Haridwar, February 10
Just before Maha Kumbh’s first Shahi Snan on February 12, doubts over the peaceful completion of the mega fair have resurfaced with the mela police accepting that a suspicious object, which was found last week in the railway station premises, was a bomb though it wasn’t technically complete.

The SOTF team today arrested two persons hailing from Orissa from the Haridwar railway station in a suspicious condition. On intense interrogation, they confessed to having planted the bomb at the railway station though both have denied any links with terrorist or naxalite groups. Their accomplice Rajesh, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, is absconding.

The two suspects said they did all this after being rejected by a girl working in the same company. According to the police, this may merely be a ploy to divert attention from the real cause.

DIG Alok Sharma said Manish Kumar and Chandan Pradhan, residents of Sonpur district in Orissa who are in police custody, admitted that they had planted the bomb at the railway station.

The police found material used in making explosives from their rented room at Aman Vihar, Rawli Mahdood Road, Bahadrabad.

All three suspects have been working in the pipe factory situated in SIDCUL Industrial Area in Haridwar.

The police seized 429 gm of nitrate, nine detonators, fuse wire, pipes, an alarm clock, two pencil cells, transistors, tape recorder and other related material used in making explosives.

During the initial interrogation, both stated that the plan was made by Manish in connivance with Rajesh. The material used was brought by Chandan from Sonpur while the pipe was procured from Prince Global Private Factory in SIDCUL where the three were employed.

After making the bomb, the trio visited the railway station to know the security setup and decided the place where the bomb could be planted. On February 2, they went to the station and hid the bomb in a bag.

The state police is in touch with its counterparts in Orissa to get more details about the suspects.

A case has been registered at police station GRP under various sections of the Explosive Material Act.

Meanwhile, additional security arrangements are being made. Intense frisking is being done and a security cordon has been put up in Haridwar, specially in the mela zone area.

Dehradun, February 10
In the backdrop of numerous tiger causalities last year, a two-day All-India Tiger Conference will begin at Jim Corbett National Park on Friday.

To be inaugurated by Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Environment and Forests, the conference will be bringing together Forest Secretaries, Principal Chief Conservators of Forests and Chief Wildlife Wardens from 17 tiger states of the country for the first time.

Poaching, relocation of settlement in critical tiger habitats and the ongoing tiger census will be the prominent issues to be taken up during the deliberations.

“Rising tiger casualties are a prime concern and the conference will be taking up the matter, work out plans to reduce tiger mortalities and address issues linked to it,” Vinod Mathur, Dean, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, told The Tribune.

He said that it was for the first time that three key wildlife-linked persons of every state - Forest Secretary, Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests - would be sharing a common platform particularly for tiger conservation.

Poaching is set to top the agenda, with 2009 being the year of highest tiger causalities. While measures to counter poaching will be discussed, the problems faced by the state Forest Department while undertaking tiger conservation efforts will also come under consideration.

The issue of relocation of settlements in tiger habitats also finds a mention in the schedule of the conference. “Several tiger habitats have human settlements in close vicinity. Addressing these issues has been a formidable challenge for tiger predominant states of the country,” Mathur added.

Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Environment and Forests, has taken keen interest in wildlife conservation and had been instrumental in organising the conference.

Often during his interactions with the media in Dehradun, Ramesh admitted that poaching continued to be biggest cause of tiger deaths.

He had also backed taking the locals living in periphery of the protected areas into confidence in tiger-conservation initiatives. For Corbett, he had even backed utilising the services of Van Gujjars for guarding the Park.

The ongoing second All-India Tiger Census will also be part of the discussion. The problems being faced by state Wildlife Departments while facilitating the census drive and the Wildlife Institute of India’s suggestions will also be incorporated in the conference’s final recommendations.

The man-leopard conflict in Uttarakhand is also to expected to feature prominently during the conference particularly in the wake of increasing cases of conflicts in the state. Human interference in wildlife habitat will also be taken up during the sessions.

Interestingly, tiger conservation comes at a time when China is observing 2010 as the Year of Tigers.

Apart from Jairam Ramesh, National Tiger Conservation Authority’s Dr Rajesh Gopal, Wildlife Institute of India’s Director PR Sinha, Dean WII Vinod Mathur and the country’s eminent tiger expert Dr Y Jhala will be participating in the conference.

Haridwar, February 10
“This is awesome, memorable and definitely an occasion that provides mental satisfaction”. These were the words of noted television and Bhojpuri film actress Shweta Tiwari while attending a religious function at the ongoing Maha Kumbh here today.

Shweta was in the city to attend the inauguration of Hari Dham Ashram by Maha Mandaleswhar Swami Balkananad Giri. Shweta has been associated with the ashram for quite sometime and visits Haridwar to seek blessings and spend quality time away from the hustle and bustle of the tinsel town.

While talking to The Tribune, Shweta, popularly known as Prerna, the popular character she essayed in Star Plus serial “Kasauti Jindagi Ki”, was elated at the warm reception she received in the city. She said she didn’t know that she was popular in Uttarakhand too and said the love of her fans prompted her to work more assiduously so that she lived up to their expectations.

On her stint with dance and reality shows, Shweta opined that these gave an artiste or participant to get know oneself better. She said sometimes one got to know of several facets of one’s personality which in normal routine remained unexplored.

Currently, Shweta is doing Bhojpuri and Punjabi films, besides several small screen programmes, commercial advertisements, music videos, anchoring and has also turned producer.

Earlier, Shweta took blessings of all saints present at the occasion and drew a huge applause from the crowd as she reached the dais. Welcoming her and people, Swami Balkanand Giri Ji Maharaj said opening of Hari Dham was a pious occasion and this ashram was in the service of nation and humanity.

Sadhvi Ritamabara termed the saints as conservers of humanity and said they served people regardless of their gender, caste, creed or nationality.

Urging people to help in the saving of Gau-Ganga (cow and Ganga river), Swami Hans Das held a pledge of people present at the venue. On the occasion were present Swami Arjun Puri, Acharya Bala Krishan, Swami Anoo Bhootanand, Swami Atmanand, Swami Shiv Premanand, Mahant Triyambak Bharti, Ramannand Puri, Mahant Lalta Giri, several Maham Mandaleshwars of akhadas and members of Niranjani Akhada.

Roorkee, February 10
For the rapid growth of the country in every aspect and particularly in the arena of science and technology, the five main organs - government, society, academia, R&D and industry - should work in coordination, stated Prof PB Sharma, first Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Technological University.

Professor Sharma was in town to participate as a guest of honour on the occasion of the 62nd foundation day here today.

Elaborating his point, Professor Sharma termed the five organs as “panchamrit”. “When amalgamated, the ‘panchamrit’ can infuse new lease of life in the developmental rate of our country. The right coordination among these is needed for the purpose,” said Professor Sharma.

Congratulating CBRI officials on the occasion and its achievements so far, Professor Sharma exhorted the scientists of the institute to work in direction of “green building” concept for the good health of environment.

“The institute should also take steps in setting up building technology parks in various stations to pour out technical know-how and expertise to the common man,” said Professor Sharma.

While chief guest Prof SC Saxena, Director of the Indian Institute of Technological, Roorkee, said, “In our country the contribution of private organisation in the R&D arena was lesser than that in European countries and the USA. This needs to be changed and private players should come forward in the R&D sector like foreign countries for accelerating the country’s development,” said Professor Saxena.

He also added that the IIT, Roorkee, had signed an MoU with the CBRI for the exchange of expertise and technology.

“Now onwards, both institutes will support each other and exchange their technical know-how to strengthen the country,” said Professor Saxena. Earlier, CBRI Director SC Bhattacharya highlighted the achievements of the institute, while SC Tyagi proposed the vote of thanks.

Dehradun, February 10
Rao Cricket Academy made it to the semifinals of the 58th District Cricket League underway at Survey Stadium here today.

In the quarterfinal match, Rao Cricket Academy outplayed Rao Cricket Academy by five wickets.

Openers failed to give the Doon Tiger team the desired start. First opener Monu got out for a duck, whereas second opener Bharat could manage to score eight runs only. Rohit scored 18 runs.

After the first three batsmen got out for a low score, middle order batsman Moni rose to the occasion and tried to score some runs.

He played a knock of 42 runs, off 47 balls. Once Moni got out none other batsmen showed the caliber to occupy the crease for a long.

Ravi and Parmod picked up wickets at will, unsettling the Doon Tiger team completely. Ravi picked up three wickets in his seven over spell whereas Parmod took three wickets.

In reply, Rao Cricket Academy played the match with ease and registered a five wickets win over Doon Tigers. Opening pair of Vipin and Kiran gave their team a firms start in the match.

Dehradun, February 10
Strong 2/3 Gorkha Rifle made it to the semifinals of the second President’s Cup Football Tournament underway at the Pavilion Ground here today. Gorkha team defeated Akranta team by 6-5 in tiebreakers at the quarterfinal match.

Both the teams were leveled at one all-draw in the scheduled time. Agile Gorkha team scored the first goal of the match in the 13th minute. It was Vishal for the 2/3 Gorkha Rifle, who scored the first goal through a powerful kick.

After the first goal there was not much action from Gorkha Rifle. On the other hand Akranta team seemed to have strengthen its defence and gave Akranta less scoring opportunities. The first half ended with Gorkha Rifles leading the match.

The second half saw Akranta team making a comeback in the match by scoring an equaliser through Shyam Thapa in the 40th match. At the end of the match teams were locked at 1-1 all draw. In the tiebreaker Gorkha Rifle team emerged victories winning the match by 6-5.

While in the second match Sunderwala Boys team defeated Doon Valley team by a solitary goal. Both the teams were leveled at 0-0 in the first half. Finally, it was Virendra for Sunderwala team who scored the first goal for his team to making it 1-0 in the 55th minute and win the match.