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Ritu suicide case takes a new turn
Furore over stalling of bridge work
JBT students burn govt effigies
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Nadda’s resignation sent to Governor
Grenades, bombs found in villages, defused
Rationalisation of Sanctuaries
BBMB Projects
Salesman shot at
Hamirpur girl tops class XII commerce exam
BJP hits back, says Cong owes apology
Vigilance begins probe against CMO
Lecture delivered on Technology Day
Husband held for beating wife, kids
200 fish found dead at Rewalsar lake
Highway opens
Rs 20 crore govt grant to HIMFED
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Ritu suicide case takes a new turn
Shimla, May 11 Gopal, who was the first among family members to reach the house where Ritu had committed suicide, filed a petition to be clubbed with the earlier petition filed on behalf of SS Kalmotia, father of the deceased. “Even if Ritu’s father decided to withdraw the petition I will seek justice for her which we can hope to get only if the case is handed over to the CBI,” he said. Ritu, a teacher in a local BEd college, had committed suicide on March 28 after her relationship with Siddharth, son of IG (Law and Order) Pradeep Kumar Sarpal, failed to materialise into marriage. A case has been registered against the IG, his wife and son under Sections 306 and 201 of the IPC for abetment to suicide and causing destruction of evidence. Gopal said he spoke with SS Kalmotia last on May 7 when he clearly told him that he was not keen to remain engaged in a legal battle which could continue for decades. “I know my brother-in-law is under tremendous pressure as all kind of tactics have been used to pressurise him to withdraw the case and it is only through a CBI inquiry that we can hope to get a probe,” he said. Chandigarh-based lawyer Pankaj Bhardwaj, who is handling the case, said the fresh petition had been filed as a precautionary measure in case SS Kalmotia decided to withdraw it. “The very fact that a father who has lost his young daughter in such a tragic manner is willing to withdraw the case clearly indicates that all kinds of pressure are being exerted on him,” Bhardwaj said. In the petition filed today, Gopal has said Ritu was very dear to him as she lived here in Shimla while her father served in the Army. “I do not want that the fight for justice for Ritu succumbs to pressure from influential and high-ranking people and I have faith that we will get justice,” he added. IG Sarpal had proceeded on leave till the completion of the CID inquiry into the case ordered by the state government. The inquiry, however, could not be completed as Ritu’s family refused to cooperate on the plea that they had no faith in the state police. |
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Furore over stalling of bridge work
Bilaspur, May 11 Earlier, a few Opposition leaders, including those of the Congress, had blamed ruling BJP government for failing to continue with the construction work and thus delaying its completion. Now, BJP Naina Devi mandal president Prem Lal Kaundal has joined the issue and retorted that the bridge construction had been stalled due to its faulty design which was decided and finalised when the Congress was in power in the state. —
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JBT students burn govt effigies
Dharamsala, May 11 The JBT students were against the policy being adopted by the present government against giving job guarantee to the candidates doing the courses. Earlier, the students used to sign a bond with the government at the time of admissions that assured them permanent job after completing the two-year course. However, the present government has adopted a policy against giving permanent jobs to anyone after September, 2009, and favours recruiting JBT teachers on contract basis. The JBT teachers alleged that by recruiting them on contract the government was exploiting them. On contract basis they would be getting just half the salary as compared to earlier JBT teachers who were recruited on permanent basis. The teachers recruited on contract would also not get other service benefits that other permanent employees were entitled. Shimla: The agitating Himachal JBT Trainees’ Association has threatened to march to New Delhi to seek justice from the Union Ministry for Human Resource if their demand for signing of bonds for regular government service after completion of training was not accepted by the government. President of the association Chander Mohan said the advertisement for admission to 2008-10 batch was exactly similar to the one issued for previous two batches which clearly mentioned that the trainees would require to furnish a bond for serving the Education Department. There was no mention of appointment on contract basis. However, the government was now backing out of the bond condition just to force the trainees to accept jobs on contract basis. Many of the trainees were already working in different government departments on contract basis and they decided to undertake the JBT course only as it assured of a regular government job. The government was bound to go by the terms and conditions of the advertisement and the terms could not be changed after two years. He said the matter would be taken up at various levels with the government if nothing came out. |
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Nadda’s resignation sent to Governor
Shimla, May 11 It is almost after a gap of two months that Dhumal today recommended acceptance of Nadda’s resignation and forwarded it
to the Governor. With the Governor being away to Kullu-Manali, it is most likely that the resignation would be accepted on her return to Shimla. It was on May 16 that Nadda, on his appointment as national BJP general secretary, submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister under one man-one one-past rule. A final decision on his resignation remained pending as initially Dhumal said since the assembly was in session, Nadda would continue. It is reliably learnt that the issue regarding Nadda’s resignation was discussed by the Chief Minister with party chief Nitin Gadkari. The issue was also discussed with senior leaders, including Shanta Kumar, with whom Dhumal had a one-to-one meeting for over two hours yesterday after Gadkari left for Delhi. Nadda’s exit from the Cabinet has rekindled the hopes of many who had failed to get inducted into the Cabinet in the
earlier expansion. Keeping the long list of aspirants in mind, the Chief Minister could delay filling the post. The list of aspirants for the Cabinet berth is long with names of Harinaraian Saini from Solan, Rikhi Ram Kaundal and Randhir Sharma from Bilaspur, Roop Singh Thakur from Mandi and Gobind Thakur from Kullu
doing the rounds. Even though Kaundal is already holding the post of Deputy Speaker, he too would like to be inducted into the Cabinet after Nadda’s exit. On the other hand Randhir, being a staunch Dhumal loyalist, is hopeful of being rewarded. |
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Grenades, bombs found in villages, defused
Kangra, May 11 Kangra SDPO Jeet Singh Thakur said villagers had detected a live motor shell in the fields on Sunday and the Army was informed about it. He said the shell was found in a locality which was far away from the firing range of the Army. The bomb disposal squad of the Army, headed by Col Viasvash, arrived here today from 9 Engineering Yol and during search operation in the firing range area, four high explosives (HE), 36 bombs, mortar live bomb, one parashoot ill round and 1 TPT shell were recovered and defused. Three class VII students — Chadan, Rahul and Sahil — were killed on the spot on March 9 when a live rocket launcher blasted in a forest near Kohala village on the outskirts of this town in the same firing range area. According to the DSP, it was suspected that villagers collected the shells from the firing range area and kept them in their houses as the scrap vendors purchased them at the rate of Rs 175 to 200 each. He said it was likely that some scrap vendors might have purchased one live grenade and when found it risky, threw it in the fields at Gurkhari. The local police was waiting for the bomb disposal squad since Sunday and when it arrived today, many more shells were detected in the firing range area. It is suspected that villagers might have thrown these live bombs out of their houses today before the Army team arrived, the DSP added. Meanwhile, village pradhans, including Anil Damir of Gurkhari village, demanded that the firing range area should be shifted from the site. |
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Rationalisation of Sanctuaries
Shimla, May 11 The insistence of the court on addition of new areas was understandable as the state government had de-notified part of Darlaghat sanctuary to pave way for Ambuja Cement Plant on the condition that equivalent area would be added to it. However, after de-notification of the protected area it refused to include new areas on the plea that people were opposing it. However, the court order would now ensure that areas were not excluded without addition of new ones as had happened earlier. As per the proposal approved by the empowered committee, 793 villages, having a population of over 1.12 lakh, will be excluded from protected areas. As many as 24 out of the total 32 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks will be affected. Areas will be excluded from 13 and included in 11 sanctuaries but the overall protected area will go up from the existing 7,160 sq km to 8,409 sq km. After completion of the exercise, the state will have 24 wildlife sanctuaries, five national parks and three conservation reserves. While Gobindsagar sanctuary will be deleted altogether, Shilli, Naina Devi and Daralaghat will be made conservation reserves. Besides, three national parks namely Parbati and Inderkila in Kullu and Simbalbara in Sirmaur will be set up. The total area under the national parks will increase from the existing 1,448.4 sq km to 2,422.28 sq km. Chief Conservator of Forests, Faunal Diversity and Protected Areas, Sanjiva Pandey said the main hurdle had been crossed as the apex court had accepted the recommendations of the empowered committee. Notification for inclusion of new areas was not a big issue as the areas proposed to be included were bereft of human habitations, he added. |
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BBMB Projects
Shimla, May 11 In a letter written to Shinde today, Dhumal said the meeting date should be fixed at the earliest as per the directives of the Supreme Court which had directed the Centre to resolve the issue by holding a meeting of the concerned states within three weeks. He said the Supreme Court had directed on April 29 that before the matter was examined the Centre should make a final effort to bring all parties in the dispute to the negotiating table and act as a meaningful mediator to find a solution which was mutually acceptable to all parties. The SC had directed the Centre to initiate action by convening a meeting of all concerned states within three weeks. He said the state government had filed a case in the SC in this regard. He said Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha had also passed a resolution requesting the Centre to support the stand of Himachal in the case before the SC. Dhumal urged Shinde that since more than half of the time period allowed by the SC had already elapsed, the meeting should be convened at the earliest. He said he would also discuss the situation airing out of withdrawal of concessions under the special industrial package with his Uttarakhand counterpart, who would be arriving here tomorrow. |
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Salesman shot at
Bilaspur, May 11 Reports said the alleged accused approached Pritam Singh to purchase a bottle of liquor but he refused. However, Singh relented when the purchaser insisted, but he paid Rs 50 only instead of the full price of the bottle and this resulted into an argument between the two. The purchaser suddenly flared up and fired upon the salesman and fled from the scene. The police has registered a case under the Arms Act and is investigating into the matter. It has launched a hunt for the absconding assailant. The injured salesman was first rushed to the Regional Hospital here and later to the IGMC, Shimla, due to the serious nature of his injuries. —
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Hamirpur girl tops class XII commerce exam
Dharamsala, May 11 The other toppers in the commerce group include Yashika Guleria from Government Senior Secondary School, Chamba (second), Anshul Verma from Arunodaya Senior Secondary School, Mohal Kullu, (third) Rakesh Bhatia from Government Senior Secondary School, Jahu (fourth), Chhaya from Government Senior Secondary School, Amb, Pallavi Mahajan from Government Senior Secondary School, Amb, Ritika Bhatia from Government Senior Secondary School, Jahu, Mohit Raj from Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Manjeet from Government Senior Secondary School, Dhangota, Manisha from Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Chamba, Tejas Sawhney from DAV Senior Secondary School, Una, Sandesh Kumar from Government Senior Secondary School, Dhangota, Rajender Singh from Government Senior Secondary School, Mandli, and Sonia Gupta from Government Senior Secondary School, Mandli in Una district. Arts student Neha Chauhan from Government Senior Secondary School, Portmore, Shimla, was declared the topper, scoring 438 out of 500 marks. Other toppers include Jyoti Bala from ANS Government Senior Secondary School, Badhera Rajputan (second), Jyoti from Government Senior Secondary School, Ghanari (third), Sakshi Thakur from Dr NCM Public Senior Secondary School, Bhaloun, Una (fourth), Baljeet Kaur from Government Senior Secondary School, Ghanri, Kalpana Devi from Government Senior Secondary School, Bathra, Neha Kaushal from Government Senior Secondary School, Bathra, and Thakur Vijay Singh from Government Senior Secondary School, Kot. In vocational group, Heena from Government Senior Secondary School, Nahan, topped scoring 720 out of 800 marks. The other toppers include Nitish Sharma from Government Senior Secondary School, Chamba, Sakshi Sharma from Government Senior Secondary School, Lathiani (Una), Jasmeet Kaur from Government Senior Secondary School, Nahan, and Abhishek Sharma from Government Senior Secondary School,
Basdehra. Chairman of the Education Board, while addressing a press conference, said in Arts and commerce subjects, 81,664 students had appeared for examination across the state out which 49,760 were declared pass. In vocational group, 941 students appeared from across the state out of which 670 were
declared pass. |
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BJP hits back, says Cong owes apology
Shimla, May 11 Taking strong exception to the utterances of Congress leadership on BJP’s ‘Nyaya rally’, Dhumal today said it only reflected the frustration and demoralisation among the rank and file of the party. “I urge the Congress leaders to rise above party politics and support us in the fight for our rights which have been denied to us since 1966,” he said, addressing a press conference here today. The Chief Minister clarified that the fight for justice was not against any individual, any political party but to get the state its due, which has been denied to it under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. “It is our right to knock at the doors of the court of law or take the issue before the public so that we can get our legitimate due,” he said. He said he was still hopeful about the central excise duty exemption being continued as the Prime Minister had assured him that he would discuss the issue with his ministerial colleagues. He, however, added that all options, including knocking at the doors of the court to seek restoration of the special industrial package, were still open. The Chief Minister said he was surprised at the statement of CLP leader Vidya Stokes and HPCC chief Kaul Singh Thakur that the industrial package still continued. “When Ananad Sharma has himself said that the central excise exemption, which was the main component of the package, was over, then how can the state Congress leadership say that the package was continuing,” he quipped. He said Himachal had greatly suffered on account of denial of free power from BBMB projects. He disclosed that despite the Subramaniam Committee (1979) recommending that Himachal should get 3 per cent more besides its share of 7.19 per cent and Secretary (Energy) Sarla Gopalan recommending that Himachal as a successor state should get extra power, the Centre had done nothing to give Himachal its due. He said he was grateful to Anand Sharma for having recommended the continuation of the central excise duty on his request. “Be it the issue of reduction in foodgrains, kerosene and sugar quota, approval for railway projects or population-based recruitment in the Army, the Centre has always given a raw deal to the hill state despite its excellent performance on all fronts,” he said. |
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Vigilance begins probe against CMO
Mandi, May 11 The Vigilance team had seized documents from the CMO office and started the probe, according to sources. The complaint regarding the misuse of RKS funds was forwarded to the DG, SACVB and SP, Vigilance Central Zone. Talking to The Tribune, Abhishek Dular, in charge, Vigilance Central Zone, said they had seized the documents and started the probe into the matter. The inquiry official would submit the report in three months’ time, he added. Meanwhile, refuting the allegations, Dr Shamsher, when contacted on phone, said the RKS had been following all rules and regulations. “The governing council approves the new purchase or award of civil works and I welcomed the Vigilance probe as I have noting to hide,” he added. |
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Lecture delivered on Technology Day
Dharamsala, May 11 These views were expressed by Professor CL Kheterpal, Director, Centre of Bio-medical Magnetic Resonance, Lucknow, while delivering a lecture on the Technology Day at the Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT), a Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) centre, at Palampur today. The Technology Day is observed to commemorate nuclear explosions at Pokharan on May 11, 1998, the test firing of Trishul and Agni II and the certification of HANSA by the Director General, Civil Aviation. Professor Kheterpal further said in current century, scientists would not be bound by their subject lines and could venture into different fields of research as per their interests. In the last century the scientists dedicated research to the development of basic components and methodologies of individual disciplines. He said only 15 per cent of the Nobel Prizes had been given for invention and discovery of new techniques. The rest of them had been given for application aspects of innovations. So, the thrust would be on using the developed technologies for betterment of society, he said. The Vice-Chancellor of upcoming Central University at Dehra Farkan Kumar who was the guest of honour on the occasion said the IHBT could play a vital role for starting courses in science by sharing its resources and scientific manpower. Dr Paramvir Singh Ahuja, Director, IHBT, elaborated the research and development network of the CSIR and highlighted the achievements of institute vis-à-vis global technological development in today’s world. |
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Husband held for beating wife, kids
Bilaspur, May 11 SP Kapil Sharma said here today that no family violence and drunken rowdyism be tolerated and action would be taken immediately as soon as a complaint was received. He said Bihari Lal, father of the accused, reported the matter to the police on phone. Sharma said they had also arrested three persons who were creating nuisance under the influence of liquor at public places last night. They were hauled up under Section 114 of the Police Act. |
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200 fish found dead at Rewalsar lake
Sundernagar, May 11 According to the president of the Rewalsar Nagar Panchayat, the dead fish was detected yesterday and till this morning about 200 of them were taken out of the lake and buried in a ditch by staff of the Nagar Panchayat. The main reason of dying of fish was pollution in the lake as the colour of water had turned greenish black. According to experts from the Fisheries Department, the tradition to feed the fish at the lake was the main reason behind the incident as it contaminates the water and further decreases the oxygen level in it. According to study conduced by the Pollution Control Board a few months back, the oxygen level in the lake water was found 2 to 3 ppm (parts per million) whereas the desired level is 7 to 8 ppm. Moreover, due to pollution the nature of water has turned acidic. The poor sewerage system of Rewalsar town is further increasing the problem as contaminated water directly flows into the lake, according to residents. Faith restrains one from eating these fish so the population has also gone up to an alarming level and it also attributed to the death of fish. According to deputy director, Fisheries, Mandi, Mahesh Kumar, the main reason behind the incident was water pollution. He said earlier the population of fish was at an alarming level but for the past two years the department had started thinning operation and shifted around 10,000 fish to various locations in the Beas river. He said he would submit a detailed report of the incident to higher officials.
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Highway opens
Chamba, May 11 The highway leads to the famous holy site of Manimahesh, saddled in the mountainous tribal region of Bharmour in the district. After restoration of the highway, the vehicular traffic was resumed today, officials said. —
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Rs 20 crore govt grant to HIMFED
Solan, May 11 All decks were cleared for the grant of this working capital after a Cabinet decision yesterday where it was decided to grant margin money of Rs 4 crore while the rest would be raised through interest-free loan from the National Cooperative Development Corporation. Chief Minister PK Dhumal took note of this issue after it was highlighted in these columns. It is worth mentioning that HIMFED was forced to avail loans running into crores every year and this imposed undue interest liability of several crores on it. In the last financial year alone, it paid interest of Rs 4.45 crore to financial institutions while an amount of Rs 2.38 crore and Rs 3.33 crore had been paid for the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. It supplies almost 34,000 to 40,000 MT of nitrogen and 25,000 to 30,000 MT of complex fertilisers every year to farmers and loans are raised to meet this expenditure to avoid delay in supply of
fertilisers.
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Sundernagar, May 11
