Mussoorie, September 2
Citizens, social activists, politicians and other dignitaries of Mussoorie gathered to pay homage to the six martyrs of September 2, 1994, police firing at the Shaheed Sthal situated at Jhool Ghar here today. The sthal was lit up on the occasion and citizens started trickling in since early morning to garland the portraits of the martyrs who had succumbed to bullet injuries on the bloody September 2 of 1994.

Family members of the deceased offered flower petals and garlands on the portraits of Hansa Dhania, Rai Singh Bangari, Dhanpat Siungh, Belmati Chauhan, MM Mamgai and Balbir Singh Negi who laid their lives for the cause of a separate state of Uttarakhand. Revenue and Food Supply Minister Diwakar Bhatt, Rajya Andolankari Kalyan Parishad president Ravinder Jugran, Rajpur MLA Ganesh Joshi, Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, Palika president OP Uniyal, state activist Shushila Dhyani, along with many others, also visited sthal to pay homage to the martyrs.

Religious heads from major religions recited verses from the Quran, Gurbani and Gayatri Mantra in the memory of the deceased.

The ceremony was marred by the interference of photographer Hari Singh Gunsola who cursed the leaders for forgetting his contribution in the separate statehood movement back then. Gunsola said every year they came to show their allegiance, but forgot the andolankaris after September 2. The leaders from the government and the Opposition were just mute listeners to his tirade against them. He went on for a few more minutes and was forcefully dragged out by police personnel from the Shaheed Sthal.

The portrait of DSP Umakant Tripathi, who also had lost his life on the same day, was not visible at the sthal despite the assurance by various leaders. Earlier, many andolankaris had demanded to consider DSP Tripathi as a martyr and a police medal be named after him in Uttarakhand.

Eminent social activist Atul Sharma’s jan geet performed by members of the Dharatal group enthralled the audience at the Shaheed Sthal and reminded of the old movement days. Atul speaking on the occasion said the objective with which the separate statehood was demanded had not been fulfilled yet. The state was different, but the system had not changed and was on the similar patterns of Uttar Pradesh, including the archaic laws like forest, etc. borrowed from UP. Atul further said the movement was started with the objective to address issues namely paryavaran (environment), paryatan (tourism), palayan (migration), pani (water) and pehchaan (identity), but sadly, these issues still remained in the state where women still had to carry the load on the back and the youth was still running out of the state for employment.

Another social activist V Dobhal was of the view that Uttarakhand had achieved a lot since the September 2 police-firing incident. A large number of youth had received jobs, be it in the police or any other department, apart from contracts in various projects. The only thing if Uttarakhand required now was a dynamic leader who was honest and considered the problem of the state as his own.

Ujwal Negi, another andolankari, was of the view that proper utilisation of the funds provided by the Central government or in the state could change the development scene of the state.

Rajesh Gupta, an activist, said the disillusionment with the state still persisted and if the issues of the common man were not addressed soon, the vulnerability of Uttarakhand towards the external forces like the Maoists was not ruled out.

Haridwar, September 2
Labour unions and small traders joined hands to come to a single platform to oppose anti-traders policies of the United Progressive Alliance-led Central government.

Opposing the UPA economic policies as well as the exploitation of small traders and labour unions, the joint forum has even warned of going on nationwide strike by closing industries, public sector undertakings, trade business and even the local markets to press their demands.

A detailed strategy was chalked out to give direction to their movement for which they put onus on failed economic policies of the UPA government, particularly the pro-capitalist policies.

Lashing at the Central governmental policies, the union leaders put onus on respective Central governments post 1991 after the Indian trade market was opened for industrialisation that made a certain section of the industrialists richer while poor labourers poorer.

ATUC veteran leaders VK Saxena cited example of the former USSR and European countries that fell to the failed open market policies as seen in the economic meltdown two years back. “If open market policies are not controlled in India, time will not be far when the country will be on the verge of economic crashdown. Resentment among labour class and small-medium traders is easily visible and will have serious repercussions in coming time for the government,” added CP Jakhmola of CITU.

BSNL employees union member MPS Chauhan said the need was to upgrade public sector undertakings, but the government was hell bent on making open market money from global conglomerates, which was taking away the Indian money to outsiders resembling the East India Company British era days.

Small-Scale Traders Association state president Sanjay Chopra said while the small traders or venders were being displaced in the name of encroachment, the government indulged in the mall and multiplex culture that was threatening the livelihood of small traders.

“More than half of the country’s population is lower-middle class which buys things from us. But if we are uprooted, will this section get daily items at minimum prices at their doorsteps?” asked Chopra.

Many trade union leaders expressed angst over the exploitation of the rights of the trade unions by the government. Warning of mass protests and rallies, the union leaders from the Uttarakhand Joint Union, Jal Sansthan, Uttarakhand Roadways Employees Union, Sugar Mill Employees Union, Anganbadi Workers Union, Power Employees Union and various other labour unions said the unorganised sector should not be taken for granted by the government and industrialists, as these were the backbone of the country.

Pitthoragarh, September 2
The widening work on the Tanakpur-Pitthoragarh road, a vital link to border districts, is in slow pace as the forest and revenue clearance is being delayed.

“At present, out of the 60-km patch of the national highway (NH) 125, following the clearance from the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment, the 40-km stretch of road has been widened at par national standards,” said an officer from the 65 RCC of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

“More than 270-km-long Tanakpur-Tawaghat road, including the 125-km-long national highway, a link to the strategically important Army and ITBP border posts on the China and Nepal borders, has remained well maintained during this monsoon,” said the BRO officer. “Whereas other roads remain blocked for weeks, the Tanakpur-Tawaghat road remain almost opened during the monsoon,” said SS Bose, Officer Commanding of the 65 RCC.

According to BRO sources, the speed of the forest and revenue clearance of this vital link road has gone up during the past five days. “We have five proposals of 90 km remaining the national highway to be cleared for various levels, these include the longest patch of 40 km from Gomo to Marorkhan in Champawat district, 20 km from Jauljivi to Askot, 18 km from Chalthi to Swala and 30 km to Ghat to Aincholi,” said Bose.

“After clearing the 65-km-long Munsiyari to Milam road, a hope has been developed for us that our proposals to widen the highway will be cleared soon,” said the officers stating that on the condition of clearance from the Forest Ministry, the BRO could do entire widening work in two years. 

Dehradun, September 2
The administration in association with the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) removed structures of illegal fruit and vegetable vendors on the Aragarh-Dharampur road here yesterday.

It was due to these sellers that visitors were facing problems in crossing the roads as they have encroached half of the road from both sides, leaving no space to pass from there.

The officials asked them to shift their base at the destined location in Nehru Colony or the Race Course Road and told them not to stand there or else their rehris would be seized.

It was in the evening only that City Magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht, along with DMC Chief Executive Officer Harak Singh Rawat and the police force reached the spot.

The team also seized fruits and vegetables of many roadside vendors who were sitting on the footpaths illegally. Some sellers also tried to oppose the action. 

Dehradun, September 2
Last night rains in Dehradun inundated several of low-lying areas of the capital. Severely affected areas included the Shimla bypass area, where water entered several residential localities. One among the affected, Khemchand alleged that lack of proper drainage system at Shimla bypass was the main reason for water enteringhouses during rainy season. He said the authorities seemed little interested to take any remedial measures.

Similar reports of water entering houses in the adjoining Morowala areas have also been received.

Meanwhile, Met officials in Dehradun have predicted more rains in the state. Dr Anand Sharma, Director, Dehradun Meteorological Department, said the South Uttarakhand would continue to witness a downpour for the next 12 hours.

Nainital, September 2
Taking a stringent view of the problems being faced by residents of Haldwani on the account of the continuing rain, the government has asked officials of the Nagar Palika, Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Jal Nigam to prepare a drainage master plan for the town within three days.

Pulling up the officials of these departments for laxity in the execution of various works, Cabinet minister Bansidhar Bhagat asked them to pull up their socks and start working efficiently on various projects that lie incomplete.

He expressed his displeasure at the delay in the works pertaining to the repair and covering of the canal leading up to the Sushila Tewari Hospital. The officials of the Irrigation Department are learnt to have informed him that the delay was being caused by personnel of the Jal Nigam who had failed to shift the drinking water lines that run very close to the said canal.

The minister asked the officials to evaluate the losses that had been incurred on the account of the heavy rain in the recent days and make proposals for getting the things back in shape at the earliest. He was annoyed at the fact that despite the money being sanctioned for various projects, there were delays in the execution of the same.

He asked the officials of the Power Department to accelerate the work for shifting of electricity poles on the Nainital road. On the issue of the establishment of a new inter-state bus terminus, which has been hanging fire and the setting up of a driving training institute, he said the government would take up the matter of transfer of forest land for the purpose with the Centre forcefully.

He also promised that the work for building an international stadium at Haldwani would be undertaken at the earliest. The minister was informed by the district administration that there had been damage to the tune of Rs 60 crore in the district because of the rain till now. 

Nainital, September 2
The region of Kumaon has been stunned with the murder of two aged women at different places. These murders have been reported from Ramnagar and Bageshwar districts.

In the first instance, one Ashok Pande, his wife Vineeta and their two children were residing with Ashok’s mother Revati Pande at Panchvati Colony in the Bhawaniganj area of Ramnagar.

Both Ashok and his wife are teachers and had left their home for duty the previous morning. When they returned home in the afternoon, they saw Revati’s body lying in a pool of blood. Her throat had been slit with a sharp-edged weapon and the killers had ransacked the entire house.

It is being assumed that the cause of the murder was an attempted robbery.

In the second instance reported from Saligaon village in the Banlekh area of Bageshwar district, one Dinesh Koranga was having enmity with his neighbour Meherban Singh. Last evening, Dinesh ran after Meherban’s children following a brief altercation.

When Meherban’s mother Gopuli Devi tried to intervene, Dinesh allegedly crushed her head with a stone killing her on the spot. He fled from the spot after the incident. The police is investigating both incidents and no arrests have been made so far.

Bodies of missing couple found from Kosi river

The bodies of a couple from Pitthoragarh that had gone missing three days back were recovered from the Kosi river on Tuesday evening.

However, the whereabouts of the car, in which they had left Askot for Haldwani,
is unknown.

According to information, 56-year-old Kanwar Singh Bisht and his wife Devki Bisht had left for Haldwani on Sunday and their family members had lost telephonic contact with them after they crossed Lodhiya.

Incidentally, the callers on their mobile phones were getting the response that the phones were switched off.

While the body of Bisht was found trapped amidst rocks, his wife was found on the banks of the river. The police is investigating the cause of their death.

Nainital, September 2
Hundreds of part-time chowkidars (PTCs) working for the Jal Sansthan from all over Kumaon descended on Nainital yesterday to protest against their exploitation at work.

They gathered at the Tallital area under the banner of the Uttaranchal Jal Sansthan PTC Mazdoor Union and marched to the office of the Managing Director of the Jal Sansthan shouting slogans and airing their demands.

According to the agitators, there are about 5,000 PTCs in the state who are working full time despite being designated as part-time workers for a paltry sum ranging between Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,350.

They have been posted in hill districts and are supposed to do all jobs ranging from opening the water supply, repairing damaged pipelines and also collecting revenue. They said the payment of such a paltry sum is nothing short of exploitation and have demanded payment of minimum wages to them.

Their other demands include their appointments against vacant posts in the Jal Sansthan, payment of a transport allowance and bringing them under the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scheme.

In a memorandum handed over to the Managing Director of the sansthan, they have sought that their kin be given an appointment in the event of the death of a PTC.

The PTCs want that instead of payment being made in their bank accounts, the department should pay them directly as they do not have resources and time to commute to places where there are bank branches. They have also asked the department to prepare a seniority list of the PTCs and hand a copy to their union.

The agitators have threatened to launch a statewide agitation if their demands are not met by the department at the earliest.

Dehradun, September 2
Keeping doors of their houses open while sleeping last night as part of the Krishan Janmashtami festival cost some families dear as five of the houses at the Old Dalanwala Road were reportedly looted.

House owners alleged of theft of cash, jewellery and other items worth lakhs. However, the police said the total theft amounted to a few thousands.

After getting information, the police inspected the sites of the crime today morning. Dog squad, fingerprint expert team and other police agencies took the stock of the spot, but couldn’t get any success.

According to the police, the doors of the five houses were left open by the families last night in the faith of Lord Krishna. However, when they woke up in the morning they saw their cupboards and other placess ransacked and valuables missing.

As per information, Rajnish Pasi reported a theft of Rs 1.5 lakh, Anil Kumar Pasi of about Rs 5,000, Brijmohan of ornaments, Anil Batra of gas cylinder and Manish Chaudhary of a vehicle.

Circle Officer Pramendra Dobhal said the police had got leads and soon it would be successful in nabbing the accused.