka, two each from Maldives, Kazakhstan and Nepal and one each from Tajikistan and Mauritius.

Dehradun, December 11
Taken a strong note of declining number of cadets from southern states, the Indian Military Academy (IMA) have decided to suggest to top Army authorities in the country to conduct a sensitisation drive down south vis-à-vis choice of Army as a career among youths.

This comes at the time when the academy prepares for autumn term passing-out parade with cadets from northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana yet again registering an overwhelming presence.

Calling it as an issue of national concern, Lt Gen Rajinder Singh Sujlana, Commandant, IMA, said the falling number of GCs from southern states was a matter of concern and there was a need to address this issue. There is lack of awareness among people not only in southern states, but also in some parts of Uttarakhand itself, where this institution is situated.

The lack of publicity is the other factor and the country would have to look at this facet as well. The commandant mentioned that he had written to the Chief of Army Staff in this regard. He added that it was must to reach out to the people of southern states in this regard.

Likewise the trend of dominance of north India states continued at IMA even the present passing out parade with a large number of cadets coming from northern states.

As many as 87 cadets, the highest are from UP followed by Uttarakhand that stands second with 48 cadets. Haryana (46) has the third largest number of cadets in the academy. Other states mostly comprising the northern ones also had good participation compared to the southern states, Maharashtra (39), Bihar (32), Delhi (27), Punjab (23) and Himachal Pradesh (23).”

Dehradun, December 11
Governor Margaret Alva has called upon the young IAS officers to work for education, health, employment, internal security and external threats to the country. She asked them to work with commitment and zeal for the poor and downtrodden of the country, who have high hopes from them.

She was addressing the young IAS officers of the 83rd foundation course valedictory function held at Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration at Mussoorie today.

She further said as administrator, IAS officers have to take decisions in the larger interests of the society. She exhorted them to be sensitive towards the uplift of the poor section of the society and try to come up to the expectations of the common man in good governance. On the implementation of the development schemes in the country, Alva said young officers should ensure that the public money was utilised properly and the benefits of the welfare schemes reached the last man.

Alva said officers should not try to delay things, but in consultations with elected representations should try to implement welfare schemes and resolve to fight corruption from the administrative system.

She further said the country had taken rapid strides in development in the past 60 years, but the basic problems of illiteracy, health, employment and sanitation continue to dog the country.

On the issue of right to information, she said the young officers should work in a transparent manner so that general public should also be aware about their work.

Dehradun, December 11
The Indian Institute of Petroleum’s three-day symposium on biotechnology began today.

Addressing the inaugural session, with Prof DS Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Uttarakhand Technical University, Dehradun, and member, University Grant Commission (UGC), said biotechnology was gaining importance each passing day and its contribution in the energy sector has grown substantially.

Chauhan said such events help bring together leading scientists, academics, stakeholders and students on a common platform, thus facilitating thoughtful deliberations.

Director IIP MO Garg said the entry of biotechnology into the energy sector was impossible three decades ago. He revealed the importance of ethanol derived from biotechnology as alternative source of energy. He held that bio-fuel can be used as transportation fuel and kept a potential of making up for 30 to 40 per cent of the total energy requirement of the world. Dr DK Adhikari, Organising Secretary, disclosed that the symposium was being convened in seven technical sessions covering presentations and interacting discussion linked to fossil fuel both upstream and downstream, biomass derived green fuel, alternative fuel from solar energy and environmental cleanup. Dr HB Goyal, head, Biotechnology Division gave the vote of thanks. A large number of delegates from various sections of petroleum industry, academic institutes are attending the symposium. 

Dehradun, December 11
On the final day of the two-day seminar stress on people’s cooperation for creating environment for spreading literacy was laid on adopting mission like approach.

The participants mostly teachers and academicians present at the State Resource Centre (Adult Literacy) said it was ultimately the volunteers who could make a difference and reliance on bureaucrats should be minimal.

Vijaya R Dhoundiyal of Kumaon University said programmes often fail because they have limiting approach, campaigns like literacy have to be sustained and nurtured for several years in order to reap results.

“We adopted villages in Almora in 94 and continued to monitor the progress and these have now become model villages,” she said.

Giving an overview of the programmes, Raj Bahadur Sharma of District Programme Manager (Literacy) said it has been seen in the past that programmes lost stream whenever honorariums were not given to volunteers who worked hard to generate environment. “I have often suggested at least the students should be given priority or some consideration when they apply for jobs or seek admissions if they have participated in literacy programmes,” he said. 

Dehradun, December 11
The Christian Solidarity Society (CSS), Uttarakhand, held a mass service as part of Christmas celebrations at PT Seminary here yesterday. The ceremony was a coalition of prayer, hymns, carols, choreography and Christmas messages. The Morrison Memorial Church, Dehradun, organised the gathering. Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva was the chief guest.

The opening of the event commenced with the National Anthem led through the musical instruments by the students of Grace Academy. English carols as well as Hindi hymns mesmerised the crowd with the enchanting messages of the Almighty.

St Francis Church, Moravian Institute, Central Methodist Church and Nav Jeevan Church were other institutions that took part in the function.

Addressing the gathering, Alva praised the contribution put in by students of various schools. She wished and congratulated people on Christmas and coming New Year. Her husband Niranjan Alva accompanied her. Other eminent persons present at the celebrations were Fr Bernard Daniel, Parish Priest of St Francis Church, Rev Sunil Luke, Presbyter in Charge, Morrison Memorial, Rev Merlin Clarance, and the Pastor, Grace Fellowship and General Secretary, CSS. 

Dehradun, December 11
A couple from Dharampur Suman Nagar who had fled yesterday was traced this morning from Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar. The couple was brought to Dehradun later in the day.

Last night, a group of persons had created ruckus in Dharampur in protest against the boy who, according to them, had enticed their girl to flee with him.

They had shut the shops of the area and jammed roads. Some of them also misbehaved with the police. The police has registered a case against 23-year-old Farhan, who had allegedly eloped with Shikha Uniyal who is a minor.

The youth told the media that they had a love affair for the past one year. They hadn’t fled from the city but had just gone for a ride.

But after they came to know that the father of the girl had created ruckus with a group of persons in the locality, they got scared and fled to Haridwar.

They were caught today morning with the help of the girl’s mobile phone tower location near Haridwar bus stand.

The 17-year-old girl maintained that they were in love and she went with the boy on her own. The youth works as a welder and is a father of two children. The girl studies in SGRR College and her father runs a garment shop.

Earlier in the day, the group had blocked the road for one hour and shut shops in Dharampur protesting against police inaction. The block led to traffic jams. The protesters could be pacified only after they were assured that the couple has been caught by the Haridwar police. 

Dehradun, December 11
A couple, who cheated several jewellery shops, yesterday landed in the Jewellery Shop Union’s net. They were detected with the help of CCTV grabs installed at the shops. They were later arrested by the police.

Both used to swindle city jewellers posing as customers. They would ask the jewellers to display ornaments, divert their attention and pocket the ornaments.

By the time, the shop owners would realise that their ornaments have gone missing, the duo would have left.

Following their earlier practice, the couple reached Shanti Jewellers in the morning yesterday.

On realising that ornaments were missing from their shop, the owners checked the CCTV footage, which showed that the duo had taken away the ornaments.

They contacted the Jewellery Shop Union that sent the information to other city-based jewellers.

And when the couple came to another shop, Ahuja Jewelers, they were nabbed by the owners after they were spotted in the CCTV cameras. They called up the police which later arrested them.

They have been identified as Shazid and Sultana who are in their late-20s. They told the police that they were husband and wife and were natives of Saharanpur.

They used to come to Dehradun specially to dupe jewellers and after duping a few, they would go back to their place.

The police said that the same sort of incidents had happened in Vikasnagar s well and it was trying to ascertain whether these were committed by the duo.aMeanwhile, the couple had been booked under Section 389 (theft) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Kotwali police station.

Flesh-trade racket busted
Nainital: The police in Almora have busted a flesh trade racket. In a swoop following a tip-off, the police arrested three women along with a person who had allegedly sold off his daughter for Rs 30,000 last month.

According to the information available, the arrested women include Rajbiri of Meerut along with Khashti Devi and Kamla of Almora.

Having received a tip-off relating to the sale of a girl on Thursday in Darkhas village near Almora town, the police managed to arrest the trio.

The police said that they have confessed to having sold a girl studying in class VII in Fhalseema village to a person in Ghaziabad. A police team has been sent to rescue the girl.

A team has also been constituted to investigate the possibility of having sold other minor girls in western Uttar Pradesh.