Commuters on Rishikesh road prone to elephant attacks
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 25
The incidents of elephant attacks on commuters on the Dehradun-Rishikesh road are on the rise.

Last year, the Wildlife Trust of India had suggested for clearing bushes alongside the road and spreading awareness among motorists and pedestrians. However, forest officials are now mulling closing the road to traffic after dark.

Recently, a major accident was averted when an elephant came in front of a Tata Sumo at Sau Fauti on the Dehradun- Rishikesh road. When the elephant banged its trunk on the vehicle and it was about to overturn, the driver speeded up the vehicle and he had a narrow escape.

This is not the first time that such an incident has taken place. Sources say that the increasing destruction of elephant habitat in the surrounding forest areas is the main reason behind the rising incidents of man-elephant conflict on the road, particularly the stretch between Sat Mor and the forest barrier near Rishikesh. Even there have been incidents when forest guards had to face the wrath of elephants and they had a narrow escape.

Forest range officer, Gangasagar, Nautiyal said they had submitted a proposal to senior forest officials to close the road to traffic from 7 pm till 7 am.

Dr AK Singh, an expert in elephant behaviour studies and senior Wildlife Trust of India official, said the winter was the time for elephants to make movements in this Dehradun-Rishikesh region. "In the summer months, elephants confine themselves to the places of water. However, in the winters, they move to areas with the availability of food. Their movements are crop-guided," he said.

Dr AK Singh, who was instrumental in capturing an elephant that had gone berserk on the Dehradun-Rishikesh road last year, had suggested for clearing of bushes alongside the road to increase visibility. He said if the bushes were cleared, it would give time to motorists to avoid a sudden encounter with an elephant.

He further said they needed to make people aware that elephants, too, had right to way.

"Such conflicts can be avoided. In many cases, motorists force their way often irritating elephants and leading to a conflict-type situation," he said.

Kashipur triple murder case
Two accused found lodged in Punjab jail
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 25
The Udham Singh Nagar police, on the trail of two main accused in the Kashipur triple murder case, which led to a communal situation last week, were found locked up in a jail in the Taran Taran district of Punjab.

The police, which was on the lookout for the two absconding accused- Mohinder Singh and Joga Singh, in the Kashipur murder case, found through electronic surveillance that both were in the Punjab. When a police team reached Taran Taran to nab them, they found that both have been booked by the Punjab police in a liquor smuggling case.

The Uttarakhand police has lodged a complaint with a senior Punjab police official in this regard. It was reported that some Punjab police personnel have been suspended in this regard. In alleged complicity with the Punjab police, these two accused had tried to provide an alibi by getting themselves jailed on liquor smuggling charges.

Mohinder Singh, Joga Singh and 12 others were charged for attacking a family, killing three persons and seriously injuring two others in the Udham Singh Nagar district on November 20. The situation turned communal and the state administration had a tough time tackling the issue. Interestingly, the Khalra police station in Taran Taran lodged a liquor smuggling case against them on November 20. Later, Mohinder Singh and Joga Singh were sent to jail.

AS Takawale, SSP, Udham Singh Nagar, said the matter had been taken up with the Punjab police.

11-day Jauljibi fair comes to a close
Stalls for woollens, horses to remain open
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 25
The 11-day Jauljibi fair organised at Jauljibi town on the Indo-Nepal border along the Kali river came to an end today.

However, the stalls where horses from Nepal have been kept for sale and the shops of woollen outfits made by tribal craftsmen using Tibetan wool will remain there for some more days.

The valedictory programme was chaired by local MLA Harish Dhami. Addressing the audience, he said out of a sum of Rs 10 lakh announced by the state government for the promotion of the fair, Rs 5 lakh had been received by the mela authorities. “From this year, we have added new attractions like river rafting in the Kali," said the MLA.

The local administration and the mela committee also felicitated security personnel for the successful organisation of the fair.

Chiring Limbu, a horse trader, said this year they did not do a good business. Following this, it had been decided that the stalls of horses brought from Nepal would remain for some more days.

Likewise, the shops of woollens and other tribal produces brought by Bhotia craftsmen from high Himalayan valleys would remain for some more days, said Ram Singh Paal, president of the Jauljibi Vyapar Mandal.

Procession in praise of Lord Jesus
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 25
Christian community members today took out a procession in praise of Lord Jesus ahead of the Christmas celebrations.

The procession that started from St Francis Church, Cross Road, around 10 am went through Survey Chowk and EC Road and after criss-crossing the city culminated at the same church.

Father Bernard and Bishop Patrick Nair led the procession, which had the presence of a large number of schoolchildren. According to Kamal Francis, Catholics identify Lord Jesus as King of Kings on this day and take out procession in his praise.

The police also made arrangements for peaceful conduct of the procession.

Folk singer Negi, troupe enthral
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 25
For students and staff of Sri Devbhoomi Institute of Science and Technology, it was a unique experience today as renowned folk singer Narendra Singh Negi and his troupe enthralled them with their folk songs and dances.

The students from outside the state were introduced to local culture folk music and dance.

The cultural fete of the institute was inaugurated by its Director Srinivas Nautiyal by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The programme started with the Saraswati vandana.

The audience was then enthralled by rhythmic folk dance from Chamoli district ‘Chanchri’. Negi, started with a soothing solo song ‘Teri roop ki choul ma’.

A folk dance from the Nanda Devi region was also presented. ‘Merku pahadi mat bolo, mein Dehradun wala hun’ and ‘Dwigati baisakh soorma’ sung by Negi held the audience spellbound.

‘Bhalu Lagdi Bhanoli’, a group folk dance on weather and farming showcased yet another aspect of the state culture. Usha Negi, Manju Sundriyal and Deepa also presented folk songs on the occasion. The troupe’s performance also took the audience to the Kumaon and Jaunsar regions by presenting various folk dances from these regions.

PFA resents Corbett director's instructions to rangers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 25
People for Animals, Uttarakhand, has expressed strong reservations over Corbett director's instructions to all rangers of Corbett Park to ensure arrangements of selling meals and refreshments to tourists through Staff Welfare Society.

In a statement issued today, People for Animals, Uttarakhand, member-secretary, Gauri Maulekhi, said it was unfortunate that the Director of Corbett National Park had been compelling forest rangers to cook and wash dishes for tourists who visit the park, instead of guarding forests.

"In an order dated Nov 6, 2012, the Park Director Ranjan Misra has instructed all rangers of Corbett Park to ensure arrangements of selling meals and refreshments to tourists through Staff Welfare Society and the order has also been implemented in Bijrani and Sarpduli ranges," Gauri Maulekhi argued.

She said no such Staff Welfare Society existed in Uttarakhand which can run these canteens and cook meals for visitors. The rangers had been managing the canteens themselves and through forest guards, watchers and other daily wagers hired to guard the forests.

Further elaborating, she pointed out that one vehicle was provided to each ranger in Corbett to be used during official rounds and for ensuring safety and observance of rules in the park. "These vehicles are being used by rangers to buy perishables such as vegetables, milk and rations etc for dhabas that they are being asked to run. The nearest market in Ramnagar is 50 km away. For perishables, the vehicles are occupied practically all day. The rangers busy negotiating with vendors instead of attending to their official duties," she asserted. She added that this was also affecting locals adversely, who were performing all these duties as part of their livelihood.

Maulekhi said the matter had also been brought to the notice of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and they were awaiting action from the authority.

Songs, fun games mark Husband’s Nite
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 25
The Ladies Club Forest Research Institute organised Husband's Nite yesterday under the guidance of Usha Bahuguna, the chairperson of the club, and Poonam Bhojvaid the president of the club.

The colourful programme organised on the occasion included a Ganesh Vandana, qawwali followed by songs and dances. The last cultural item was giddha from Punjab. Many fun games were also organised.

Their team members secretary Sandhya Tripathi, joint secretary Shubra Barthwal, treasurer Sudha Pandey, Seema Ashutosh and Vidhu Gupta put in great efforts to make the programme memorable.

The function was presided by Indian Council Forestry Research and Education Director General VK Bahuguna and Forest Research Institute Director Dr PP Bhojvaid.

Dr VK Bahuguna appreciated the composition of the programme.

He spoke about that role of women in economy and congratulated the participants. P.P. Bhojvaid applauded the effort made by the members of the ladies club, FRI.

Doon Intl corner glory in b’ball tourney

Dehradun, November 25
The following are the results of the Progressive Schools Principals' Association Inter-School Basketball Tournament held at Doon International School here today.

Boys (under-19 years): Children Academy beat Gautam International School 24-20, Asian School beat Kendriya Vidyalaya, FRI, 24-09, Summer Valley School beat Pestleweed School 32-26, Summer Valley School beat Kendriya Vidyalaya, FRI, 14-04, Asian School beat Pestleweed School 20-09, Doon International School beat Children Academy 25-12 and Doon International School beat Gautam International School 22-17.

Girls (under 19 years):Doon International School beat Asian School 19-08, Gautam International School beat Children Academy 10-05.

Boys (Under 15 years):

Doon International School beat Gautam International School 22-11, Pestleweed beat St Mary's school 24-06, Doon International school (A) beat KC Public School 29-04, Asian School beat Pestleweed School 21-11.—TNS

60 students complete web-designing course
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 25
A valedictory function was held to commemorate the successful completion of web designing batch of students trained by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and Orion Edutech here yesterday.

Sixty students were presented certificates issued by the government-affiliated IIE by Poonam Sinha, Regional Director, IIE.

Orion Edutech has collaborated with the IIE as an academic partner for providing extensive training on different subjects like hardware and networking, web designing, fashion designing, DTP etc. It provides extensive completely free of cost. Recently, two batches of web designing were completed. The placement process for the interested participants has already been initiated by the Kolkata head office.

Sinha showed keen interest in the programme as web designing provides excellent entrepreneurship opportunities to urban and rural people.

Three killed, 2 hurt in Pithoragarh accidents
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 25
Three persons were killed while two sustained serious injuries in separate accidents in various parts of the district last evening.

The driver of a car was killed while a newly married couple was injured when their vehicle collided head-on with a truck at Chaura on the Gangolihat Ghat road.

While driver Suresh Chandra Joshi, a resident of Champawat, died on the spot, the injured couple was taken to the Pithoragarh District Hospital, said MA Khan, in charge, Gangolihat thana.

In another accident, a woman drowned in the Gori river in the Madkot area of the district. The accident took place when the victim, Kalawati Devi (45), was crossing the river on a temporary trolley. Suddenly, its chain broke and she drowned. Her body is yet to be recovered.

In yet another accident, 28-year-old Neeraj Singh Panwar fell into a gorge in Didihat subdivision last evening.

The accident took place when he had gone to answer the call of nature. His body has been recovered.

Govt blamed for flaws in PDS

Dehradun, November 25
The Uttarakhand Parivartan Party today organised a sensitisation programme at Karanpur, Dehradun, apprising them of flaws in the Public Distribution System.

Addressing a gathering, party spokesman Rajeev Kothari said today the Public Distribution System (PDS) was full of discrepancies and most of the PDS foodgrains were being sold in the open market.

He said similarly the subsidy on LPG cylinders had been waived putting unnecessary burden on the middle class.

District Dehradun president, UPP, Kuldeep Madhwal accused the state government of being involved in large scale corruption affecting the PDS in the state. —TNS

Book on journalism

Dehradun, November 25
Governor Aziz Qureshi today released "Garhwal mein patrakarita aur Hindi Sahitya", written by Dr US Thapliyal, at the Raj Bhavan auditorium here today.

The book release function was organised under the aegis of the Writers and Journalists' Association of Uttarakhand.

Addressing a gathering, the Governor said an able journalist's pen had the power to become the voice of the underprivileged in society and bring about social reforms.

The Governor said the use of the word Uttarakhand instead of Garhwal in the name of the book would have been more appropriate.

He made a personal gift of Rs 11,000 to the monthly magazine "Regional Reporter".

Dip in mercury but no sign of rain
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 25
Though the slight snowfall in the high Himalayan peaks and a hailstorm in lower areas has brought down the temperature in the Kumaon region, there seems to be no possibility of rain in the coming days, Meteorological Department sources of Pantnagar University have said.

"The winter rain has been delayed in the region. The last time the region had rainfall was in October and beginning of November," said HS Kushwaha, head of the department at Pantnagar University.

Leopard injures two
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 25
Two villagers have been admitted to the Almora hospital after they were attacked by a leopard while they had gone to a nearby forest to rare their cattle. "Suraj Singh (22) and Revadhar Joshi (65) were injured by a leopard in the Lamgara block of Almora district last evening. A cage has been installed to trap the animal,” said Rahul, DFO, Almora forest division. According to the DFO, a leopard had killed a woman in the same area a week ago.

The villagers in Almiagaon and Satyal Gaon in the Thal area of Pithoragarh district are panic-stricken these days the roaring of leopard can be heard in the area. The animal has killed nine persons in the past eight months.

Local Forest Department employees said there might be more than one leopard in the nearby forest areas. “We have informed senior officials and advised them to install a cage in the area to catch the leopard before it harms any person,” said an official.

Not just leopards but wild boars have also swept a wave of fear over the villages. According to information, wild boar has injured a villager of Selakot village of Dhauladevi block of Almora district last evening. The villager was working in his field when he was attacked by a wild boar. “Nandan Singh was attacked by a wild boar and he has received injuries on his hands and chest and one of his leg bones has also fractured,” said Jaman Singh, former gram pradhan, Selakot.

The villagers said they would launch an agitation if no action was taken in this regard.

Dehradun Diary
Namdhari issue triggers war of words between BJP, Cong

THE arrest of former Uttarakhand Minorities Commission chief Sukhdev Singh Namdhari in the high-profile murder case of liquor baron Pony Chadha and his brother Hardeep Chadha at a farmhouse at Chattarpur in the national capital on November 17 has created a storm in the political and bureaucratic circles in Uttarakhand.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in an embarrassing situation since Sukhdev Singh Namdhari was a senior party leader and state president of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an affiliate of the RSS. The party, which claims to be “different” from others and takes a moral high ground, found itself in a bind as illegal activities of Sukhdev Singh Namdhari started surfacing.

It was found that Namdhari had been allegedly involved in 14 criminal cases in Uttarakhand and there were several other cases pending in other states as well. The political patronage and bureaucratic complicity in his rise to power riding roughshod over his opponents could be gauged from the fact that Udham Singh Nagar district administration had recommended cancellation of his two arm licences due to his alleged involvement in criminal activities but nothing was done.

The BJP is still undecided on showing him the door. It was alleged that Namdhari was the bridge between political leaders of the state, particularly of the BJP, and liquor baron Ponty Chadha. His elevation as the Chairman of the Uttarakhand Minorities Commission is also attributed to his closeness to Ponty Chadha. On the other hand, the talk of alleged presence of a senior bureaucrat of Uttarakhand at the farm house of Chadha brothers on the fateful day has also started a war of words between the ruling Congress and the BJP.

It was rumoured that a senior bureaucrat, who has been known for his ability to fix things for his political masters and considered close to the ruling dispensation in the state, had also paid a visit to Ponty Chadha. Caught in an embarrassing situation itself, the opposition BJP has tried to hit back by demanding that the name of the bureaucrat should be made public. But the Congress has stated that none of the senior officers was present. Interestingly, even state Director General of Police (DGP) Satyavrat Bansal was also pressured to deny the charge. But the DGP in a diplomatic way stated that as per his conversation with the Commissioner of the Delhi Police, there was no mention of presence of any officer from Uttarakhand with Ponty Chadha by the Delhi Police which was investigating the case.

The Sukhdev Singh Namdhari case has again pointed towards a strong nexus of criminals, politicians, bureaucrats and mafias in the present day system.

ND Tiwari's still ambitious

ND Tiwari, veteran Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister who has been sidelined by the party after being found involved in a sex scandal in Hyderabad Raj Bhawan where he was Governor of Andhra Pradesh in 2010, has again started showing his political ambitions.

Tiwari, who had earlier announced to retire from electoral politics, has been giving signals of joining politics. After the Hyderabad taint and his losing the paternity suit filed by his biological son Rohit Shekhar, Tiwari has been confined to his official residence at the FRI here. But of late, the invitation by Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to him to come to Lucknow has again rejuvenated Tiwari.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has been eyeing the post of Prime Minister after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, wants Tiwari to join the Samajwadi Party so that he could win over the crucial Brahmin vote in Uttar Pradesh. Mulayam has sent several party delegations to Tiwari and interestingly the birthday of Mulayam Singh Yadav was also celebrated at Tiwari's residence here.

On the other hand, Tiwari has started activating his contacts in his own Nainital Parliamentary constituency. One of his close aides has been meeting his close friends, supporters and well wishers with his letter addressed to them. It was also announced that ND Tiwari would himself visit his native place in March 2013.

It has to be seen whether Tiwari is interested in himself fighting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections or only wants that his own party should not ignore him. — SMA Kazmi