Sanawar, April 16
They came, they saw and they changed their perception about India. When a group of 15 students from Pakistan crossed over on their maiden visit, the first and most striking impression was how familiar most of the things here were. Be it the people, the language or the food.

“When we started our journey, we were apprehensive of the view that things would be a lot different in India, Mohammad Aarif, a Class X student and son of an army officer, said. “It now seems that it is only the border that separates the people,” he added.

The students were from Lawrence College, Ghora Gali in Murree Hills, about an hour’s drive from Islamabad and were here along with their Principal, Air Cmde Farooq H Kayani (retd) and four teachers, on a reciprocal to Lawrence School, Sanawar. A delegation from Sanawar had visited the college last year. Both are sister institutes as both were founded by Sir Henry Lawrence during the Raj.

“The generosity and hospitality of the people here are heart warming,” Amir Azeez, another student, said. “We had heard many things about India before coming here, but now find that the ground reality is different. It has been a great trip,” added Sikander Ahmed.

Lawrence College, an all boys residential institute, is stated to among the most sought-after schools in Pakistan and there is a tough competition for admission. The students initially seemed a bit hesitant to interact with girl students at Sanawar, but gradually opened up across the dining table

Pointing out that the students became very excited after entering India due to the commonality of societal aspects in India and Pakistan, Air Cmde Kayani said the process of mutual interaction must continue and the younger generation should be given more opportunities to visit each other’s countries. Teachers accompanying the students said even the process to shortlist the visiting students was tough due to the huge response and pressure from parents.

Shying away from questions relating to issues like Indo-Pak ties and internal situation in Pakistan, they said they did not indulge in politics and pointed out that religion played a very important role in their day-to-day lives and many of their habits and manners of doing things were derived from their beliefs.

The visiting students also took part in the Hodson Runs, an annual sports event held at Sanawar in the memory of Major Wiliam Hodson, who was a close associate of Sir Lawrence who had helped him establishing the school. Major Hodson also raised a cavalry regiment called Hodson’s Horse, which is how an Indian armoured regiment known as 4 Horse. The regiment was presented the President’s Standard about two years ago.

Dharamsala, April 16
Making his first political statement after announcing retirement, Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama has called on the international community, governments around the world and NGOs to persuade China to “exercise restraint” in dealing with the situation in Tibet’s Ngaba region.

According to Tibetan sources here, the region has remained tense since Tuesday following confrontation between local population and Chinese troops.

The Tibetan leader, currently in Sweden on a visit, has posted this message on his website. He expressed concerns that the current situation if not controlled could become explosive with catastrophic consequences for the Tibetans in Ngaba.

“In view of this, I urge both the monks and the Tibetans of the area not to do anything that might be used as a pretext by the local authorities to massively crackdown on them,” said the Tibetan leader in an appeal letter posted on his official website.

He said use of force means dealing with the problems in Tibet had only deepened the grievances and resentment of the Tibetans.

He appealed to the Chinese leadership to adopt a realistic approach and address the genuine grievances of the Tibetans with courage and wisdom and restrain from using force in handling this situation.

The situation in Ngaba was reportedly tense ever since the Chinese Government’s troops being brought into Ngaba Kirti monastery had a confrontation with the local Tibetan civilians who tried to stop the troops from entering into the monastery on Tuesday.

The Tibetan sources here alleged that two elderly women were seriously injured after the Chinese troops indiscriminately beat up Tibetans and let loose police dogs upon them.

The situation around the Kirti monastery, one of the most prominent monasteries in the Ngaba region, has allegedly remained tense following the death of a Tibetan monk, Phuntsok, who set himself ablaze in protest on March 16 - marking three years since the Chinese armed forces cracked down heavily on Tibetan protesters in the region in 2008.

The exile Tibetan government and parliament, meanwhile, have also urged both the Chinese government and the Tibetans in Ngaba to exercise utmost restraint. They urged the Chinese government to immediately lift the blockade on the Kirti monastery.

Solan, April 16
With no success in nabbing three undertrial prisoners from the Baddi jail despite a lapse of one week, ADGP (Law and Order) SR Marhi has pulled up the policemen for their failure to handcuff prisoners as laid down in the police manual.

The ADGP, who visited Baddi today, held a meeting with police officials where SP Gurdev Chand Sharma, the DSP and the SHOs of Baddi district were present. He took a strict note of the laxities which had perked up the crime rate in the recent past.

Taking up the erring policemen whose laxity had led to the escape of three undertrial prisoners, he instructed them to ensure the handcuffing of criminals to avert such mishaps in the future.

Marhi directed the policemen to undertake patrolling as being a border area the incidence of various crimes here was higher than in the rest of the state. He discussed the progress of various pending cases and directed the policemen for the speedy completion of investigation works.

With a proclaimed offender blatantly demanding ransom from investors, the AGDP gave directions for nabbing the absconding criminal so as to restore confidence among the investors and create a secure atmosphere for the residents.

Marhi said issues relating to the violations of the Motor Vehicles Act which impeded the smooth movement of traffic were also discussed so that the rate of accidents was reduced.

The field staff had been especially directed to perform as curtailing crimes depended much on their working.

Solan, April 16
With proclaimed offender (PO) Mohan Singh openly challenging the police by demanding cash from industrialists in the Nalagarh industrial area, a palpable fear has gripped the industrial workforce that is feeling helpless and insecure.

Though the investors, under the banner of the Nalagarh Industries Association (NIA), had convened an emergency meeting last week to press for an early solution, the relief is yet to come.

A leading plywood manufacturer was directed to hand over Rs 5 lakh by the PO who visited his unit twice and warned him of dire consequences in case his demand was not met. While this was not an isolated incident where money had been demanded from the investors, the police has failed even to enforce any fear of law.

This incident has terrorised the entire industrial belt and the investors are demanding his immediate arrest. It is surprising to note that the PO is blatantly demanding ransom and the police has failed to initiate harsh measures like attaching his property in his native village which is also located in Nalagarh subdivision.

Though a strategy was worked out to nab the PO sometime back and the PO had contacted the then SP to surrender, the move was scuttled due to difference of opinion among the officials and this information was leaked out to the PO who had then given up the idea of surrendering.

This incident had not only proved how the PO had made inroads into the police network, but also the police loyalty to the PO.

The sagging image of the police received another jolt with the escape of three prisoners from the Baddi jail last week. While this has cast aspersions on the role of the policemen on duty, it has also lent credence to their casualness and sense of responsibility.

SP Baddi Gurdev Chand Sharma, who recently joined the area, however, said efforts were afoot to nab the PO. He added that the policemen on duty had been suspended and an inquiry had been conducted to inquire into the laxity.

Kullu, April 16
The UPA Government has totally failed in controlling prices and corruption at all levels. This was stated by BJP Mahila Morcha Chairperson Smriti Irani at the fortnight-long anti-graft campaign launched by the party from the historical Dhalpur ground here today.

Addressing a large gathering, Smriti said the “economist” (referring to the Prime Minister) of the country had yielded to the personal interests of the UPA allies in checking price rise of essential commodities.

She said the BJP had vowed to unseat the present government at the Centre and the Mahila Morcha had been assigned this responsibility. She said the campaign was nationwide on the call of BJP President Nitin Gadkari and women activists of the BJP would go door to door carrying the message of corruption and price rise under by the UPA Government.

Smriti lauded the achievements of the Himachal Pradesh BJP Government despite the cold attitude of the Central government in giving financial support and packages to the hill states.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, state BJP President Khimi Ram Sharma, ministers Jai Ram Thakur, Sarween Chaudhary and many senior BJP leaders were present at the dias.

Kangra, April 16
Four persons were killed in road accidents, three others due to drowning and one died in another road accident on Thursday in the district.

Kangra SP Daljeet Singh Thakur said on Friday that Rattan Chand (70) of Khoula was hit by a Maruti van (HP 36 A 8377) when the van driver was overtaking a vehicle at Khoula Thursday evening. The van was coming from Sapri and going towards Jwalamukhi.

He said injured Rattan Chand was rushed to Tanda Medical College Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on the way.

The police arrested the van driver Ravi Kumar of Chou village and a case under Sections 279, 337 and 404-A, IPC, was registered.

In different drowning incidents, three youths drowned in the district on Thursday while taking a bath on the occasion of Baisakhi. Rajesh, a Class X student, was drowned in the Gaj river near Nagrota Surian. He was rushed to Nagrota Surian hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Gaurv Jasrotia was drowned in the Beas at Mand Indora. His body was fished out after four hours by fishermen.

Rohit Dadwal, 20, a resident of Amb Pathiar, got drowned in the Beas. By the time the rescue boat reached the spot, Rohit was already dead.

Palampur: Two persons were killed in two different accidents near here on Saturday. A woman was crushed to death at the Rajpur Chowk when a truck hit the motor cycle she was riding on the way to board a bus. She died on the spot.

In another accident, a child was killed when she fell off from a motorcycle near Pharehar village on the Pathankot-Manali national highway. The accident took place when her father riding the motor cycle tried to over take a bus and the rear portion of the bus hit him. The parents of the deceased also received serious injuries and were referred to Tanda Medical College.

Cases have been registered in both incidents under Section 304-A, IPC.