Desire to have corn costs tourist dear
Mussoorie, July 26
Tanmay, a 17-year-old tourist from Gujarat, had no inkling that his desire to have a corn at Library Bazaar in Mussoorie would cost him dearly and he would end up paying Rs 2,000 as penalty for the accidental death of a stray dog.

Hearing on Balkrishan's bail on July 31
Dehradun, July 26
The bail application of Baba Ramdev’s aide Balkrishan was moved in the court of District Judge Raj Krishan today. The date for argument on the bail has been fixed for July 31. 

Widows of three martyrs honoured in Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh, July 26
Three widows and another family member of Kargil martyrs were honoured while people from all walks of life paid tributes to the brave soldiers at a Vijay Diwas function held at the district headquarters here today.

Akranta, Uttarakhand Police, Gypsy Young win 
Dehradun, July 26
Akranta, Uttarakhand Police and Gypsy Young today won their respective matches in the 3rd ONGC BS Negi Memorial Football Tournament being played at Ambedkar Stadium, Dehradun.

Negi to take up demands of pharmacists at Cabinet meeting
Dehradun, July 26
Uttarakhand Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi today agreed to take up the long pending demands of the Diploma Pharmacist Association at the next Cabinet meeting.

Cleric tells devotees to shun wrong deeds during Ramzan
Haridwar, July 26
Muslim cleric Dr Ahsaan Sabri has urged devotees observing fast during the month of Ramzan to refrain from wrong deeds during the period. Sabri was speaking at a religious function organised by Anjuman Gulanamey Auliya at Jwalapur today in memory of Peer Baba Farid Ganj Shakar of Sabir Sahib of the Piran Kaliyar shrine.

Haridwar, July 26
Touted as a major revamp for the party's post-Assembly loss in Uttarakhand, the two-day executive meeting held at Haridwar failed to rejuvenate the BJP both at the organisational level and in the eyes of the public.

Despite presence of all major state leaders, including three former Chief Ministers, the BJP failed to even dwell openly on factionalism, forget about taking any disciplinary action against rebels whose activities had been rocking the party boat since the Assembly elections.

While many losing legislators, including the then Chief Minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, had alleged open sabotage of the election at Kotdwara, party Central leaders gave the message of forgetting the past.

Instead of reviewing the party's loss during the Assembly elections, the saffron party executive leaders focused on just the four-month tenure of the Congress state government spearhead by Vijay Bahuguna.

Khanduri's historic defeat was not even touched upon, though former Pauri legislator Mohan Singh Gaonwasi tabled the analysis of 14 Assembly segments where the BJP suffered losses owing to inner factionism and improper allocation of the party ticket.

When questioned, party state chief Bishan Singh Chufal tried to brush aside any debate on the causes of the loss, and, instead, said the Kotdwara episode was now a thing of the past, and the party was looking forward to the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection.

State in charge Thawar Singh Gehlot, however, said the margin of defeat was "very low."

He said that party could have gained a majority had developmental work carried out by the BJP government been taken to every voter. The benefits of the hard work done by the BJP were reaped by the Congress, he added.

The meeting decided to hold elections for the state's party chief by December 15, with divisional-district organisational elections by October.

Prior to this, a mega membership drive will be carried out to induct 20 per cent of the party workers of the total population of the state by August 15, with the formation of local unit wings by September.

Former Chief Minister Nityanand Swami, who remained present on both days, termed Uttarakhand as a state which is "Urja Pradesh" just on paper. He backed the demand for smaller hydro projects but with due consideration to environment and local heritage.

Just one political resolution was passed at the convention, which was on the 4-month tenure of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, whose governance was termed as total failure marred by factionism and trading of legislators.

Facing a humiliating defeat in Sitarganj by the hands of CM Vijay Bahuguna, the party focused on giving a befitting reply by snatching the Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha seat, which was won by Bahuguna in 2009.

Though a consensus could not be arrived at during the convention on fielding a winning candidate, names of Raj Mata Laxmi Shah, Matbar Singh Kandari and Vinod Chamoli were discussed as per party insiders.

Mussoorie, July 26
Tanmay, a 17-year-old tourist from Gujarat, had no inkling that his desire to have a corn at Library Bazaar in Mussoorie would cost him dearly and he would end up paying Rs 2,000 as penalty for the accidental death of a stray dog.

The incident occurred around noon today in the presence of policemen who stood there as silent onlookers when the tourist was forced to pay Rs 2,000 as compensation to a corn vendor, who claimed that he owned the dog.

Tanmay, a tourist from Porbandar in Gujarat, was buying a corn from the vendor near Library Bazaar when a stray dog suddenly appeared from nowhere. It tried to bite Tanmay’s leg while he was talking to the vendor. The dog while retreating came under the wheels of a vehicle and was crushed to death. The vendor claimed that he owned the dog. An eyewitness tried to explain to the vendor that the dog died accidentally and the tourist was not at fault, but he was adamant and blamed Tanmay for the death of the dog. He demanded Rs 20,000 for the dead animal.

The tourist fearing trouble approached the nearest police help centre. But police officials on duty, instead of helping him, persuaded him to pay Rs 2,000 to the vendor to settle the issue. The hapless tourist had to shelve out Rs 2,000 for no fault of his.

Meanwhile, the police made no efforts to apprehend the person under whose vehicle the dog was crushed to death. Other tourists, who were present there, said it was unfortunate that the police did not deem it fit to enquire whether the dog had an identity collar around its neck.

Local shopkeepers also alleged that the policemen on duty had some understanding with the vendor and hence they did not help the tourist. It is worth mentioning that the stray dog menace is on the rise in the town and the Municipal Council despite claims of establishing an animal shelter has failed to do anything in this regard. The police station in-charge told this correspondent that he was not aware of the incident. He, however, said he would initiate action if the police officials were found guilty of dereliction of duty. 

Pithoragarh, July 26
Three widows and another family member of Kargil martyrs were honoured while people from all walks of life paid tributes to the brave soldiers at a Vijay Diwas function held at the district headquarters here today.

“The main programme was organised at Maharaja K. Park on the campus of 69 Mountain Brigade where officers and jawans of the brigade paid tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during Kargil war of 1999,” said GS Mehta, Zila Sainik Kalyan Adhikari, who was the organiser of the programme.

Mehta said of the 12 brave soldiers who laid down their lives during Kargil war, widows of Kishen Singh, Girish Samant and Jawahar Singh, besides a member of paratrooper Kundal Singh Belal’s family were honoured by Brigade Commander of 69 Mountain Brig Sandeep Kala.

“Besides honouring the widows of the brave soldiers, wreaths were also placed on the memorial by people, including retired and serving soldiers, advocates, sportspersons, district administration officials, ITBP and SSB commandants and district police officers,” said Mehta.

“An Army band played patriot tunes on the brigade ground in the Army area,” he said.

In Almora, a programme was organised at Ramsey Intermediate College Hall to pay tributes to Kargil martyrs and honour members of their families. “Officials of the district administration and members of the District Bar Association, besides members of the Ex-servicemen Association laid wreaths on the memorial built in memory of the Kargil martyrs in the district,” said AN Tripathi, Zila Sainik Kalyan Adhikari of Almora district.

Similar programmes were organised in Champawat and Bageshwar districts where district administration officials and members of the Ex-servicemen Association remembered the martyrs.

Haridwar, July 26
Muslim cleric Dr Ahsaan Sabri has urged devotees observing fast during the month of Ramzan to refrain from wrong deeds during the period.

Sabri was speaking at a religious function organised by Anjuman Gulanamey Auliya at Jwalapur today in memory of Peer Baba Farid Ganj Shakar of Sabir Sahib of the Piran Kaliyar shrine.

Sabri said the pious month brings one closer to God and the people should imbibe the righteous path as stated in the Koran.

He added Ramzan was the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when the Koran was revealed and hence every Muslim should concentrate on God and good works.

Notably, for the past 20 years on every fifth date of waxing Moon at Ahbab Nagar, Jwalapur, this religious function is organised in a grand manner in which devotees take part in a large number.

Rao Sikandar, Hafiz Mohammed, Sajid Mustkim, Mujmil, Jahroodum, Javed, Afzal Mohaamed and Mohammed Taj Mumtaj were among those who paid obeisance to Peer Baba Farid Ganj Shakar. 

Dehradun, July 26
Uttarakhand Congress workers today lit candles at Gandhi Park to pay tributes to the Kargil martyrs. Led by their senior vice-president Deep Vohra, Dehradun Mahanagar Congress workers gathered near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Park and lit candles in remembrance of the Kargil martyrs.

Addressing the Congress workers, Deep Vohra said the sacrifices made by the Kargil martyrs were unparalleled.

He said the contribution of Uttarakhand soldiers in the Kargil war was maximum in the country.