Police relying on DNA samples of 7 arrested suspects
160 persons interrogated for rape and murder of a class VII girl in Pherupur
Tribune News Service

Dehradun/Haridwar, January 14
Uttarakhand police is now relying on DNA samples taken of seven suspects arrested so far in connection with the sensational rape and murder of a class VII school girl in Pherupur village of Haridwar district.

As per Circle Officer Chandra Mohan Singh Negi, till date more than 160 persons have been interrogated during investigation by four separate investigating teams.

CO Negi added that DNA samples of seven suspected persons have been sent to forensic laboratory in Dehradun,the report of which is awaited and which may prove crucial in this case. Meanwhile, as per district police headquarters, Roshanabad, higher police officials,Uttarakhand police, are contemplating on taking help from premier investigating agency of the country, Central Bureau of Investigation in this case.

As per Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Pawar, CBI will prove major help in this case as no major clue or witness has come to light during investigation of this case by police teams.

He added that Director General of Police Uttarakhand BS Sidhu will soon be meeting CBI Director regarding this case,owing to expertise of the national investigating agency in criminal cases.

Meanwhile,Union Minister for Water Resources and Haridwar parliamentarian Harish Rawat has also expressed his concern over the inefficacy of state police in solving this case.

In a statement Harish Rawat also pointed that if need be Uttarakhand government should recommend CBI probe in this case as resentment among people is growing day by day over delay in arrest of the culprits.

Elsewhere protests continued over delay in solving of this brutal rape-murder mystery in the district,with several organisations and political parties cornering state government and state police for their failure to arrest the accused.

Bharatiya Janata Party divisional unit carried out protest at Chandracharya Chowk ,while several organisations, Rashtriya Krantikari Manch, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal,Senior Citizen Forum,Jagriti All India Women Conference have also demanded speedy probe and arrest in Pherupur case.

NGT issues notice to Alaknanda hydropower
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to the Alaknanda Hydropower Company Limited, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the state government, linked to compensating the losses to the residents of Srinagar in the mid-June natural disaster in Uttarakhand. The next hearing was scheduled for February 6, 2014.

On January 2, 2014, the Srinagar Bandh Aapda Sangharsh Samiti through its vice-president Premballabh Kala and Vimal Bhai, convener of the Matu Jan Sangthan, filed a case with the NGT for the compensation of damage caused to Srinagar residents due to Srinagar Hydroelectric Project.

The applicants sought restoration, damage and compensation against the project proponent of the Srinagar Hydroelectric Project (330 MW) whom they hold responsible for the devastation caused to the Shaktivihar, Lower Bhaktiana, Chauhan Mohalla, Gas Godown, Food Godown, Resham Farm, Roadways Bus Stand, Nursery Road, Alkeshwar Temple and other places including the governmental, quasi-governmental, personal and public property of Srinagar in Pauri district of Uttarakhand.

The applicants said the project proponent dumped large quantity of muck generated from the construction of the Srinagar Hydroelectric Project, beside the gates of the dam on the river bed of Alaknanda.

“On June 16, 2013, and June 17, 2013, because of the heavy rains and floods, the water was filled in the reservoir of the Srinagar Hydroelectric Project and the project proponent kept the gates of the dam closed which led to accumulation of water. The project proponent then opened the gates which resulted in massive flow of water which also swept away the muck dump on the river bed causing large scale damage,” said Puran Singh Rana from Matu Jan Sanghatan.

Braving chill, devotees take holy dip in Ganga on Makar Sankranti
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 14
Makar Sakranti - the New Year as per the Hindu calendar - was celebrated with fervour by the pilgrims, here today.

Braving the chill in the air, devotees started arriving before dawn to take a holy dip in the River Ganga at the sanctum sanctorum of Brahamkund, Har-ki-Pauri, adjacent ghats of Subash ghat, Malviya ghat, Birla ghat, Alaknanda, Kushawrat, Gau, Lav Kush, Gobind, Swami Vivekanand, Prem Nagar ashram and other ghats in large numbers.

They also performed rituals associated with Makar Sakranti, guided by the pandits.

In wake of the festival, elaborate administrative and security arrangements were put in place by the administration.

The mela zone was bifurcated into five zones and 15 sectors, with zonal and sector magistrates monitoring the festive bathe.

District Senior Superintendent Rajeev Swarup, Superintendent of City Police Surjeet Singh Pawar along with the District Magistrate Nidhi Pandey, kept an eye over the security arrangements during the festivities.

At the ghats, four Jal Police squads comprising a head constable, eight constables and three divers were also put in place for the festive bathe. Apart from this a flood squad was also deployed along with six cavalry personnel to check any stampede during the rituals at the ghats.

Special traffic plans were also put in place for roads leading towards the Ganga ghats and the National Highways passing through the Har-Ki-Pauri stretch.

Thousands take holy dip in rivers on Uttarayani
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh January 14
Thousands of devotees took a holy dip early morning in the cold waters of Himalayan rivers, including at the confluence of Saryu and Gomti, at Bageshwar on the occasion of Uttarayani today. The festival of Uttarayani was celebrated with faith and devotion across the villages of Kumaon region.

The Uttarayani festival at Bageshwar was inaugurated jointly by District Magistrate BS Manral and local MLA Chandan Ram Das last evening. The inauguration followed a cultural procession by various cultural groups gathered from across the region. The cultural procession was followed by a band of Gorkha regiment.

“Over 10,000 pilgrims gathered early morning at the confluence at Bageshwar from all corners of the region and took a holy dip and offered water to the rising sun God,” said Ghansyan Joshi, a local journalist based at Bageshwar.

Besides Bageshwar, thousands of people gathered at other places, including Tanakpur, Pancheswar, Ranibagh, Jauljibi, Rameshwar and Pancheswar to take a holy dip on the occasion and collected the water of Himalayan rivers to be taken home.

According to a cultural historian, on the occasion of Uttarayani or Makar Sankranti, when the sun enters the sign of Capricorn after winter, the people of Kumaon region offer milk-cooked delicacies to the crow, which is considered strongest bird to carry their offering to the sun, as the festival is considered an occasion to worship the sun god. “Sun worship dominated in Kumaon region from tradition as all the sankrantis are considered as changing days of months and based on sun’s transition into all 12 signs of Zodiac (Rashis),” said Dr Ram Singh, a cultural historian of Kumaon region.

According to Singh, this day signifies beginning of the solar year, which was started by Sakas in 78 AD. “Sakas has such influence on the Indian society that even our national calendar is based on Saka year,” he said.

Procession marks Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
A procession to mark Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi was held in Dehradun today.

Under the aegis of the Rashtriya Muslim Manch, the Muslim community members started the procession from Niranjanpur Mandi and it later culminated at the Sayyed Zamaal Shah Dargah near Ranger's College.

The devotees said Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi is the festival that symbolises the greatness of Prophet Mohammed. They said the Prophet believed in oneness of humanity. They held that the Muslims world over were following the teachings of the Prophet for the betterment of humankind.

A large number of devotees participated in the procession.

Haridwar: Members of the Muslim community observed Eid-Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohamed, with religious fervour here today. The Muslims, particularly in suburban Jwalapur, decorated their houses on ‘Badi Roshani’ and greeted each other. Verses from Koran were also recited and clerics exhorted the people to follow the preaching of the Prophet.

A procession was also held to the Piran Kaliyar shrine, popularly known as Sabir Kaliyari, to offer a ‘chaddar’ where the 745th Urs of Khwaza Makhdoom Syed Alauddin Moha-mmed is being celebrated.

Local people from Mandi Ka Kuan, Teliyan, Maidaniyan, Kotarwan, Chauhanand and other suburban Jwalapur colonies took part in the procession to Piran Kaliyar. The local people gave a warm welcome to the devotees at various points while the BJP minority cell organised a special camp at Pull Jatwada.

Ranipur legislator Aadesh Chauhan welcomed the Muslim clerics and the faithful and greeted them on Eid-Milad-un-Nabi.

Congress activists led by Hazi Naeem Qureshi welcomed the Jayarins.

Chaman Peerji, Rafi Khan, Gulbahar Khan, Arshad Qureshi, Arshad Khwaja were among others present.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch also extended their wishes to the devotees. The chief guest on the occasion, Girish Juyal, said all religions guided people to serve humanity and maintain communal peace. Social activists Akil Salmani, Fakrul, Meer Shahjahan, Sunder, Shahjama, Wazid Ali, Imran, Mohammed Zafar Salmani, Naseem, and Naushad also urged the people to maintain communal harmony.

Guv’s address to Assembly session bundle of lies: Joshi
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 14
Ganesh Joshi, local BJP legislator, while speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in Mussoorie, called a ‘bundle of lies’ the Governor’s address to the Assembly session yesterday highlighting the performance of the ruling Congress-led government.

He said the Congress had used the Governor’s address to highlight things which were far from truth.

In view of the upcoming panchayat and Lok Sabha elections, the state government had forced the Governor to tell only lies.

Joshi countered the claims of the government of providing adequate relief to the disaster affected people, who were still awaiting compensation.

Joshi also lambasted the Governor for not mentioning the pending Lokayukta Bill and the issues of the statehood agitators even once.

He added the government was planning to provide additional sops to the MLAs but was mum on the issue of providing relief to the disaster affected persons. 

Nurses stage relay hunger strike
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
With the Uttarakhand government failing to concede to their demands along with the boycott call, nurses have also started a relay hunger strike that continued on the second day today.

The nurses today collected at Doon Hospital and raised slogans against the government for failing to issue a government order.

“At every forum, the Uttarakhand Health Minister has been saying that the demands have been met but unfortunately the government order has not been issued,” said Anjana Bhowmick, president of the Uttarkhand Nurses' Service Association.

Yesterday after the Cabinet meeting the government had announced a couple of measures to appease the nurses, including disbursement of nursing and vehicle allowance but it has failed to cut ice.

“The vehicle allowance announced by the government is not meant specifically for nurses but it is for everybody. Our main demands like appointing additional director and joint director at the level of the Directorate of Health, Medical and Family Welfare are still pending. The government has not taken our demand for enhancement of grade pay,” said Bhowmick.

Meanwhile, today a delegation of pharmacists met Dr LK Gosain, Director, Doon group of hospitals, with their plea that it was getting difficult for them to discharge the duties in place of the nurses at all the hospitals.

Since Monday, even the auxiliary nurses and midwives have withdrawn from the hospitals to discharge their original duties in the periphery.

In case the deadlock is not broken by tomorrow, the state government will be forced to implement the no-work no-pay rule vigorously.

People savour khitchdi on Makar Sankranti
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 14
Makar Sankranti, popularly known as ‘Khichdi Sankranti’, was celebrated with religious fervour at Saraswati Shishu Mandir here today.

Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi distributed 'khichdi' (prepared using rice) to schoolchildren and the poor to mark the auspicious occasion. It is a major harvest festival celebrated across the country.

In India, it is known by different regional names. In north India, people celebrate it as Makar Sankranti while it is known as Pongal and Bihu in south and north east, respectively. Devotees also take a holy dip in the Ganga or other sacred rivers on this day. Kushal Singh Rana, a devotee, highlighting the astrological significance of the day, said Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means transition.

There is a sankranti every month when the sun passes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. There are 12 zodiac signs, thus there are 12 sankrantis. Each of these sankranti has its relative importance but two of these are the most important - Mesh (Aries) sankranti and Makar (Capricorn) Sankranti. The transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is known as Makar Sankranti.

Meanwhile, MLA Joshi also attended “bhoomi Pujan” for the reconstruction of the new block at Sarswati Shishu Mandir on the occasion.

Akhand path organised on Uttarayani, Shaheedi Parv
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 14
Guru Granth Sahib akhand path was organised to mark the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti and Shaheedi Parv in memory of the Tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh at Gurdwara Sahib Dakra in Garhi cantt here today.

Kuldeep Singh and Baljeet Singh, members of the Ragi Jatha recited kirtan and ardas for the devotees.

The palanquin of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs, was placed in the gurdwara which was decorated with flowers and ornaments.

Religious sermons were also delivered by Bhai Rotash Singh from Gurdwara Guru Singh Sabha and the devotees were offered ‘langar’ on the occasion.

MLA Mussoorie Ganesh Joshi attended the function and announced a grant for a tin shed to be installed in Gurdwara Sahib Dakra.

Executive committee members of the Gurdwara Sabha, including Amar Singh Sodhi, Dilip Singh, Gurmeet Singh Kaith and BJP leader Devendar Pal were present on the occasion.

Post-Delhi victory 100 join AAP in Nainbagh
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 14
Buoyed by its electoral victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, the popularity graph of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is on a rise as more than 100 people joined the party at Nainbagh, a small hamlet in Tehri district, about 40 km from Mussoorie, today.

The Uttarkashi district president Meher Singh Chauhan, in Nainbagh for the membership drive was elated at the response being received by the party and confirmed that AAP’s popularity was not only soaring in the metros, but also in the remote hamlets of Uttarakhand.

Welcoming the newcomers in the party he said it was just the beginning and in the days to come more people would be attracted towards the party that was formed following the Anna Hazare movement a year ago.

He added: there was a wave in the favour of the Aam Aadmi Party as the people were fed up with the national parties such as the Congress and BJP, and were looking towards the AAP as an effective alternative in the political arena. The people fed with widespread corruption were expecting the AAP to provide them clean governance both at the state and national levels.

He also claimed till now around 100 people from Rawain, Barkot and Naugaon, had joined the party as primary members and more would follow soon.

He also said similar membership drives were being carried out in other areas of the districts namely Tehri, Ghansali, etc.

Surajpal, one such newcomer, said both Congress and BJP had failed to address the issue of corruption and the Aam Admi Party with its resolve to fight corruption had brought in a new lease of life to the existing political system which led him to join the party.

Getting rid of polio from Terai region was tough, says doctor
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
Though Uttarakhand has been polio free since 2010, the battle would have been long over but for the confinement of the disease in the Terai region of the state that borders the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.

While most part of the hilly region of the state did not pose much problem and the disease was contained quite early, it was the Terai region comprising parts of Dehradun, Haldwani, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar that proved challenging, and in 2009 cases of polio virus (wild polio virus WPV and P-3) were detected in Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar.

According to experts, polio (poliomyelitis) is an infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system through the mouth (faecal-oral route). Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections cause irreversible paralysis, usually in the legs. About one in 10 of those paralysed die.

''We faced a challenging task of eradicating the disease and the prevailing social and religious mores had to be respected but at the same time we had to get on with our campaign that would in the long run benefit the people. Summoning people to shed pre-conceived notions about the pulse polio drive that was mostly viewed as anti-religious was a tall order,'' said Dr LK Gusain, Director, Doon Group of Hospitals.

It was easier said than done, as in these areas the families were reluctant to get their babies vaccinated with pulse polio oral drops. The task before the pulse programme officers was to spread awareness and enlighten the families about the importance of getting their babies vaccinated,'' added Dr LK Gusain.

By the time the pulse polio programme began to move forward, the attention of the experts was on containing P-3 strain but then came the wild virus strain that posed more challenges.

“It was quite active in Uttar Pradesh and due to proximity to Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and other towns with Uttar Pradesh were also hit. We had to contend with floating population that shifted residence between the two states and an active surveillance system was put in place to detect such cases,” said Dr Saroj Naithaini, former immunisation programme officer.

Rotary members celebrate 3 years of polio campaign
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 14
Members of the Rotary International celebrated the completion of three years of the Polio Free India campaign by displaying a huge banner and illuminating the historic library building in Mussoorie yesterday.

The members of the group gathered under the library building and hailed the achievements of the Health Department and the Rotary International, which is actively involved in assisting the polio free campaign around the globe, including India.

They claimed that even World Health Organisation (WHO) had also declared India as polio free, which is a milestone in the medical history of the country.

The members resolved to work towards the campaign and ensure that India remains polio free in future too. They said polio drops would still be administered free of cost regularly and no chance would be taken as the risk from other countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan still persisted.

President and Secretary of the Rotary International Nitin Gupta and Dalip Aggarwal, respectively, Vipul Mittal, Suresh Aggarwal, Nitish Mohan, Manmohan Karanwal and others were also present on the occasion.

Red Cross gives blankets to the poor
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 14
Indian Red Cross Society under guidance of District Magistrate Nidhi Pandey today distributed blankets to poor people. In the wake of a cold wave prevalent in the region, Indian Red Cross Society members distributed 2000 blankets to the needy people till date.

Last night at Ganga ghats, Bhimgoda, Khadkhadi, Har-ki-Pauri, upper road, railway station, bus stand and Kankhal area, 200 blankets were distributed.

Led by society president Naresh Chaudhari, volunteers distributed these blankets. C&S Electric Limited firm based in Industrial Estate of Sidcul also extended its support to the society's social initiative.

Devendra Sharma, Anuj, Vijendra Sharma and Amit Sharma were involved in the distribution of blankets. Notably, Indian Red Cross Society had also rushed relief aid to the flash flood-affected region of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Pitthoragarh last year.

Meanwhile on the occasion of Eid-e-ul-Minabi, Muslims also distributed fruits to the sick people in Jwalapur. At Kankhal-based Rama Krishna Param Hans Charitable Hospital , Muslims hailing from Jwalapur offered fruits to the patients, setting a good example of communal brotherhood.

UKD (Airy) to organise rallies on February 15
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 14
To demand more teeth for the panchayats in the state, as mentioned under the 74th Amendment Act, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Airy faction) will raise its voice at every district headquarters on February 15 by organising rallies, dharnas and demonstrations across the state.

The party will also launch a massive membership campaign across the state from February 1 to 10, party president Kashi Singh Airy told mediapersons at Ramnagar after conclusion of the executive meet.

“We have decided to organise rallies of party supporters at Pauri and Nainital in the first week of April to acquaint the party workers with the manifesto of the party before the parliamentary elections,” said Airy.

According to party president, the proposals which were passed at the executive committee meet included, giving financial rights to panchayat representatives, recruitment against 40,000 vacant posts in the state, regularising the services of daily wage workers in various government departments, giving first rights of generated electricity from any hydro-electric project in the state to the villagers residing around it and rehabilitation of disaster-affected villages.

We have also passed the proposal of identifying the statehood workers under the right parameters and giving facilities of pension announced by the government to identified statehood workers, said the party president.

BJP legislator meets Guv
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
Bhimlal Arya, BJP legislator from the Ghansali Assembly constituency, along with his supporters met Governor Aziz Qureshi at Raj Bhavan here today. He submitted a 21-point demand letter related to the problems being faced by the people of his constituency.

The demands include making Ghansali, which has been affected by the Tehri dam project, a district, declaring it a backward area, providing access to the people from above the Tehri dam and a high-level inquiry into the agreement with the local people for the construction of the Ghuttu Chana and Phalenda hydropower projects.

The Governor assured Arya that he would discuss their demands with the Chief Minister at a meeting next week. It may be mentioned here that after addressing the Assembly session yesterday, the Governor had convinced Bhimlal Arya to end his dharna at the Vidhan Sabha. Meanwhile, MLA, Mussoorie, Ganesh Joshi also met the Governor.

10 short films by young directors screened

Dehradun, January 14
About 10 short films made by young directors were screened in the first ever short film festival organised at the Jugmander auditorium in Dehradun yesterday.

Three of the 10 shot films were made by young directors from Uttarakhand, which were appreciated by everyone. Doon’s Sakshi Semwal’s short film “Who is my Fashion” and the film by Vivek Goyal, who hails from Kashipur, “farewell gift” were screened during the fest.

Another short film “Do Tola Zindagi” made by Niranjan was adjudged the best film of the festival. Niranjan also won the best director award. The film “Puranpoli” was adjudged the second best followed by “Palayan”.

Film actress Kirti Kapoor, actress and director Urmi Negi and many other renowned persons in the field of art and direction took part.

Earlier in the morning, Brij Bhushan Chaturvedi, who is a jury member of the Goa Film Festival, inaugurated the festival. The organisers received nominations from the directors belonging to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. — TNS

National lead lab inaugurated at Ram Rai Medical Institute
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
Renowned cancer expert and Vice-Chancellor of HNB Medical University Prof MC Pant inaugurated the National Lead Laboratory at the biochemistry department of Sri Guru Ram Rai Medical Institute, here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Pant said it was for the first first time a laboratory had been established in an educational institution of Uttarakhand.

“The research works conducted in this lab will be significant in the treatment of patients. Besides this, the lab will provide a much-needed exposure to the medical students," Prof Pant emphasised it was for the first time such a research centre had been established in a missionary hospital.

A national CME on, 'Recent Advances in Biochemistry-2014,' was also held today in which experts raised concern about the harmful effects of lead (a metal) on the human body.

Lead continues to exist in the human body for a long time. It makes its way into the human body through petrol fumes, fumes from burning tyres, dust particles, etc.

ITBP jawan goes missing

Dehradun, January 14
An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawan, Naveen Lal, has gone missing from the ITBP campus at Seemadwar in the Vasant Vihar area of the city under mysterious circumstances.

ITBP officials have informed his family, which lodged a missing report with the Vasant Vihar police station here today.

Rami Ram, father of the missing jawan, said his son Naveen Lal had been missing from the Seemadwar headquaters of the ITBP, where he was posted since January 7. — TNS

Woman mauled by tiger in Corbett

Dehradun, January 14
A woman was mauled by a tiger in the Kalagarh range of Corbett today.

The victim identified as 45-year-old Harnandi, wife of Vijay Pal Singh, resident of Kalagarh colony, had gone to the forest to collect firewood when she was attacked by a tiger leading to her death at the spot. Her body was later recovered by forest authorities. The woman's death comes at a time when there are reports of a man eater tiger entering Corbett from Uttar Pradesh. — TNS

R-Day for protection of child rights
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights decided to dedicate the Republic Day for the protection of child rights. All the state schools will participate in the function.

Chairman of the commission Ajay Setia said during the campaign, schools were instructed to hold 'Prabhat Pheris' in which children carrying placards supporting child rights would participate.

The 'Prabhat Pheris' would be held in all the blocks, districts and state along with a painting competition.

Nirankari mission gives sheets to rag-pickers
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 14
Moved by a story titled “Dearth of night shelters makes poor, needy suffer” published in The Tribune on January 9, members of the Sant Nirankari Mandal Mission distributed 12 tarpaulin sheets to the poor and rag-pickers in Mussoorie today.

Former MC president OP Uniyal distributed the sheets to the rag-pickers residing in shanties nearby and the Library bus stand. He commended the efforts of the mission and thanked The Tribune for highlighting the plight of the poor people.

Painting competition

Dehradun, January 14
A painting competition was organised as part of Road Safety Week here today .

Congress leader Saket Bahuguna, who honoured the winners at the Police Lines here, underlined need for mass awareness in society towards road safety. Dehradun SSP Kewal Khurana said the district police was observing the week from January 11 to 17. — TNS

TT tourney kicks off
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 14
Director (Personnel), Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited, inaugurated the 16th Inter Central Power Sector Undertaking (ICPSUs) Table Tennis Tournament here today.

The four-day tournament is being organised by THDCIL under the aegis of the Power Sports Control Board (PSEB), Union Ministry of Power.

Nine teams are participating in the tournament. These are the Union Ministry of Power, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, NHPC Limited, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited and Rural Electrification Corporation.

Hotel worker killed in mishap
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, Janaury 14
A scooterist returning from his workplace met with an accident and later died in the Doon Hospital last night. According to the police, Sohan Singh Sajwan, a worker in a restaurant in the Jakhan area, was returning home when he met with an accident at 10 pm yesterday.

However, he managed to reach home in an injured condition. He was rushed to the Doon Hospital where he died after two hours. The body has been sent for a post-mortem.

Three smugglers held with musk
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 14
Forest Department officials today arrested three smugglers from Baram in Dharchula subdivision and seized three tolas (over 240 gm) of musk from their possession.

The trio, Prahlad Singh, Kundan Ram and Mohan Singh, all residents of Munsiyari, had been booked under Sections 2, 9, 39, 49(B) and 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, said KR Tamta, forest ranger, Askot range of the Pithoragarh division.

He said the musk was to be sold to a Dharchula customer for Rs 54,000.

Tamta said they had received a tip-off that a musk deer had been killed by a pocher by laying a trap and that the accused had extracted musk from its carcass.

“The killing of this highly protected animal is an indication that poachers are active in the region,” he said.

AK Upayadhya, DFO, Pithoragarh, said they had alerted their personnel deputed in this sensitive range and were trying to get the details that where the animal was killed.