Six killed as Sumo falls into river
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
Six persons, including three of a family, were killed while one sustained serious injuries when a Tata Sumo fell into a river near Devprayag in Tehri district this morning. The incident took place at 6:20 am when the public transport (UK-07-T-A-2431) was on its way to Dehradun from Srinagar (Garhwal). It fell into the river near the degree college at Devprayag. The cause of the incident is yet to be established.

The deceased have been identified as Darban, his wife Surjhi Devi and their son Satbir, Manvar Singh, Kuldeep Barthwal and Sandeep Panwar. The injured, Pratap Singh, is under treatment at a government hospital in Srinagar. His condition is stated to be critical.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased, Rs 25,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 5,000 to those who sustained minor injuries. The Chief Minister also inquired after the person injured in the mishap during his visit to the hospital. He also expressed grief over the incident and asked officials to look after the injured. Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva has also expressed grief over the incident. 

2 youths, woman murdered at Bhawali
Tribune News Service

Nainital, September 6
Three bodies have been found at Bhawali in a span of 12 hours from last evening. All bodies found are those of the victims of murder. The body of a woman was found in a room of a local mosque. The room had been given to a couple who had come there on Sunday.

The man had informed the personnel managing the mosque that they had come to Bhawali for getting treated at Tuberculosis Sanitarium and since it was Sunday, they needed a place to stay. The man was in his mid-30s while the woman was in her early 30s. The man had even offered the late evening prayers at the mosque.

On Monday, the personnel of the mosque were surprised to see the room given to the couple locked till late afternoon. They informed the police which broke the door down only to find the woman lying on the floor after having been strangled.

It is being assumed that she was strangled with her scarf. According to the police, a polythene bag with the name of a shop in Rampur printed on it was also found in the room with a burqa in it.

Since the maulana of the mosque was not present at Bhawali on Sunday, the name and address of the couple had not been registered in the mosque records. Investigations are on in the mater.

In another incident, the bodies of two youths were found in a car in the Shyamkhet area on the outskirts of Bhawali on Tuesday morning.

The deceased are assumed to have been shot and then hit with stones. The face of one of them had been crushed with a big stone.

According to SSP Anant Ram Chauhan, one of the youths had been identified as Amit Arya of Haldwani. He was involved in making Pahari movies and had also been behind bars a few years ago.

The identity of the second youth is yet to be confirmed since his face was covered with a stone used in the crime and the arrival of forensic experts was being awaited till the filing of this report. It is being assumed that he is Raju Pangain of Haldwani.

The bodies were found in the car that had been borrowed by them from one Rajeev Sharma. The motive behind the murder and the identity of the assailants remains a mystery. 

State sanctions Rs 1.33 cr for Sabla scheme
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
After receiving criticism from the Central Government for the tardy implementation of the Centre’s schemes-- the Sabla and the Indira Gandhi Matritya Sahhog (IGMSY) -- the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Department of the state has sanctioned Rs 1.33 crore for implementing the Sabla scheme for adolescent girls.

The Sabla scheme is being implemented in four districts, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Haridwar 
and Nainital.

The Sabla scheme aims at empowering adolescent girls of 11-18 years of age for improving their nutritional and health status and also upgrading their skills through training.

“The scheme will be run by an NGO with which we would be signing a memorandum of understanding,” said Dilip Jawalkar, Director, ICDS.

Sources claim that the Ukhimath-based NGO Appropriated Technology India (ATI) has been selected.

While the Indira Gandhi Matritya Sahyog (IGMSY)-Conditional Maternity Benefit Scheme for pregnant women is being implemented in Dehradun district and the process for hiring Anganwari has been started.

“More than 100 Anganwaris will be recruited, the shortage keeps taking place as they leave mid-way,” said Dilip Jawalkar.

Nainital villages reel under power crisis
Tribune News Service

Nainital, September 6
Interior parts of Nainital district, particularly Okhalkanda, Betalghat, Bhimtal and Dhari blocks, continue to reel under power crisis. The situation has remained more or less the same since the area was lashed with heavy rain about 20 days back.

Things have come to a pass that the villages either do not get power supply for several hours at a stretch or if they get it, the voltage is so low that illuminated bulbs are no better than candle light.

According to reports, the people of the Maluvatal area near Bhimtal are among the worst affected. The entire Gram Sabha area is getting low voltage. The voltage is so low that it is not even enough to re-charge the battery of mobile phones, what to talk of operating any electrical appliance.

The trouble had started when a transformer and an electric pole was washed away. The transformer continues to lie on the river bed and Power Department officials have somehow managed to provide an alternative arrangement which is not serving any purpose. The situation is quite similar in several other villages.

This correspondent has been coming across people from the Ratighat area of Betalghat who have been complaining of acute power crisis since August 15. It is not only in the rural area but also in the townships of Haldwani and Ramnagar as well.

In fact, some residents of Ward Number 14 of Haldwani went on to stage a protest against the frequent power failure at Kaladhungi Chauraha on Monday.

In Haldwani, a large number of people are being compelled to spend a major part of the day dealing with the power and water crisis. With the water treatment plant remaining semi or non-functional on account of heavy silt coming along with the Gaula river, the people are facing a tough time procuring water for their daily needs.

On the other hand, the washing away of two electric towers at Dohana near Kitcha has disrupted the power supply from Bareilley and the entire load has shifted on the 400 KV grid at Kashipur which is supplying power to entire Kumaon. This is resulting in frequent power cuts that also render tubewells useless and result in subsequent water crisis.

Similarly, the Bangajhala drinking water pipe has been devastated near Ramnagar and has resulted in a water crisis in the town and its adjoining areas. Efforts are on to provide an alternative arrangement of water to the people.

Protest by job scheme workers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
Contractual employees involved in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme today held a protest in front of the Uttarakhand Assembly.

Condemning the government’s recruitment policy of engaging Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) for hiring workers for implementing the programme,

Dwarika Prasad Devali, president of the Uttarakhand Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) Samvidha Karamchari Union, said, “On March 31, 2011, Minister for Rural Development Vijaya Barthwal had promised that they would be given employment directly by the department on a contractual basis but promise has not been kept,” said Dwarika Prasad.

Protesting under the banner of the MGNREG Samvidha Karamchari Union, members raised slogans against the government and demanded that they should be given employment by the Department of Rural Development. The representatives from different districts participated in the protest. 

Martyrs of freedom struggle remembered
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 6
The martyrs of the Salt area of Ranikhet subdivision, Almora, who sacrificed their lives during the Quit India Movement, were remembered by various political parties at a function held here yesterday.

On September 5, 1942, four freedom fighters from the area had become the victims of British bullets. “While the ruling BJP announced Rs 6 lakh to beautify the memorial to the martyrs at the Khumar ground where the firing had taken place, the Congress lauded the development done by the party in the area during its regime in the state,” said Ranjit Mahra, a social worker in the area.

According to the accounts of the freedom struggle, when the people from all the villages of the area had gathered at the Khumar ground to oppose the arrest of a freedom fighter of the area, Lalmani, a British administrator had ordered firing, killing four protesters. Ganga Ram and Khim Dev had died on the spot while Bahadur Singh and Churamani had succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

“Since then the day is celebrated every year as Martyrs Day in Khumar and Maulekhal villages of the Salt area,” said Mahra.

The main programme was organised in the Maulekhal ground where Uttarakhand Education Minister Balwant Singh Bhauriyal paid rich tributes to the martyrs on behalf of the state government.

“The state government will spend Rs 6 lakh on the Martyrs’ memorial, which has been totally neglected by the former Congress government of the state,” said Bhauriyal.

Another programme was organised by the Congress committee at the Vyakhuli ground near Kumar village. Yashpal Arya, state Congress chief, addressed the programme. Arya elaborated on the contribution of the Salt area in the freedom struggle and said the sacrifice of the Salt area martyrs was an inspiration for future generations.

“It was the only incident during the freedom struggle when the Kumoan region had shot into the limelight,” said Arya.

Almora MP, Pradip Tamta alleged that the state government had not implemented the development schemes financed by the Central government. “Due to the non-implementation of the centrally sponsored schemes by the state government, the state is lagging behind,” said Tamta.

Folk singers of the area, Narendra Singh Negi and Hira Singh Rana presented folk songs in praise of the martyrs. 

U’khand struggles to get its own disaster response force
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
In the backdrop of the Centre sanctioning the stationing of a battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Uttarakhand, the state is still struggling to get the much-needed State Disaster Response Force of its own.

The issue of the State Disaster Response Force for Uttarakhand has been lingering on for years.

While most of the states in the country like Gujarat, Orissa, Assam and Maharashtra have their disaster response force, Uttarakhand, a state being repeatedly struck by disaster is still to have one.

The state has been facing a challenging task dealing with the rescue and relief works in the aftermath of disasters like landslides, cloudburst, floods and even road mishaps.

A large number of pilgrims come to Uttarakhand particularly during the Char Dham Yatra and the administration is often found ill equipped to deal with disasters during the yatra season.

Even in the case of the NDRF battalion in Uttarkhand, it will be the force’s eleventh battalion in the country and is proposed to be set up at Roorkie in Haridwar district.

Notably, it will totally be at the disposal of the Centre and the Uttarakhand government will have to ask the Centre for seeking its assistance. The Uttarakhand government’s role seems to be limited in providing the land for setting up of the battalion.

Admitting the importance of the State Disaster Response Force, Uttarakhand, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre’s Executive Director, Piyush Rautela, said the constitution of the force was still in the
initial phase.

“We had some time back received a letter from the Centre, laying emphasis on the importance of constituting a Disaster Response Force in Uttarakhand as was being done in other states. As the force draws its strength from the Police Department, we had forwarded the letter to the State Police Authorities,” said Rautela.

He admitted that the matter was still in the conceptualisation phase and nothing significant could be said at the moment.

The State Disaster Response Force would be a great advantage to Uttarakhand as it would reduce the response time in case of disasters. This force will also be equipped with standard equipments and will have the best of skills to meet exigencies.

Smugglers dump sleepers in streams to escape law
Tribune News Service

Nainital, September 6
Personnel of the Forest Department have undertaken a major initiative to check instances of violation of laws related to tree felling, quarrying and poaching. Following the discovery of illegal felling of a large number of deodar trees in the Jageshwar area of Almora, the officials of the Forest Department have carried out a series of raids. It is learnt that in order to escape the clutches of the law, the miscreants involved in the illegal felling of timber have now resorted to dumping the sleepers in seasonal streams and ditches.

According to the reports, the personnel of the Forest Department, along with those from the local administration, have recovered 25 sleepers from a seasonal drain on the Naini road near Jageshwar. A similar raid had yielded a huge amount of illegally felled timber in the Barechina area on Friday. It is learnt that 286 sleepers were seized during the raids in Sirmauli village on Friday night from a resident of the village reportedly identified as Gokul Pande. The revenue police is learnt to have registered a case in the matter.

Meanwhile, yet another instance of an armed skirmish between the personnel of the Forest Department and timber smugglers has come to light in the Garappu forest area, near Kaladhungi. It is learnt that a team of the Forest Department had landed at a spot following a tip-off. Just when they had surrounded a group of six persons involved in illegal felling, they were fired upon by the latter. The Forest Department personnel also claim to have opened fired in retaliation.

While five of the accused managed to flee from the spot, the personnel managed to nab one of them who has been identified as Bagga Singh of Semal harsan village of Bazpur. The personel of the Forest Department are learnt to have seized three bicycles and four blocks of illegally felled sagaun wood from the spot. This is the second instance of an armed skirmish between the employees of the Forest Department and timber smugglers being reported from this area within the past one week .

1 held, 14 booked for hunting cheetal

Meanwhile, a villager from Haldua village, near Ramnagar, has been nabbed and 14 others have been booked by the Forest Department for allegedly killing and consuming a cheetal that had strayed into the village. It is learnt that the accused came to know of the chhetal having entered the fields of the village on Saturday evening. They hunted the animal with the help of their dogs. They ate the animal meat for dinner and were preparing some for the next day when the personnel of the Forest Department swooped down on them following a tip-off. They managed to nab Vir Singh while the other 14 accused managed to flee from the spot. It is learnt that a fine of Rs 50,000 has been imposed on the guilty.

Govt ignoring people of plains, says sangathan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
Members of the Uttaranchal Sanyukt Sarv Samaj Sangathan have flayed the state government for adopting a biased approach against the people of the plains on the issues of residency certificate and formation of new districts in the state.

Addressing mediapersons here today, president Kunwar Jupender Singh said people of different communities such as Punjabi, Gorkha, Jat, Dalit, Muslim and the backward category, who made 60 per cent of the total population of the three cities, Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, felt cheated over double policies of the state government. “On the one hand, the state government gave residency certificates to people of hill areas, not to the residents of the plains, while on the other hand, the Medical Education Department of the state government made it compulsory for the students, even from the plains, to show residency certificates at the time of UPMT counselling sessions,” he said.

He questioned the very basis of associating local language, culture, and customs with the employment as many organisations and political parties in the state had been demanding to make the knowledge of Kumoni and Garhwali dialects compulsory for the category C government jobs.

Stung over not declaring Kashipur, Roorkie and Vikas Nagar as new districts, Singh said the demands for making these cities as districts had been raising for many years. Since the state government had failed to deliver on that, people of these pockets were highly incensed, he added.

He warned the state government to take immediate action on these issues or else face the wrath of the people of the plain region. 

Diseases stalk Champawat villages
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 6
Villagers of the Tamli area in Champawat district are up in arms against the fear of spreading water-borne diseases in their area due to consumption of unsafe water as the drinking water pipes in their area have not been repaired. These got damaged by heavy rain last month.

The villagers from Tamli and Chaurla villages boarding Nepal in the Talla Desh area of Champawat district yesterday staged a dharna at Champawat district headquarters demanding safe drinking water for their villages.

“We are compelled to drink water which is dangerous for the health of villagers. We have come to the district headquarters to demand safe drinking water, as the consumption of dirty water is posing a threat of disease in our village,” said Purushotam Joshi, a social worker and former pramukh of Tamli block of Champawat district.

According to the villagers, the drinking water pipes that feed their village had been damaged by heavy rain last month and after the damage the drinking water supply to their villages had been discontinued.

“From last month, we are drinking water from open sources which is non-potable The fear of spreading of water-borne diseases has also gripped the villages,” said Joshi.

Villagers of Pati block, who witnessed two diarrhoea deaths due to consumption of non-potable water, are again facing drinking water shortage as most of the hand pumps installed in the area by the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan are supplying muddy water.

“Most of the schools, including the local intermediate college, are facing the drinking water shortage and students are being told to bring water from their homes to prepare mid-day meals,” said Bhagawati Prasad Joshi, a local schoolteacher.

“The drinking water pipes of Mulakot, Pania, Sango Diyari and Chaurakot have been damaged by landslides caused by heavy rain,” said the teacher.

Shivaji section tops RIMC contest
Tribune News service

Dehradun, September 6
Cadets of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) celebrated Teacher’s Day with a lot of enthusiasm and vigour by organising inter-section variety entertainment competition.

All sections sang an English song and a Hindi song. The guests for the evening were all members of the staff.

The entire function was well-organised by the cadets. All teachers thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

The result of the variety entertainment competition was —

Best singer— Cadet B Vanmalsawma, Best instrumentalist — Cadet Abhishek Dash, Best mime— Ranjit section, Best actor— Cadet Ranjeet Kumar, Best musician — Cadet Rishav Raj, Most upcoming musician- Cadet B. Liansanga, Most upcoming actor — Cadet Shreshth Gupta, Second Best Mime — Shivaji section.

The overall standings were as follows-

1st —Shivaji section- 206 points, 2nd — Pratap section- 197 points, 3rd— Ranjit section—190 points and 4th— Chandragupta section-182 points

The vote of thanks was given by the officiating Cadet Captain Mohit Mayank. He thanked all teachers for their efforts.

The chief guest for the event was Col Pankaj K Kumaria, Commandant of RIMC. He spoke high about the talent of the cadets and was mesmerised by their performance. He was also very happy to see the way all sections practised and complimented all cadets for organising the event so smoothly.

Three-day Chipla Jat Yatra begins
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 6
A three-day bare foot Chipla Jat Yatra, which reflects distinct traditions of people of the Himalayan region for worshipping their local deities and performing traditional rituals, began today.

The yatra started from Syankuri village, Dharchula subdivision, for the 13,000-foot-high Chiplakot lake, where 300 devotees from more than 36 villages 
will take a dip before worshipping the deity of Chipla Kedar.

“The distance will be covered bare foot by the devotees who will return to their villages after worshipping Chipla deity and bringing along with them Brahma Kamal and water of the sacred lake as prasad,” said Hira Singh, a resident of Syankuri village.

“The yatra is organised every third year in villages of the Talla Johar and Talla Darma areas of Dharchula and Munsiyari subdivisions on the ‘Saptami’ of ‘Bhadon’ month of the Hindu calendar. The devotees who are participating in this yatra have been observing fast and various other rituals for the past one week,” said Hira Singh.

According to the belief of villagers, the meadow of Chipla Kot, which is situated between the Dhauli and Gori rivers, is considered the abode of all deities of the people of the Kumaon region.

On the first day of the yatra, the devotees will stay at a local cave at a distance of 5 km 
from the village and from there a few of them will proceed towards the meadow.

On the third day after reaching the lake, villagers will solemnise “Upnayan Sanskar” of young boys on the bank of the lake. Later, after worshipping the deity, Chipla, they will come back.

Hira Singh said after returning they would be welcomed by their respected villages.

Later, rituals to awake other local deities would be performed which would continue for a couple of days.

Policeman honoured in Doon
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
Policemen were honoured at a monthly crime meeting chaired by SSP Gopal Nath Goswami today. On the occasion, the SSP asked in charge of all police stations to solve problems being faced by people at the earliest.

The SSP has also asked officials to check crime and do effective patrolling in their respective areas.

Transferred
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
A total of seven Company Commanders and Reserve Inspectors (RI) were transferred today. The Company Commander of the 31st PAC has been transferred to Nainital as RI.

Traffic inspector Rakesh Chander Devali has been made RI, Dehradun.

Devidutt Chousali, Company Commander of the 40th PAC, has been sent to Almora as RI.

RI Kishan Singh Rawat has been posted as Traffic Inspector, Dehradun.

RI, Dehradun, Chakrdhar Anthwal has been posted at the police headquarters. RI, Almora, Devendra Singh Rawat, and RI, Pithoragarh, Dhanpat Singh Negi have been made Company Commander, IRB, Haridwar, and Company

Commander of the 31st PAC, Rudrapur, respectively.

Conference on teachers’ education held
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 6
A day-long conference on “Teachers’ Education” was held at Nalanda College of Education, Dehradun, here today. Vinod Chamoli, Mayor, Dehradun was the chief guest, who inaugurated the conference.

Dr VA Bourai Principal of the SGRR PG College was the guest of honour.

The programme commenced with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp and was followed by the recital of “Saraswati Vandana” by the student choir of the college.

As many as 53 research papers by various educational institutes of Uttarakhand were presented during the conference while discussion on the advantages of new methodologies in the mainstream education was also organised.

Eminent educationists of the state capital were also felicitated on the occasion.