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Will not spare those responsible for illegal phone tapping: CM
Sukhvinder to take over as PCC chief today
‘Bridging gap within party a major challenge’
No change in portfolios: Virbhadra
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CM to discuss annual plan with MLAs
Probe in land deals during BJP regime likely
Ruddy-breasted crake makes maiden visit to Pong Dam Lake
Panchkula Murder Case
Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary being produced in a Panchkula court on Monday. A Tribune photograph
Handloom & handicraft industry suffers without air connectivity
15-quintal butter idol attracts thousands of pilgrims
Victim of Ambuja Cements mishap put on ventilator
Youth arrested for girl’s murder at Kangra
Woman dies of poisoning
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Will not spare those responsible for illegal phone tapping: CM
Shimla, January 14 Even as the report of forensic experts in the illegal tapping of telephonic conversation of VIPs is eagerly awaited, Virbhadra Singh said those who indulged in this illegal act would be held responsible. “The report based on the findings of forensic experts is yet to be submitted, but once the analysis is complete, heads are bound to roll,” he said. He said the CID wing of the police had blatantly misused the provision of tapping telephones of criminals to snoop into telephonic conversation of political opponents just like the Gestapo was used to eliminate political opponents of the Nazi regime. He said the Congress, while in the Opposition, had expressed these apprehensions, which now seemed to be coming true. A three-member team of forensic experts from the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Junga, are sifting data in the hard disc of CID computers to detect unauthorised recording of telephonic conversations of politicians. It is expected that the forensic experts will submit the interim report within the next fortnight. However, the task of sifting the entire recordings may take much longer. With apprehensions that some of the recordings have been deleted, the hard discs might be sent to a laboratory outside the state to retrieve the data, as that, too, will be crucial in the entire investigation. It was on the night of December 24 last year, a day before Virbhadra assumed office, that computers installed in the technical wing of the CID wing of the police were seized. The government constituted a team headed by Visheshwar Sharma, assistant director, State Forensic Science Laboratory, to check the recordings by the technical wing of the CID and the Vigilance. The other two members of the committee are Jagjit Singh and Rajat Chaudhary, both scientific officers. The Chief Minister said all the cases pending before the Vigilance Bureau, awaiting prosecution sanction, would be looked into. “With regard to a case faced by former BJP minister Rajeev Bindal, we will examine if Assembly Speaker’s permission is required and the case will proceed accordingly,” he said. |
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Sukhvinder to take over as PCC chief today
Shimla, January 14 “The party has successfully demolished the ‘Mission Repeat’ of the BJP and dislodged it from power in the state. The next target will be the 2014 parliamentary poll,” he said. Winning the election was essential to keep the momentum going and an immediate task was to retain the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, which had been vacated by Virbhadra Singh after taking over as the Chief Minister, he said. He said AICC chief Sonia Gandhi had reposed faith in a youth leader for the first time and he would leave no stone unturned to strengthen the party. He said his 15 years of experience, six years as the head of the state NSUI and nine years as the state Youth Congress president, would come in handy in handling new assignments. He said he would function as a bridge between the government and the party and strive to take all the senior leaders along. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Union Minister Anand Sharma and other leaders would be taken into confidence while taking decisions pertaining to the organisation, he added. He said he would start his term with the blessings of the previous PCC chiefs and then formally take over the reins of the party from Virbhadra Singh. The previous party presidents, including Virbhadra Singh, Vidya Stokes, Viplove Thakur and Kaul Singh, would be honoured during the function. AICC general secretary Birender Chaudhary will also be present at the function, which will be attended by the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs, ex-ministers, senior party leaders, heads of frontal organisations and office-bearers of the block and district party units. Sukhvinder will hold meetings with district and block leaders after formally taking over as the PCC chief. |
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‘Bridging gap within party a major challenge’
Chandigarh, January 14 Sukhvinder (48), who halted in the city on his way back from Delhi, said he was eyeing the 2014 Lok Sabha poll to register a win on all the four seats. He said bridging the gap within the party would be a major challenge for him. “My focus will be on uniting the party, especially senior leaders, for the upcoming Lok Sabha poll to ensure the victory of the party,” he said. He said a younger face taking charge as the officiating president of the party was a clear indication of the party high command promoting young leaders in the state. “The road map for the Lok Sabha poll includes mobilising young voters at block and district levels apart from encouraging young leaders,” he said. On being questioned over Congress MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary from Doon being accused of murder charge, he said the party leader being accused of the murder had somewhere dented the image of the party. “Appropriate action will be taken against him, if found guilty. Nothing can be said at this moment as the case is under trial,” he said. |
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No change in portfolios: Virbhadra
Shimla, January 14 The assertion by the Chief Minister comes at a time when there was a speculation that a reshuffle in portfolios might be done owing to a few ministers’ special preference for particular departments. “Deciding departments to be allocated to ministers is the prerogative of the Chief Minister and the All-India Congress Committee chief and no one else,” he said. “Efforts by some quarters to destabilise the government by spreading baseless rumours will not bear any fruit. I advise these people not to indulge in such propaganda, which will prove counter-productive and jeopardise the interest of the party,” he said. Virbhadra hinted that shortly two ministers, one Chief Parliamentary Secretary and three parliamentary secretaries, would be inducted. “The names of the two ministers to be inducted along with their portfolios already stands approved by the AICC chief and there is no change in that,” he said. He said the induction of the two ministers could take place before the Budget session of the Assembly. The names of Anil Sharma, son of former Union Communication Minister Sukh Ram, and Karan Singh, a former BJP minister who won on the Congress ticket this time, are likely to be inducted. This is likely to be done in view of the fact that the by-election to the Mandi Parliamentary seat, vacated by Virbhadra Singh, will be held within the next six months. The Mandi seat mainly comprises Mandi and Kullu districts. He said all the benami land deals that took place during the previous BJP regime would be looked into. “We are still contemplating whether to assign the task to the existing agencies or set up a special commission for a thorough probe into the controversial issue,” he said. The Congress, while in the Opposition, had accused the BJP regime of virtually putting “Himachal on sale” and the issue prominently figured in the chargesheet that the party submitted to the President. He added that to begin with, the government would sift bona fide transactions from those that had been done in violation of the law. He said the land acquired by private universities would also be thoroughly looked into to ensure that there was no violation of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act. |
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CM to discuss annual plan with MLAs
Shimla, January 14 An official spokesman for the government said meetings with the MLAs of Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts would be held from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm and with the MLAs of Mandi, Chamba and Bilaspur from 2 pm to 5 pm on January 22. On January 23, the MLAs of Kangra and Kullu districts will discuss their plan priorities in the morning session while the MLAs of Una, Hamirpur, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti will have a conference in the afternoon session. |
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Congress candidate is Zila Parishad chief
Shimla, January 14 He secured 14 out of 23 votes while his rival BJP-backed Neelam Saraik got only seven votes. One of the members did not cast his vote and one vote was declared invalid in the election held at a meeting under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Malhotra. The post was earlier held by Congress leader Anirudh Singh, who resigned after being elected Kasumpti MLA. |
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Probe in land deals during BJP regime likely
Palampur, January 14 Official sources said here today that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had already clarified that sale and transfer of land to outsiders and non-Himachalis by the previous government in gross violation of rules laid down in the HP Land Revenue Act was one of the major allegations against the BJP government in the chargesheet submitted to the President by the Congress in 2012. Therefore, the Congress was bound to order a probe into all such land deals. Most such land deals were reported from Shimla, Solan, Sirmour, Kangra and Una districts. However, land transferred to over 12 private universities in Solan district remained in controversy and the Congress raised this issue in the Assembly many a time. It is expected that the matter will be placed before the state Cabinet soon. All the deputy commissioners of the state were being directed by the new government not to initiate any follow-up action on the report of the Justice DP Sood Commission appointed by the previous government. Earlier, the BJP government had asked all deputy commissioners to quash all the lands deals in which irregularities were pointed out by the Sood Commission. However, the present government was of the view that the commission had only “targeted” those land deals which were executed during the Congress regime from 2003 to 2008 and it did not “touch” the land deals of the BJP regime. Meanwhile, the government has so far not taken any decision on setting up special courts for the trial of corruption cases. However, the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate corruption cases is under consideration.
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Ruddy-breasted crake makes maiden visit to Pong Dam Lake
Hamirpur, January 14
Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Hamirpur, Sangeeta Chandel told The Tribune, “The ruddy-breasted crake was spotted for the first time by wildlife wardens at the Pong Dam lake a few days back.” About 22-23 cm long, the ruddy-breasted crake nestles in a habitat of swamps or wet areas across the Indian subcontinent. Its body is flattened laterally to allow easier passage through the reeds or undergrowth. It has long toes and a short tail. The bird has a pale brown back and chestnut head and under parts, with white barring on the flanks and under tail. The bill is yellowish and the eyes, legs and feet are red. These birds find food in muddy, shallow water and pick it by sight. They relish shoots, berries, insects and snails. They are territorial in nature and hide amid grassy shrubs and bushes when disturbed. The DFO said, “The arrival of a new species of birds in the Pong Dam is an indicator that the quality of water and flora and fauna in the area is good as birds always look for good environment and food.” The lake, which was named Ramsar Wetlands by the Ramsar Bureau of Switzerland, is a famous abode of a large number of migratory birds from the plains of India, Central Asian countries and Siberia in the winter season. The lake is abuzz with the cackle of thousands of migratory birds these days. A total of 99,888 migratory birds have been spotted in the Pong Dam this season (October-March) till now. Among these, the largest number is that of the bar-headed geese - 30,000. Among others, the number of ruddy shed lacks spotted was 1,556; common teals was 5,600; northern pintails was 15,000; common poachers was 16,500; and the number of common coots spotted was 8,700.
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One phone call by Jyoti got MLA Chaudhary trapped
Hina Rohtaki Tribune News Service
Panchkula, January 14 After the end of the six-day remand period of Chaudhary, the court today extended his police remand by four more days. He would now be produced on January 18. It was after the Panchkula police requested for further remand to recover the truck from Udaipur, Rajasthan, which was used to smash Jyoti’s head that the remand was extended. Though Chaudhary had purchased two sim cards procured on fake documents, one of which was given to Jyoti, to avoid suspicion about their relations. Chaudhary had confessed to the police yesterday that as the girl was forcing him to continue having relations with her, else she would tell his wife, he had no other option but to kill her with his accomplices. “Jyoti always used to talk to Chaudhary on the unofficial phone procured on a fake identity card which made it difficult to get to the real accused,” said a source in the Panchkula police. He further added, “Through the phone call, the threads of the case unfolded.” Though the police has recovered the car from the MLA’s residence at Baddi which was used to get Jyoti from her paying guest accommodation at Sector 21 in Chandigarh, the police has yet to recover the truck which was used to smash Jyoti’s head. Truck driver Tilak Raj is still on the run. It was yesterday when Chaudhary confessed on the pretext of taking her out for an outing for three days, he and Dharmpal got Jyoti in his car. He tried to convince her in the car that as he was busy due to the elections, he could not continue with the relations with her. But as she threatened that she would tell his wife, he killed her. He called Gurmeet and Paramjeet and then all of them strangulated her. Later a truck was run over her to smash her head near Sector 21 at Panchkula.
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Handloom & handicraft industry suffers without air connectivity
Kullu, January 14 From ‘Bhuttico’ and ‘Himbunkars’, handloom cooperatives to shawl entrepreneurs and weavers to shop owners, all are feeling the pinch of the drop of buyers in the Kullu valley. Managers of cooperatives say they used to transport handloom products by air for quick delivery to clients in metros and other countries, but the lack of air connectivity has stopped that as well. Kullu-Manali used to get three flights till 2010, ferrying between 100 and 150 high-spending tourists a day. Air India, MDLR and Kingfisher used to operate even two flights a day in summer, say travel agents. High-spending tourists were not only a source of income for taxi operators at the Bhuntar airport and in Manali, but also the main buyers of local handloom products, handicrafts and souvenirs. “We have no local demand as no flight has operated in the last five or six months,” said Satya Parkash Thakur, president of the Kullu Sangharsh Samiti, formed to take up issues concerning residents with the authorities. “High-spend tourists only prefer air travel. They spend on local handloom products, handicrafts and souvenirs. They stay at premium hotels for three or four days,” he added. High-spending tourists provide 18 per cent luxury tax to the state exchequer. “Crowds from the plains travelling by tempos, trucks and buses and on motorcycles do not buy handloom products,” he added. “The arrival of high-end tourists has dropped to zero. We have no buyer for local products. It is better to have 50 high-end tourists than crowds of thousands not spending here,” said Anil Sharma, president of the Manali Travel Association.
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15-quintal butter idol attracts thousands of pilgrims
Kangra, January 14 Makar Sankrati is a week-long festival being celebrated in this temple town. The idol of butter weighing 15 quintals was made by 20 pujaris in nearly 12 hours and decorated with dry fruits. The idol-making work stopped in the wee hours this morning and aarti was held soon after. According to a legend when the goddess had received injuries during a fight with demons, her wounds were pasted with butter on Makar Sankranti by gods who treated her. Commissioner, Temples, and Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, C Palrasu said devotees from all over the country donated ghee for this purpose and temple pujaris with a specific technique converted it into butter by washing the ghee with water 108 times. Palrasu said the temple authorities received ghee from devotees from Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Agra, Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, MP, UP and other states like Gujarat. The ghee was contributed by local people of Himachal Pradesh too, he added. Chief priest of the temple Ram Prasad Sharma said the butter would remain on the pindi for a week till January 19 this year. He said then it would be distributed as prasad among people and used for the treatment of chronic skin ailments, joint pains and also for making kaajal. Continuous puja and daily Baghwat katha will be part of the festival. A jagrata was held here last night when the butter idol was being constructed. A large number of the followers of Dyanoo Baghat also arrived at the temple to pay obeisance before the butter idol as she is their “kul devi”.
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Victim of Ambuja Cements mishap put on ventilator
Solan, January 14 Though doctors stated that his condition was stable, he was still under observation. The five other workers, including Kuldeep, Narinder Tanwar, Rakesh Kumar, Jagan Nath and Sanjay Gupta, had received burn injuries ranging from 5 to 14 per cent. They were shifted to the ordinary ward today from the burn ward. Apart from this, Het Ram and Bhagat Ram had been discharged from the hospital after treatment. Eight persons were injured when a cyclone pre-heater developed some snag while clinker production was underway and the subsequent opening of the door led to the bursting out of hot liquid which spilt on the workers. Since the molten liquid is exposed to high temperature ranging from 500° to 600° C, all injured had been rushed to the Fortis Hospital after receiving preliminary treatment at the company’s hospital on Saturday night. Dr AB Prabhu, plastic surgeon at Fortis Hospital, said Jagdish’s condition was stable. Assistant vice-president of ACL Dinesh Sharma said all patients were being given the best medical aid. He added that a team of nine managers, aided by technical staff, were looking into all aspects of the mishap. Sharma said the injured workers would be given due compensation as per the company manual. The production activity had not been put on halt. Plant officials claim it was an isolated incident and no such mishap had occurred in the 17-year history of the plant.
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Youth arrested for girl’s murder at Kangra
Kangra, January 14 Kangra district police chief Diljeet Singh Thakur today said a girl of Batiyat in Chamba district, identified as Archana, was found dead in her rented room, which was locked from outside, at Icchhi village and suspect Chandresh Kumar Sharma of Hamirpur was arrested under Section 302, IPC, for his alleged involvement in the murder. The SSP said Chandresh was also serving the Reliance company in which victim Archana was serving. He said the accused had visited her room on January 11 last in the evening and was interested in marrying Archana. He also said a headless body of a man was recovered near Badukhar falling under Fatehpur police station this evening. A case has been registered.
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Woman dies of poisoning
Kangra, January 14 Station House Officer, Lambagoan police station, Sunil Rana said here today that Sarita’s father-in-law found her falling in the bathroom yesterday. He rushed her to the Civil Hospital, Palampur, from where doctors referred her to DRPGMC, Tanda, where she died. The body was sent for postmortem and later handed over to her relatives. In another case Sachin (18) of Passu village falling under Dharamsala police station was admitted to DRPGMC yesterday as a poison case. He recovered and told the police that he had consumed some poison by mistake instead of a genuine medicine. The police was investigating the case. |
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New Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sukhvinder Singh will start his innings tomorrow with focus on winning the Lok Sabha election. For this, he has come with a slogan, “Lakshya 2014, Udeshya Jeet”.
“The party has successfully demolished the ‘Mission Repeat’ of the BJP and dislodged it from power in the state. The next target will be the 2014 parliamentary poll,” he said.
It was that one phone call by Jyoti on Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary’s official phone before the murder, which got him trapped.
After the end of the six-day remand period of Chaudhary, the court today extended his police remand by four more days. He would now be produced on January 18.
Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country today thronged the Bajjreshwari temple here, one of the 52 Shakti peeths of the country where the left breast of Goddess Sati had fallen when her consigned body was taken by Lord Shiva to the Himalayan terrains on his shoulder. They were here to pay obeisance and have a glimpse of the 15-quintal butter idol on the pindi of the goddess on the eve of the Makar Sankrati festival.
