Dehradun, November 20
The police has failed to prevent bikers from performing dangerous stunts on Dehradun roads, despite their involvement in serious accidents in the past. Driving at reckless speed, the bikers not only put their lives at stake, but also endanger other lives as well.

The police inaction, on playing the role of a bystander, has encouraged the bikers. Despite the complicity of the bikers in the past, the police failed to press any charges against them.

It is clear that a small biker-gang has unleashed terror on the roads, performing air somersaults on the Rajpur road. Even the team constituted by the SSP, comprising the CO (Traffic), has been unsuccessful in tackling the menace.

Despite knowing the gang and the addresses of its members, the police is inactive. As per the police, there are about 30 to 35 stunt bikers in the city and five have been arrested this year. This has not acted as a deterrent to the menace, which has spelt trouble for the commuters.

On Thursday also, the police, under political pressure, did not initiate any action against the two students found performing stunts . The duo, driving expensive bikes, not only broke four police barrier,s but also hit other vehicles.

When the bikers did not stop at the junctions, despite police calls, the latter got the traffic to stop on the Rajpur Road to catch the two. This also led to a one-hour traffic jam. However, the cops, led by Traffic Inspector Virender Singh Rawat caught hold of the biker near the NIVH Chowk.

The police later released the two and their modified bike (MH01-PA-6282) was seized. They told the police they had 15 to 20 such bikes and performed stunts to advertise these modified bikes to increase their sales.

The Traffic Inspector said, “The bikers have informed us that there are around 30 to 35 bikers in the city who performed these stunts. Their networking is very strong and they are always aware of the situation on the roads. We have been trying to trace the rest of the bikers. If the bikers are caught once and get released on bail, they will be punished severely if they get caught that second time they are caught”.

Dehradun, November 20
Twentyone models congregated at JBCC Lounge here today to participate in a sub-contest Miss Beautiful Hair. The event was conducted as a preliminary round of Miss Uttarakhand Contest, 2010, to be held in the second week of December. The contest is being organised by Sinmit Communications.

Jyoti Ruhiwal (Miss Beautiful Hair, 2006), Priyanka Chettri (Miss Beautiful Hair, 2009) and Javed (beauty expert and Director, JBCC Lounge) were the judges for today. They gave marks to the models on the basis of hair texture and how the tresses had been maintained by them.

The winner will be declared on the grand finale of the contest.

Mussoorie, November 20
It seems that eminent author from Mussoorie Ruskin Bond is enjoying his new-found love of acting in films nowadays. Ruskin Bond shot a video, along with eminent Uttarakhandi singer Meena Rana, in Mussoorie yesterday.

According to Meena, the music album is titled “Hum Uttarakhandi Chan” and contains eight songs all sung by Meena herself. She says the album celebrates being Uttarakhandi and, hence, the title. Keeping the title in mind, many luminaries from Uttarakhand have been requested to act in the album. The likes of Meer Ranjan Negi, Pritam Bhartwan etc will also be gracing the album with their short stints.

Ruskin Bond, speaking to The Tribune, said earlier he used to feel uncomfortable acting, but after his stint in “Saat Khoon Maaf” directed by Vishal Bhardwaj (of “Kaminey” fame), he is now getting used to the arc lights and glamour world. However, his first love remains writing books, especially for children.

The album is composed by Sanjay Kumola and directed by Ajay-Vijay and Anuj Joshi. Rama Cassettes is the producer of the album.

Haridwar, November 20
In view of the holy festive bath of Kartik Poornima, the whole city has been put under security surveillance in view of yesterday’s arrest of Swami Asimanand who was involved in Malegaon terror attack.

The whole mela area has been bifurcated into eight zones, 31 sectors for the peaceful completion of the holy bath.

Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjay Gunjiyal, in view of large pouring in of pilgrims, devotees and tourists, held a meeting of police officials of the district giving
them directions.

More than a 1,000 police personnel will be in the city, along with a company of PAC accompanied by dog, horse and bomb disposal squads, fire fighters and water police, round the clock. Apart from this, 52 closed-circuit television cameras will be capturing the mela proceedings at different locations in the city.

People from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other districts of Uttarakhand too are pouring in. Dharmshalas, ashrams, hotels, resorts and guest houses are already nearing full booking. With winter yet to set in, people in large numbers are expected to attend the bath at Brahm Kund, Har-ki-Pauri and other Ganga ghats in the city.

This time, as per astrological calculations, the Mahakartiki yog with Kritika Nakshatra (on which Kartik month has been formed) falls on a Sunday, which is regarded in Hindu mythological aspect as day of the Sun God. All these aspects make this Kartik Poornima festival as well as bathing rituals more vital.

The last time such a coincidence was observed was on November 2003 when the celestial positions were the same. Thus, after seven years, the same celestial positions and Mahakartiki yog on Sunday will be falling tomorrow.

According to astrologers, the apt time for the holy bath begins at 4:30 am and will continue till 6 pm in the evening. Noted astrologer Pawan Krishan Shastri informs that after having a bath in the shadow of stars at night during month of Kartik on Kartik Poornima, the holy bath is done under the light of the Sun and with Mahakartik yog coinciding, both Lord Vishnu and the Sun God’s blessings will be obtained to the devotees.

Meanwhile, in view of the huge expected rush of pilgrims at city’s prominent temples like Mata Mansa Devi and Mata Chandi Devi, the daily early morning aarti at these temples will be held a bit early.

Dehradun, November 20
Students led by Charu Shrivastav, joint secretary, DAV College Students Union, staged a protest outside the Principal’s office for the second day here today.

Charu told the media that they would continue the protest till the time Principal did not fulfil their demands.

Shanti Prasad, district secretary of the Students Federation of India, claimed that the Principal was getting biased towards the fairer sex, as he did not want women to represent the college.

The demonstration was held under the leadership of district president Abhisekh Bhandari.

Yesterday, the Students Federation of India (SFI) has sought a strict implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations at DAV (PG) College, Dehradun, particularly with reference to SFI leader Charu Srivastava.

An SFI delegation, led by district president Abhishek Bhandari, staged a dharna near the office of Principal BL Nautiyal and sought the appointment of Charu Srivastava as general secretary of the college, as per the provisions of the committee. District vice-president of the SFI Ajay Sundriyal and others were also present.

Dehradun, November 20
To celebrate International Child Rights Day, the Ankit Social Welfare Society today organised a drawing competition among children of slum areas. The programme was inaugurated by Kamlesh Raman, president, Mahila Morcha Mahanagar Congress Committee.

As many as 50 students divided in a group of six each took part. The judges included Ram Kumar Jaswal, Nisha, Minni and Rishab. Girls from Lakkhi Bagh were declared the winners followed by Chunna Bhatta II and Chunna Bhatta I as second and third, respectively.

Dehradun, November 20
With the help of a brilliant century by Satendra, the Human Resource Department (HRD) team defeated the Security Staff team by 109 runs in the Inter-departmental ONGC Cricket Tournament played at Ambedkar Stadium here today. In another match, the Frontier Basin team defeated the Corporate Establishment team by 103 runs.

In the first match, the HRD team won the toss and elected to bat first. Satendra, who came after the fall of opener Mahesh, scored 103 runs facing 66 balls with the help of 17 fours and one huge six. Nishant also scored 34 runs for his team to reach 179 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs.

In reply, the Security Staff team could score only 70 runs in 14 overs. Openers Ramesh and Balwant scored 17 runs each. Amit took four wickets for seven runs only to wreck the Security Staff team.

In the second match, the Frontier Basin team won the toss and piled up a huge total of 173 runs in 19.5 overs against the Corporate Establishment team. Sudhir Bisht was the highest scorer with 68 with the help of five hits to the fence and five more over the boundary. Openers Shahnawaz and YS Negi also scored 45 and 27 runs respectively for the opening stand. Irshad Ansari took three wickets for 23 for the Corporate Establishment team.

The Corporate Establishment team was bundled out for a paltry 70 runs in 11.4 overs. Vijay was the highest scorer with 18 runs. RK Pokhriyal and Anil Kumar took three wickets each for the Frontier basin to win the match.

Dehradun, November 20
Mohun Bagan’s Manish Maithani today stands as a glimmer of hope for football in Uttarakhand. He is the only footballer from Uttarakhand to have scored a goal at the Asian Games after almost four decades. Amar Bahadur Gurung scored a goal in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1970.

Maithani, who was part of the Indian Football Team at the ongoing 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, also managed to score a goal at one of the matches against Singapore.

It was also after the 1982 Asian Games that an Uttarakhand-origin player managed to participate in the Asian Games in the sport of football. Uttarakhand’s CB Thapa participated in the 1982 Asian Games.

Interacting with The Tribune, Maithani admits that a lack of infrastructure was the biggest stumbling block in the betterment of football in the country. He said there was need to go for better video analysis to get better results in the matches.

Maithani, who stays at Shastrinagar, Dehradun, has received no appreciation from his native state of Uttarakhand. “The state government did not find it even appropriate to talk to me what to say of any appreciation,” Maithani said, adding that there was no dearth of football talent in the state that owes a glorious past linked to football. He said while youngsters were into football in Uttarakhand in a big way, a lack of incentives in the state did force them to go for other options.

Not getting disheartened from the Asian Games outcome, where the Indian Football Team failed to give excellent results, Maithani is now on preparing for I League. He is also expected to reach England next year for further training.

His excellent performance at the recent Dakha South Asian Federation games is still remembered by the football fraternity.

Dehradun, November 20
DAV College, Dehradun defeated RMP college, Narsan, Haridwar to become the champions of the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University Inter college Kabaddi Tournament held here today.

In the first semifinals of the tournament DAV College, dehradun defeated SGRR College, dehradun by 41-15. In the seonc semi-finalmatch, RMP College, nasan,haridwar got past DBS College, Dehradun 29-19. In the final match, DAV College, Dehradun trounced RMP college, narsan, Haridwar 43-16.

Dehradun, November 20
Hilton School won the Inter-Council School Junior Boys’ Basketball Tournament 2010-11 played at the Heritgae School here today. They defeated the host, the Heritage School team 19-6 in a one-sided final match. Hilton School showed the superiority in the game from the very beginning and led by 17-4 at the breather.

B Gill, Princiapl of the the Heritage school, was the chief guest who gave away the prizes to the winners and runners-up. RS Rawat and AK Sharma were match referees. David Hilton, Principal of Hilton School, and GIG Mann, Principal of Carman School, were also present on the occasion along with students and staff members.

A fun race goes on at Doon International School. A Tribune photograph

The Bengal Sappers Nursery Knox Memorial Nursery School was established in 1934 in the memory of late Lieut Alexender Knox of the Bengal Sappers. The school was set up as an Anglo-vernacular lower middle class school with substantial support from Lieutenant Knox’s mother. It was raised to middle school in 1936 and became a higher secondary school in 1958. The Knox Memorial Higher Secondary School for Girls was started in 1939 and was the main school for girls from Bengal Sappers families. In 1958, it was also recognised as a Higher Secondary School by the UP Board. The two schools were later merged into the Kendriya Vidyalya.

International School held

The annual sports meet of Doon International School took place here today.

Chief guest Major-Gen GS Bal, Deputy Commandant, Indian Military Academy, lauded the performances of the students. He said Doon International School was maintaining high standards, both at the academics and sports levels. He also handed over prizes to the winners.

Among the winners, Mahak Mehra got the first position in the 100-metre race in the boys section and Rishikanta the first position in the 100-metre race in the girls section. Mahak Mehra was also adjudged the Best Athlete Juniors, Rishikanta the Best Athlete Juniors, Manisha Best Athlete Seniors and Shashank Rana the Best Athlete Seniors.

DS Mann, Chairman, Doon International School, accorded the vote of thanks. Principal Dinesh Bartwal was also present.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn celebrated the 24th annual sports meet with the hoisting of the school flag by Principal Manju Grover

The meet kicked off with the opening march past, followed by pyramids formation by students of classes IV and V and yoga asanas. Children participated in the races and later put up aerobics display.

The finale of the sports meet was the closing march past. The function ended with the prize distribution ceremony.