Tosh (Kullu), May 21
The drug menace in the Tosh-Kasol-Manali area has taken a dangerous turn with synthetic drugs having become a new rage among Indians as well as foreigners. The drug mafia, in turn, is making a fast buck.

From Kasol to Tosh, the last remote village in the Parbati valley, rave parties have become safe havens for both Indians and foreigners, who zero in on remote villages from time to time to “get a kick”.

The racket of synthetic drugs and hashish came to light at a rave organised by a local resident at Chalal village near Kasol a few days ago, which woke up the police from its “long slumber”. There were more than 1,000 persons, most of them couples, both Indian and foreign, at this party.

The police arrested Israeli supplier Moshe Molinas under the NDPS Act.

The police seized “ketamine, 12.36 gm of MDMA, three tubes, 8.36 gm of LSD and 11.5 gm charas oil”.

The police also arrested Sayed Rahim Richard, a British national, and Hikmet Yilanci, a Turkish national, under the NDPS Act. Earlier this month, the police had arrested Abi Lang, Mark Tila and Barlnag, all Israeli nationals, and an Italian, Antonian Rossini, under the NDPS Act. While the Italian has been bailed out, the three Israelis are in jail in Kullu.

The parties are attended by high-class persons, who come in BMWs, Mercedes and other such vehicles, to these villages for “drug, dance and sexual pleasure”.

A more serious dimension of the parties is that simple village children and women are directly exposed to “provocative bizarre dance”.

The parties are organised in open corners of villages under the gaze of the public.

Yesterday, 10-year-old schoolboy Ved Ram and other village children witnessed a rave at Tosh village. The party was organised by Bhuntar-based Jacky, who is now under the police scanner. The couples were allegedly seen in amorous postures at the venue, smoking and dancing to the tunes of hot numbers.

Even young students from Pune and couples from Delhi and Maharashtra were seen at the Tosh party. There were about 80 to 90 “kick-seekers”, mainly foreigners from Israel, Italy, France and Germany, who were on the razzle till 10 pm.

The charges vary from Rs 500 per head to Rs 1,000. Liquor was served at five to 10 times the normal price, said a party freak.

A more deadly trend is that the parties get a legal stamp as the organisers get permission from the SDM concerned to play loudspeakers and the DJ system. This keeps the police at bay.

As the party freaks heard of the police presence in the area, Indian couples started thinning out.

Smugglers are “well-entrenched in the police” and alert the organisers in advance about raids.

SP, Kullu, Ashok Kumar said, “Synthetic drugs are being used at parties organised from time to time in the Kullu valley. The police keeps a strict vigil on such parties and it has adopted zero tolerance to the use of drugs in any form.”

“We have devised an action plan to nab drug users and smugglers,” he said.

Shimla, May 21
Dismissing charges of favouritism by the Dhumal regime in engaging him, national convener of the BJP legal cell Satya Pal Jain today sought a public apology and withdrawal of accusations levelled against him by Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) leader Maheshwar Singh, failing which he would seek legal recourse.

Addressing a press conference here today, Jain said he was a lawyer of repute with a long career span of 32 years in which he had handled several important cases of leaders from all political parties. “Let me make it very clear that I am not at the mercy of either Dhumal or Shanta Kumar for my practice as I am a well-established lawyer and I am paid for the professional services I render,” he said.

He said in case Maheshwar Singh did not tender an apology and withdraw the charges within three days, he would initiate legal action against him. “Had HLP leaders launched a political offensive against me, I could have understood, but I will not tolerate anyone questioning my integrity as I have led my entire life with utmost honesty and uprightness,” he said.

Jain said since questions had been raised not just on his integrity, but also on the Dhumal regime for favouring him, the Himachal Government must issue complete details of the money paid as fees to lawyers from outside the state during the five-year Congress regime and the tenure of the present BJP regime. “It is only these details which will bring the truth before the people,” he said.

The former BJP MP issued a list of counsel and the fee they were paid by the Punjab Government for appearing in the Supreme Court and other courts outside Chandigarh. “In fact, I am the one who should be complaining as the HP Government has paid me only Rs 1.10 lakh, whereas my fee is fixed at Rs 1.60 lakh per appearance per petition,” he said.

He said he had not accepted any retainership from anyone and every penny that he had received as fee was accounted for and complete returns filed. “The charges against me have been levelled with the intention of maligning my reputation as even though the target might be someone else; I will certainly not take it lying low,” he clarified.

“If anyone can prove that in my entire legal career of 32 years, I have made money by unfair means or used my position, I am willing to be hanged without trial,” he said. 

Shimla, May 21
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) today stepped up its tirade against the BJP regime as its senior leaders marched to the Raj Bhawan seeking the dismissal of the Dhumal government for favouring Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) and demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged favours showered on the company in violation of the norms.

The HLP leaders, including its state convener Maheshwar Singh, former ministers Shyama Sharma and Mahinder Singh Sofat and former MLAs Naveen Dhiman, KK Kaushal, Karam Dev Dharmani and Ninju Ram, marched to the Raj Bhawan from Khalini. They raised slogans against the BJP regime and sought the dismissal of the government in the light of its indictment by the high court for granting undue favours to JAL.

The breakaway BJP leaders, who floated their own party, submitted a memorandum to Governor Urmila Singh seeking the dismissal of the BJP regime.

“The law of the land has been violated as the corporate sector has practically been put outside its purview; so we urge you to exercise powers under Article 356 of the Constitution and recommend the dismissal of the state government to the President of India,” Maheshwar Singh requested the Governor.

He said his party had also demanded that a criminal case be registered against JAL, along with a CBI probe into all their operations in the hill state. “All direct and indirect funding that has been made by JAL to the HP Cricket Association (HPCA), headed by Anurag Thakur, MP and Chief Minister’s son, must be probed,” he demanded.

The leaders said both the Dhumal regime and the previous Congress regime were responsible for the present mess. “What were the compulsions of the Dhumal regime to ratify the misdeeds of the previous Congress government; we hold the BJP government more guilty than its predecessors,” they said.

Shimla, May 21
A good cherry crop after last year’s lean season has not brought much cheer to growers who have to content with low returns due to a downswing in the market.

The total production is expected to cross 550 tonnes as against around 400 tonnes last year, but the prices of cherry in the Delhi market, where the bulk of the produce is sold, have remained low all through. The local varieties have been the worst hit and are selling at Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kg. Even popular varieties like black heart are fetching only around Rs 150 per kg. In contrast, new imported varieties like deuro nera are being sold for Rs 250 to Rs 275 per kg, followed by merchant and stella, which are yielding around Rs 200 per kg.

Frequent hailstorms in the Kotgarh area, which accounts for almost 60 per cent of the total cherry production, also affected the prices. The hail affected the fruit quality and in turn the returns. Besides widespread insect infestation, mainly fruit fly, also hit the returns.

“Last year, the average price for good-quality cherry came to Rs 350 per kg, but this season it will be around Rs 250 per kg,” says Gopal Mehta, a leading grower from the Kotgarh area who introduced organic horticulture in the apple belt.

However, as a progressive farmer, he has been using anti-hail nets and using all preventive safeguards to protect the crop. He advised growers to use fine white anti-hail nets which will not only provide protection against hailstorm but also keep insects at bay.

Former pradhan of the Pandli panchayat Pawan Kumar said hailstorm had affected a majority of the growers who were now realising the utility of anti-hail nets. A large number of them had already covered the orchards and others were keen on it but could not afford these. It would be worthwhile if the government provides subsidy on anti-hail nets on the pattern of poly houses.

With the production of apple declining due to aging orchards, the growers are switching over to alternative cash crops. Many of them have replaced senile apple plants with new high-yielding cherry rootstock. Being a low-volume, high-value cash crop, cherry is an ideal option to replace apple.

New plantations are coming up in Shimla and Kullu districts and the area under cherry, which remained stagnant at around 240 hectare for years, has doubled to 480 hectares over the past couple of years. With more orchards coming to the bearing stage, the production is bound to increase over the next couple of years.

Dharamsala, May 21
Judicial magistrate, Una, Kanika Chawala today accepted the application moved by district attorney JR Attri to remove the name of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, form the list of the accused in a criminal case registered against him and 10 others by the Una police.

With this, the Karmapa, who was made an accused under Section 120-B of the IPC in a case registered by the Una police on January 26, 2011, has been absolved of criminal charges of conspiracy and forgery in a trust headed by him.

The court also rejected two applications filed by Tibetan NGOs - the Denzong Nang-ten Sung Kyobl Trust and the Karmapa Charitable Trust of Sikkim that opposed the removal of the Karmapa’s name for the list of the accused in the case.

Last month, the Secretary, Home, had ordered the withdrawal of the case against the Karmapa on the basis of legal opinion given by the district attorney, Una.

In his legal opinion, the district attorney had held that the case filed by the Una police against the Karmapa was weak. Though the Karmapa had been named as a conspirator in the case, there was no collaborative evidence to prove the fact.

Shimla, May 21
Urging the electorate of the state capital to rise above regional and caste considerations to ensure the development of the town, “neglected by the Congress for the past 25 years”, the ruling BJP today released its election manifesto for the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) poll.

State BJP chief Satpal Satti today released a 14-page manifesto of the ruling party in the presence of other party leaders, including Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta, local legislator Suresh Bhardwaj and mayoral candidate SS Minhas. “I am confident that this time people will vote for a change and the BJP will emerge as the obvious choice,” he said.

The manifesto makes a notable mention of the benefits doled out by the Dhumal regime for the benefit of employees. This includes capital allowance, secretariat allowance and housing allowance given to the state government employees. With a sizeable chunk of the electorate in the state capital being government employees, all-out efforts have been made to woo them.

The manifesto also highlights the problems of people of merged areas of Totu, new Shimla and Dhalli. “These areas were merged into the MC, but still lack basic civic amenities with residents having to pay commercial rates for water and electricity,” said Satti.

Putting the entire blame for the woes of the town, including water paucity, parking, traffic congestion and haphazard construction on the Congress, he said people must give the BJP a chance and see the change for themselves. “We will ensure that the MC is strengthened and gets the maximum possible funding along with thrust on resource mobilisation,” he said.

“The Mayor is far more powerful than the Commissioner provided the elected representatives realise this and exercise the powers vested in them and do not get dictated and intimidated by bureaucrats,” he said. He added that there were various issues like relaxation in construction norms in green belts, regularisation of unauthorised structures and haphazard growth of the town, which would be decided after consulting the public and experts.

The manifesto highlights the “failure and false promises” made by the Congress, which has retained its control over the MC since 1986. A section of the manifesto is devoted to highlighting the works done by the BJP for Shimla right from the days of Chief Minister Shanta Kumar in areas like health, education, parking, drinking water and cleanliness.

The areas where the BJP has promised to bring about an appreciable change include drinking water supply, sewerage, cleanliness, ample parking space, construction of over-bridges, lifts and escalators, housing facility for the urban poor, forest conservation, beautification and tourism promotion in the town. 

Mandi, May 21
Supported by the CPI, the CPM, the BSP and other organisations, residents today formed Avas Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti against the demolition drive in the town and submitted a memorandum to the government.

Led by CPI state secretary Des Raj and CPM and BSP leaders, the affected persons submitted the memorandum through the DC, Mandi, and asked the government to stop the drive as the Municipal Council, Mandi, had not rightly pleaded the case in the high court.

They claimed that the drive had made poor people homeless as the government had failed to rehabilitate them properly in the town. They stated that right to live was their fundamental right.

The Ravidas and Balmiki Sabha, the Indian People’s Theatre Association and other local organisations have opposed the drive.

The high court has sought a compliance report by May 29 from the MC, an official said.

Even some affected persons have approached the District and Sessions Judge, Mandi, seeking relief.

The matter will come for hearing on May 23, sources said. — TNS

Bilaspur, May 21
Some prominent Congress party leaders here have condemned and protested against the government order to abolish posts of one doctor each at the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) at Markand and Namhole and the Toba and Mandi Madwan health centres in the Naina Devi constituency in this district.

Led by Zila Parishad members Hoshiar Singh Thakur and Basant Ram Sandhu and district Congress general secretary Ram Prakash Dhiman and other office-bearers, they said in a signed statement here today that this was “a betrayal of masses” of these areas as people there were already clamouring for the appointment of suitable doctors to cope with the rush of patients.

They said on the one hand the HP Government was shouting from roof tops that it had won national awards in providing the best health services in the state, and on the other it was trying to withdraw already sanctioned facilities regarding health services in thickly populated areas of Bilaspur district.

Shimla, May 21
Chief Minister PK Dhumal offered floral tributes at the statue of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi at the Sadbhawna Chowk to mark the state-level Anti-Terrorism Day, here today.

It was on this day that late Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a terrorist attack.

The Chief Minister also administered an anti-terrorism pledge to the gathering on the occasion. Devotional and patriotic songs were sung and prabhat pheries were taken out in the wee hours.

Vidya Stokes, Leader of the Opposition; Virender Kanwar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary; Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, MLA; former MLAs; Madhu Sood, Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation; Maneesh Garg, Deputy Commissioner; Superintendent of Police Sonal Agnihotri; Dr MP Sood, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation and other senior officers were among those who joined the Chief Minister in paying tributes to the former Prime Minister.

Kangra: Tributes were paid by Congress and Youth Congress workers at a function here today in connection with the 21st death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Sanjeev Gupta, City President, Congress, said floral tributes were paid to Rajiv Gandhi at a function which was presided over by Kangra District Congress Committee president Suman Verma.

On the occasion, debates, discussions, symposia, seminars and lectures were held in schools and colleges of this district.

Many NGOs, social and cultural organisations also held their own programmes.

Shimla, May 21
The Congress will hold protests across the state tomorrow, which is being observed as anti-corruption day by the party to highlight the alleged acts of omission and commission of the Dhumal government.

Senior leaders, including Kaul Singh, Vidya Stokes,Viplove Thakur, Asha Kumari and Kuldeep Rathore, will lead the state-level protest here. These leaders will also march to the Raj Bhawan and submit a memorandum to Governor Urmila Singh. Similar protests will be held at the district headquarters where memoranda will be submitted to the respective deputy commissioners.

General secretary of the party Kuldeep Rathore said the party was demanding a CBI inquiry into the approval granted for setting up a thermal plant to Jaypee Associates Limited. The Congress had been highlighting various scams and scandals form time to time and all these would be part of the memoranda.

Referring to the Shimla Municipal Corporation poll, he said the BJP was misusing the official machinery with ministers moving in official cars and camping in various wards, pressuring the electorate to support the party. Health Minister Rajeev Bindal held meetings at the IGMC and Deen Dyatyal Upadhyaya Hospital.

He criticised the proposal for imposing taxes on residents of the merged areas and said the Congress would not allow this and it would reject the report of the private consultant hired for the purpose. The party was of the view that the people should not be taxed until the corporation provided them the requisite civic amenities.

Rathore lambasted HIMUDA for charging additional amount from those allotted flats and plots by it for providing basic amenities like water, electricity and sewerage. He said it was already included in the basic cost.

Kullu, May 21
The police has arrested Sammy Sidna of Ludhiana on the charge of raping 22-year-old Australian woman Jasinta, his Facebook friend, who had lodged a complaint at Kullu Sadar on May 14.

The accused had moved an anticipatory bail application at the District Court here today.

But the police arrested him under Section 376, IPC, and he would be produced before the Judge tomorrow.

The police said Jasinta and Sammy were Facebook friends and were in Kasol where they attended a rave party. But Jasinta in her statement to the police claimed that she did not remember about the incident as she had a faint memory about the whole episode.

The police could not confirm the spot where she was raped as no hotel room was booked in Sammy’s name.

The medical report revealed that the victim had experienced coitus, but there were no injury marks and the woman lodged the complaint three days after the incident, the police said.

She, however, stated that her friend offered her stay and rest in his room, but he raped her.

SP, Kullu, Ashok Kumar said the police had arrested the accused and he would be produced before the Judge tomorrow.

Bilaspur, May 21
Hundreds of villagers, including men and women, drawn from several panchayat areas adversely affected by newly stated Jaypee Industries cement factory at Bagha, including those from Saai Kharsi, Soldha, Saayar Dobha, Rani Kotla and Suin Surhaad, took out a candlelight protest procession from Sai Kharsi to Kharsi chowk against the management, about 65 km from here, yesterday.

Reports said led by zila parishad Chairman Kuldip Thakur, zila parishad members and presidents of local panchayats, villagers warned the factory management that they must provide all promised facilities to local factory-affected panchayats and take immediate action to fulfil their demands, failing which villagers would be constrained to move the high court to get justice.

Addressing their rally, leaders warned that the factory must take adequate and regular steps to control dust and pollution, which was making life of villagers miserable, must keep roads and paths repaired, ensure regular drinking water supply to them, provide cement bag at the rate of Rs 150 to them, start a multi-speciality hospital to meet the challenges of latest diseases due to factory-pollution, provide regular LAD funds and construct pedestrian paths alongside roads.

Kangra, May 21
A 56-year-old man died under suspicious circumstances when he was selling some crockery at a fair near Sali village. He was rushed first to Sali hospital and then to Shahpur hospital, but died on the way.

The police said he was identified as Bishan Dass of Nainital, Uttaranchal.

The cause of the death was not immediately known, and his body was sent for postmortem and investigation under Section 174, CrPC, was initiated.