|
|
|
|
‘Food poisoning’ kills student
Rain adds to apple grower woes
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tourists stranded due to landslides
Japan-funded farm projects to start next year
Exam Scam
BJP blames Cong, backs school board chief
CM for national education policy
Drug menace on rise among school kids: DGP
Seminar on biotechnology
BJYM launches ‘Save J&K’ campaign
Wood Smuggling
Man gets life term for wife’s murder
‘Harassed’ instructor ends life
Undertrial’s Death
Kapurthala man held for fraud
|
|
‘Food poisoning’ kills student
Dharamsala, September 21 He was taken to local hospital and later shifted to Tanda Medical College where he was declared dead. The others students were admitted to Dalek hospital of Tibetans located on the Mcleodganj road where they are undergoing treatment. The principal of the school said the students, who belonged to Class 9th and 10th, suddenly complained of fever and dysentery. They were admitted to Dalek hospital. The reason of ailment to students could be confirmed after medical report was received, he said. Meanwhile, sources told The Tribune that the students had fallen ill due to food poisoning. The number of students taken ill might go up, the sources here said. The school authorities, however, were mum over the entire incident. Meanwhile, the Principal denied that the children had fallen ill due to food poisoning. He said the children did not eat anything in the school. Mediapersons were not allowed to talk to the children in the hospital. The doctors on duty refused to divulge anything while the director of the hospital was not available for comments. The residential school is being run under the aegis of the Tibetan government in exile here at Dharamsala.
|
|
Rain adds to apple grower woes
Shimla, September 21 With the main Theog-Hatkoti Highway blocked with landslips at several points because of the ongoing widening work, the growers of Rohru and major part of Jubbal have been using the alternative road, via Paonta, which passes through Uttrakhand. However, the heavy rain had caused extensive damage to the roads in the entire region as a result of which hundreds of apple trucks have been stuck up. Driving through Hatikoti-Theog Highway is no less than a nightmare with almost a dozen blockade points, the road gets blocked anytime and when it is open, long traffic jams that at times last for several hours, are common. The main traffic bottlenecks include Dochi, Sanaba, Kharapathar, Gazta, Padshal and Bhagoli where sliding earth cause frequent blockades. Congress secretary Rohit Thakur said the growers were not the only sufferers, with all roads closed and on one out of the total eight doctors posted in Jubbal hospital, the patients were dying without medical care. With the government agencies failing to open the roads, the Anti panchayat has raised resources from people to hire its own earth moving machinery for clearing the Chhajpur-Anti Road. Vice president Virender Kumar said the panchayat has engaged two earthmovers from own resources as the lone machine deployed by the Public Works Department would have taken weeks to clear the numerous landslides. So far, 2.84 crore apple boxes had been exported out of the state as compared to 1.81 crore boxes sent out in 2007, when the state recorded highest ever production of 2.97 crore. Besides, 41,000 tonnes of fruit has been procured under the market intervention scheme. With 25 lakh boxes in the Jubbal area and over 20 lakh boxes in Kinnaur yet to be sent to market, the total production is likely to cross the 3.50 crore boxes to mark.
|
|
Tourists stranded due to landslides
Shimla, September 21 The police today rescued 13 foreigners, who had gone for trekking in various parts of the Bhava valley in Kinnaur due to an unexpected rain. Some more foreigners are still stranded in the Sangla valley. Meanwhile, the road to the main apple belt of Jubbal and Rohru was opened for vehicular traffic after the landslide at Dochi beyond Kharapatthar was cleared. The trucks that had been stranded on either side since Sunday have started moving. However, with several link roads still being blocked, apple growers are finding it difficult to transport their produce to the market. — TNS |
|
Japan-funded farm projects to start next year
Shimla, September 21 Detailed discussions were held here today for the implementation of the projects to be funded on the 90 per cent grant basis at a high-level meeting at which Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture, E.K. Majhi, was also present. He assured full support in funding of the projects and other agricultural initiatives undertaken by the state. Secretary, Agriculture, Ram Subhag Singh, said two projects would supplement the initiatives of the state. He said the government was promoting crop diversification in the state and substantial funds under the projects would be spent on infrastructure development, farmers support programmes and organic farming. |
|
Postal, school staff under lens Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, September 21 Sources available here told The Tribune that the police, on the basis of information gathered from the main accused Ashwani Dogra, had already questioned a teacher from government school in Nagrota Bagwan. The police has questioned a teacher Piarai Lal. The police is now working on the theory that the main accused used to procure one copy from some examination centre and then used to scan it for making identical copies. Now, the investigating officials are trying to find out the source who supplied answer-sheets. Kangra ASP Umapati Jamwal, who is investigating the case, admitted that the police had identified the examination centres from where the original answer-sheets were passed on to the accused. “I will not reveal the names of the examination centres as yet”, he said. He also admitted that the police had questioned a teacher from Nagrota Bagwan Pairai Lal. However, no further arrests had been made in the case, he said. When asked if the police was questioning board employees regarding their alleged connivance in the case, the ASP said, “Till date, we have not found any direct involvement of the board employees in the scam. We are not issuing them clean chit but till date no direct involvement of the employees has been found”, he said. Meanwhile, the sources said the police was also looking for the people who were hired by the main accused to solve papers on behalf of students. Board chairman CL Gupta has issued a show cause notice to 38 employees. Though it was he who passed information regarding the scam to the police, CL Gupta is facing the heat from the opposition as well as within the ruling party. The ABVP right wing students’ organisation associated with the BJP yesterday burnt effigies of the chairman of the board and demanded his resignation. The term of Gupta is ending on October 14 and pressure is being mounted on the government against giving him extension. The sources also said the police would also have to book about 180 students, who were beneficiaries in the scam. The students received the certificates from the main accused despite being aware of the fact they had not appeared in the examination that illustrated their connivance in the case. The government-appointed committee under director industries Omkar Sharma would begin probe in the case from September 24, the sources told The Tribune.
|
|
|
BJP blames Cong, backs school board chief
Shimla, September 21 Coming to the defence of the HP Board of School Education chief, senior BJP leader and Chairman of the Housing Board Ganesh Dutt today said Chaman Lal Gupta had acted the moment the matter came to his notice. “The certificate scam has been going on in the board since 2005 and it is Gupta who must be credited with exposing those involved in the illegal act,” he asserted. Dutt said had the then Congress regime acted on the complaint of Mankotia, the irregularity could have been detected earlier. “Show-cause notices have been issued to board employees to file their reply within one week failing which strict action will be taken against them,” he said. The high level committee constituted by the government would also submit its report shortly. The BJP leader said the moment the matter was brought to the notice of Gupta through an anonymous telephone call on September 1, he got a complaint lodged with the police within two days and an FIR was lodged on September 7. He urged the Congress and the CPM to extend cooperation to solve the problem rather than burning the effigies of Gupta, who had acted on the complaints, which helped unearth the scam. —TNS
|
|
|
CM for national education policy
Shimla, September 21 Presiding over the annual function of St Mary School here today, Chief Minister said budget spending on education must go up substantially as it was only 2.86 per cent at the national level, whereas Himachal Pradesh had earmarked 18 per cent for the sector. He said good education would help in laying a solid foundation for a bright future. He had tried to improve infrastructure in schools and, during his earlier term, he had implemented a Rs 126 crore project under which a minimum of three rooms were constructed in every school and in all, 13,672 rooms were constructed. He called for bridging the gap between rural and urban educational institutions by providing better facilities to rural schools. The Chief Minister also gave away prizes to the meritorious students in academics, sports and cultural activities. Principal A. Stephen said the emphasis was on the overall development of the students. |
|
Drug menace on rise among school kids: DGP
Shimla, September 21 This was stated by DGP DS Manhas at a seminar organised here today by the HP Voluntary Health Association to create awareness among schools about increasing use of tobacco among the schoolchildren in the town, which according to their study was at an alarming 40 per cent. “Surveys by the Narcotic Control Bureau indicate that the scale of drug peddling by youth from Kullu is so significant that one youth from every panchayat is lodged in a jail somewhere in the country,” he stated, adding, “We need to take corrective steps or else we will be faced with what America is grappling with.” Manhas said though tobacco addiction by schoolchildren was definitely a cause of concern, but the challenges were far more complex and daunting. “With Himachal alone producing 100 quintals of charas and 10 quintals of Malana crème, the threat of chemical drug abuse by youths is looming large,” he said. While advocating a multi-pronged strategy, he said it was both parents and teachers who could together help the vulnerable 10 to 16 years from going astray. “Teachers must identify absentee students and inform parents and look for abnormal physical signs and change in behaviour,” he added. He suggested that the school, too, at its level must help channelise the talent of those who do not fare well academically, so that they do not seek solace in other distractions like drugs. Speaking on the occasion, Principal Secretary, Education, Srikant Baldi said the figures of addiction among youths were startling and disturbing. “It was only if each one of us takes it up as a mission that there can be some check,” he added. Principals from almost all schools of the town attended the seminar. While expressing concern over the problem of tobacco addiction among youth they felt that the provisions of cigarettes and other tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisements and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA) were not being adhered to, especially with regard to sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of the schools. Executive director of the HPVHA Narinder Sharma said a campaign had been launched to ensure new pictorial warnings on tobacco products by December by sending memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, Health Minister and Sonia Gandhi.
|
|
|
Seminar on biotechnology
Bilaspur, September 21 Chairman of the Biotechnology Department of HP University Dr Duni Chand spoke on the basics of biotechnology and elaborated on the topic “Food for 21st Century”. Professor in the Animal Biotechnology Department, HP University, Dr SS Kanwar spoke on “Stem Cells and their applications” and said this science has an unlimited scope for creating a better life for the animals. Dr Neelam Sharma convened and coordinated the seminar, however, guest faculty Padmani Sandhu addressed it along with students of the department. — OC |
|
BJYM launches ‘Save J&K’ campaign
Mandi, September 21 After making his entry here in an HRTC bus to present a “pro-common man image”, Anurag blamed the successive Congress regimes for the present crisis in J&K. “J&K is an integral part of India,” he asserted. Without referring to the J&K’s all-party peace initiative in which BJP is also a part, Anurag charged that the Congress and NC have failed to reach out to people in Kashmir, where certain separatist forces were hand in glove with Pakistan. He said separatists had been flaring up the problem in J&K, in which most of the sufferers were children, as schools have been closed for months there. “The children of the separatists are either studying elsewhere in India or Pakistan or abroad,” he said. Thakur blamed the UPA for the problem of the naxalism and Maoist violence that afflict over 14 states in the country. “Bangladeshi intruders have infiltrated in large number in Assam creating law-and-order problem there under the nose of the UPA,” he charged. Anurag said thousands of soldiers from Himachal have made sacrifices for country and yuva morch and the BJP would take “save Kashmir” campaign in every nook and corner of the country. State president Narinder Atri, BJP secretary Ram Swarup Sharma and other yuva morcha leaders lavished praises on Anurag and pledged that they would take this campaign in the state. Meanwhile, the BJYM workers blocked the Bhiuli bridge junction on the highways as they danced for 30 minutes and diluted the morcha’s “save J&K campaign”. |
|
|
`
6.89 lakh recovered from ITBP official
Shimla, September 21 It was the return of Constable Raj Kumar from 15-day leave on 17 September that helped the police lay its hand on the booty. “It was yesterday that we dug the place about 20 mt from the residence of Rana as guided by the constable, who had hidden it. We made a recovery of Rs 6,89,450,” confirmed Lahaul Spiti SP SR Rana. Raj Kumar told his ITBP seniors and the police that he was asked by Rana to hide something very valuable carefully that he did by digging a pit and placing the packet in it, contents of which he was unaware. The police sources said Rana who had spent about Rs 11,000 from the total seven lakh given to him had struck the deal for allowing smuggling of the wood for a total of Rs 15 lakh. The remaining 8 lakh were to be given to him after the safe passage of wood across Tibet. “It was found that there were a total of three truckloads with each vehicle carrying five tonne for which Rs five lakh each were to be paid,” informed Rana. The culprits had managed to transfer 30 quintal on mules into Tibet before the police got the whiff of the illegal activity. Some main accused, including Narinder, have reportedly fled India and taken refuge in Nepal. “We are trying to use all possible means to arrest the main culprits,” said the police officials. — TNS
|
|
Man gets life term for wife’s murder
Chamba, September 21 According to the judgement passed by the court here yesterday, complainant Sudarshan Kumar (27), the brother of the deceased, made a statement to the police that the marriage of his younger sister namely Pritma, alias Asho, was solemnised nine years ago with the accused who had two daughters. On December 21 last year, Sudershan visited the house of his sister at Kalwara village and there his elder sister Prakasho Devi informed him that Asho had gone along with her husband Raj towards Dharveta village. At about 6 pm, when Sudarshan was watching television, his elder brother-in-law Kailasho over the phone from Chamba informed him that her husband Raj on the way to Dharveta had murdered his sister Asho. On receiving the news about murder, Sudershan along with Atish, Ramesh and Kailasho proceeded in search of Asho and found her body at Chhitti Pagdandi. The throat of the deceased was found tied with a rope. Raj (accused) and Asho (deceased) were both in job at Baddi and had returned to home just before a day of the occurrence. On completion of the police investigation, challan was produced before the court for trial and on its conclusion the accused has been sentenced accordingly.
|
|
‘Harassed’ instructor ends life
Solan, September 21 According to Darlaghat SDPO Kuldeep Rana, an FIR was lodged after her father alleged that his daughter was harassed by her headmistress. The father alleged that his daughter was harassed on Friday and she committed suicide the following day on the school premises i.e. on Saturday. The instructor was harassed on several issues, including the fact that her father was a superintendent in the Education Department, and that her degrees were fake and she was unfit for the job, her father alleged. A case has been registered against the headmistress.
|
|
‘Drug’ pouch found from deceased
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, September 21 The recovery of narcotics has jail authorities perplexed. It is likely to turn heat on them as recovery illustrates that narcotics were making their way into prison. On the day Ajay died, he was taken to the court of District and Sessions Judge, Kangra, for a hearing in the case registered against him. He returned to the jail at about 3 pm and sent to his barrack after checking. Now, the investigators would have to find out if Ajay got narcotics from someone in the court premises or was supplied the same in the jail. It has also raised doubts about the reason for his death. Dharamsala SDM DC Rana, who is investigating the case, said, “We cannot term the substance recovered taped with body of the deceased as narcotic till laboratory report in this regard is received. The pouch recovered attached to private parts of the deceased has been sealed and sent for forensic examination to know its contents. Any further action in the matter would be taken after the report is received.” The police has not registered a case under the NDPS Act. Kangra ASP Umapati Jamwal said case can be registered after laboratory report regarding contents of the pouch is received. However, the sources here said the pouch was concealed in a manner to evade the search in the jail premises. It indicates that packet could contain narcotics, as deceased had no reason to conceal innocuous material in such a manner. DGP (Prisons) Sohan Singh admitted that appears to some kind of dereliction in duty on the part of the jail staff. However, any action in the matter would be taken after the police report in the matter is received.
|
|
Kapurthala man held for fraud
Bilaspur, September 21 Reports said Sarvajit had already got Rs 3,500 from Ramesh as an advance for getting some paper formalities like passport and visa etc prepared on his name. He arrived yesterday at Ghumarwin to collect rest of the amount from him. But he was arrested by the police under various sections. He was also wanted in a number of such cases. He is also alleged to have pocketed Rs 3 lakh from two residents of Haryana. The police has informed the Haryana Police and Punjab Police about his arrest and a police party from Haryana is already on its way to Bilaspur to take him in to custody. The police is also interrogating him in this case and also for his involvement in any other such cases.
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Tenzin, a Class IX student, died while 80 other students of Tibetan Children Village, a residential school, fell ill allegedly due to food poisoning last night.
Shimla, September 21
l Spending on education must go up
l Provide better facilities to rural schools
With at least one youth from every panchayat in Kullu district serving sentence for drug trafficking and peddling, increasing incidents of chemical substance abuse, especially among youths could lead to a very dangerous situation in the coming decades.
Mandi, September 21
