3 men in OGs bring laurels to state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Three men in olive greens, Major Abhishek Kukreti, Lt Gen Shakti Gurung and Col Mohit Khokran, who received the Sena Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal, respectively, for their dare-devilry have brought laurels to the state.

A resident of Vasant Vihar enclave, Major Kukreti, an Engineer officer posted with the 34th Battalion of Rashtriya Rifles killed five militants in Baramullah district in 2012. Assisted by his team members, Major Kukreti along with a fellow officer took on the militants in a well-planned move.

A second-generation officer, Major Kukreti joined the Corps of Engineers just like his father who retired as a Sapper. Army Chief General Bikram Singh bestowed the officer with the gallantry award during the Army Day function held at New Delhi. Remembering the encounter vividly, the young Major said even though the encounter was difficult he was sure about his team and the plan of action drawn by them. "When you are leading from the front with a team of men dependent on you, there is no scope of getting scared," the Major added.

Major Kukreti said even though his parents were concerned about his well being, they never stopped him from following his dreams. ''They are my strength and have always pushed me to challenge the limits. This is the first gallantry award that I have received and it will always be a prized,'' he added. Lt Gen Shakti Gurung a recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal was given the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal on Republic Day last year.

A resident of Johri Gaon in Garhi cantonement, Lt Gen Gurung completed his education from Cambrian Hall before getting selected for the Khadakwasla based National Defence Academy.

During his tenure as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Gajraj Corps in 2011-12, the officer who was commissioned into 15 Grenadiers, undertook various operations against ULFA and Bodo militants besides protecting the crucial LOC in the Tamang sector, against the Chinese incursion.

Meanwhile, Col-onel Mohit Khokhran, an infantry officer, from the 13th battalion the Sikh regiment, would receive the prestigious Yudh Seva Medal in February.

Demand for holiday on Netaji’s birth anniversary
Tribune News Service

Haridwar January 23
On the 117th birth anniversary Subash Chandra Bose today, various organisations in Haridwar demanded that the day be declared a national holiday.

People paid floral tributes at Netaji’s statue at the Subash ghat here. Chairperson of the Agriculture Production Committee, Jwalapur, Sanjay Chopra demanded that January 23 be declared a national holiday as a mark of tribute to the great freedom fighter and the founder of the Azad Hind Fauj.

Chopra urged the youths to follow the principles of Netaji, who played a pivotal role in the Independence movement.

President of the city Congress committee OP Chauhan said Bose always worked and fought for the poor, women and people belonging to the minorities and laid down his life for the freedom of the country.

Ramesh Chandra Sharma, Sumit Tiwari, Sheetal Tomar, Mukesh Ahuja, Bhoopendra Rajput, Tasleem Ahmed, Tarun Nayar, Deepak Jakhmola, Ashish Goswami, Jyag and Vijay Bhandari also paid tributes at Netaji’s statue.

Meanwhile, statehood agitators under aegis of the Uttarakhand Kranti Manch offered a ‘deep dan’ at the Ganga to pay tribute to Netaji. JP Pandey, a statehood agitator, said, “We are living as citizens of an Independent India due to Bose’s contribution during the freedom movement.”

Woman activist Mera Ratrui said the youths should imbibe the ideals and spirit of Netaji in their daily life as corruption, casteism, communalism and degradation of moral values were affecting society.

The district unit of the Shiva Sena also paid tributes to Netaji and Bala Saheb Thackeray and performed a yajna at the Lal temple. Mahant Baba Balak Nath Yogi performed the rituals. President of the district Shiv Sena unit Devendra Prajapati urged the youths to imbibe the courage and the bold nature of Netaji and Thackeray.

Recalling the famous lines of Netaji ‘You give me blood, I will give you independence’, activists of the youth wing of the BJP donated blood on the occasion. BJP youth wing leader Ujjwal Pundit said they thought blood donation to help in saving the lives of people would be a real tribute to Netaji.

In charge of the blood bank MM Khan appreciated the spirit of the youths and said they had imbibed Netaji’s principles and ideals. Cultural meet organised to mark Netaji's birth anniversary

DEHRADUN: The National Integration Council organised a cultural programme at Gandhi Park to celebrate the 117th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, here today. Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal inaugurated the programme by paying floral tribute in front of the statue of the great freedom fighter.

While throwing light on the life and struggle of the freedom fighter, Kunjwal said Netaji played an important role in the freedom struggle against the British Empire and his Azad Hind Fauj gave us the belief that we could achieve independence.

Meanwhile, students from various schools sang patriotic songs and highlighted the role of Netaji in the Independence movement. Cabinet minister Dinesh Agarwal and Rajpur MLA Rajkumar were also present along with other dignitaries from the city.

DM does Samaritan work, starts drive to build toilets at a village
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 23
Had the state government and the district administration done earlier what they are doing now, the life of the 13-year-old rape victim, a resident of Pherupur village, could have been saved. On the morning of January 7, the girl, a student of Class VII at Jawahar Navodaya School, had gone to nearby fields for relieving herself, as there was no toilet facility at her home. Some miscreants raped her and later killed her. The incident shocked society. In fact all 37 families living in Pherupur village had no toilets.

In view of the shocking incident, District Magistrate, Haridwar, Nidhi Pandey took it upon herself to ensure that all families living in the village have their own toilets constructed in their houses.

Help also came in from Haridwar parliamentarian and Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, who announced Rs 4,600 each from his MPLAD fund to all 37 households of Pherupur village for the purpose. Additional Rs 4,500 is being provided from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the construction of toilets.

Nidhi told The Tribune that she was surprised to know that no household in Pherupur village had a toilet. “This is a basic requirement when we construct houses and for women it is quite embarrassing to go to fields to relieve themselves. We are living in a developed and civilised world but what is the purpose of the save the girl child campaigns when we can’t even provide them basic facilities,” said Nidhi while inaugurating the construction work of a toilet at the victim’s house in Pherupur village.

She urged the villagers to ensure that every household had a toilet as defecation in the open leads to a number of infections and diseases.

Chief Development Officer Vishnu S Dhanik said all 37 houses in the village would be covered under the MNREGA scheme and 37 families living there would be given job cards under it.

He added that anyone opting for bigger toilets could build one by using own money. Pherupur villagers Sonam and Krishna lamented that earlier no one laid stress on the facility, otherwise, the life of the teenaged girl could have been saved.

“It is the best thing we have got from the government in the recent years. The District Magistrate is very helpful and now we hope that the culprits responsible for the heinous crime will soon be put behind bars,” said Rekha, another villager.

Dharmendra Pradhan, a representative of Harish Rawat, said the MP had assured that he would provide assistance from his MPLAD fund for the purpose to nearby villages also.

Former chairperson of the Uttarakhand Women Commission Dr Santosh Chauhan said just targeting a village would not be enough as there were several villages without any toilet facility. The government and the district administration should formulate a wider policy to ensure every household in all villages of Uttarakhand had this basic facility.

Probe into ‘misuse’ of public money sought

Dehradun, January 23
Alleging embezzlement of funds and misuse of public money by officials of the Municipal Corporation, Dehradun, the state BJP unit has demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

Addressing a press conference, BJP councillor Bhupinder Kataith said that it has been found that the MCD is in the process of purchasing new dustbins to be placed in various parts of the city. ''Since the garbage disposal project has already been given to a private player DVWM, it is their responsibility to make the provision for dustbins,'' he said. — TNS

Police fail to arrest culprits in Pherupur rape, murder case
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 23
The Uttarakhand police is yet to arrest the culprits behind the infamous Pherupur case despite a series of assurances and VIP visits to the affected family.

Despite assurances and visits by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Director General of Police BS Sidhu, regular camping by Director General of Police (Garhwal) Amit Sinha and SSP, Haridwar, Rajeev Swarup taking daily review assessment meetings with regard to class VII girl rape and murder at Pherupur, the Uttarakhand police have still failed to arrive at any solid conclusion.

Delay in the probe and arrest of the culprits is generating resentment among the family members aand relatives of the victim as well as among the local people. A mass protest was carried out today by local people, who included statehood agitators.

The Mahila Congress Committee, Uttarakhand, supported the protest, which saw mass participation from women folk.

Social activist Meera Raturi lashed out at the state police working, terming it lackadaisical and insensitive, when it comes to crime against women. Raturi demanded arrest of the culprits involved in the Pherupur gruesome murder case as well as in the suspicious rape-murder case of differently abled girl at labour colony at BHEL township.

“A Dalit girl is brutally raped and killed at Pherupur, while at labour colony a teenaged differently abled girl’s body is found a week in similar circumstances at BHEL. But what have the police done so far? Week after week is passing, with the police only giving assurances. It seems only a Central Bureau of Investigation probe will be better, otherwise the state police seems to be best in providing security cover to politicians and bureaucrats only,” said JP Pandey,a statehood fighter.

Kamla Pandey, a protester, even demanded transfer of all Haridwar police personnel to border districts of Pithoragarh and Chamoli as they had failed to rein in crime graph in the pilgrim city.

Champa Devi,Shankuntala,Sudesh Sharma, Kanta, Sonam, Barkha, Pushpha, Parvati, Sunita Devi, Rekha Devi, Mamta Devi, Sehra Devi, Manju Devi, Rani Devi, Mashuka, Nootan, Laxmi, Sapna, Meena, Kusum, Sanhdya, Shila, Kavita and Kundani among others were present at the protest venue.

Meanwhile, after camping for several days at Pherupur village ,DIG Garhwal Amit Sinha returned back to the state police headquarters at Dehradun. DIG Sinha ,as per police officials,directed investigating the rape case with both scientific and basic policing methodology, as till now no substantial spot evidence or witness has come into light.

SP, City, Surjeet Singh Pawar said polygraph tests were conducted on 10 suspects and their reports may provide vital insight into this almost blind case.

Agitators from Pithoragarh seek public facilities
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 23
Several delegations from across the district yesterday met district-level administrative officers and staged an agitation at different places in the district, demanding several public facilities, including establishing the commissioner’s office at Pithoragarh district and restoring the office of DIG in the district.

Several organisations, including the Pithoragarh Lok Manch, yesterday submitted memorandums to the District Magistrate and threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met before panchayat elections.

“The government has approved a new commissioner’s office in Kumaon region, which we want to be established in Pithoragarh district as this districts falls in the middle of Champawat, Bageswar and proposed district of Didihat,” said Bhagwan Singh Rawat, convener of Pithoragarh Lok Manch and a former student leader.

“We also want that the DIG's office be restored to the district for which the administration had allowed land before it was transferred by sudden orders,” said Rawat. The delegation, which included former student leaders of local PG College, members from contractors' association and members of some local trusts also raised slogans against the government and threatened agitation in future if the demands were not met.

At Kalika town of Dharchula subdivision, local residents blocked the Tanakpur-Tawaghat highway for over an hour and demanded erection of a mobile tower near the town. The blockade was lifted only after SDM, Dharchula, Pramod Kumar reached the spot and apprised the agitators of the correspondence he had with with BSNL in connection with the mobile tower issue. “We have lifted the blockade after the SDM promised that he will take up with BSNL the establishing a mobile tower at the place,” said Lalit Thapa, who led the agitators.

Thapa said the residents of Kalika had to travel 8 km distance to be able to talk to someone on mobile phone. “We are demanding fulfilment of the promise of establishing 4 mobile towers in Dharchula area,” he said.

Villagers of Baralu in Monakot block handed over a memorandum to the authorities and demanded resumption of training programmes for ANMs in the newly constructed centre at the village. “The ANM training centre at Baralu village was constructed in 1996, but courses have not began at the centre even after the state came into existence,” said Mahesh Joshi, a villager.

Number of jobless youths likely to rise
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, January 23
The Department of Training and Employment under the Uttarakhand Labour Ministry has sent a proposal of Rs 35 crore for its unemployment allowance scheme to the government this year. The proposed amount is three times the funds sanctioned last year, as the department expects the number of unemployed youths, who get themselves registered with various employment exchanges in the state, to increase this year.

Subhash Kumar, Deputy Director, Department of Training and Employment, said they expected that over 30,000 youths may register themselves with the employment exchanges this year to get the benefit under the scheme and this figure may even increase. “Besides, the recent decision of the state government to raise the upper age for getting government employment to 40 years is another reason why a bigger amount has been demanded,” he said.

He added by the end of 2013, over 7.45 lakh youths had registered themselves with various employment exchanges of the state. Of these, 2.98 lakh youths were intermediate pass, 1.65 lakh graduates and 8,383 youths were postgraduates. “We have disbursed Rs12.50 crore as unemployment allowance to 20,620 youths, who were found eligible to avail of the benefit,” said Subhash.

The youths are given allowances for two years so that they could apply for jobs and get government help to meet the cost of the application process. “Under the scheme, Rs 750, Rs 1,000 and Rs1,500 are given to the youths registered with the employment exchanges and having intermediate, graduate and postgraduate qualifications, respectively,” he said.

Regularise services of sanitary workers: Sangh

Dehradun, January 23
The Uttaranchal Swachkar Karmchari Sangh will launch a statewide agitation in the coming days if demands of sanitary workers employed in the Municipal Corporations across Uttarakhand were not met.The decision was taken during a national-level meeting organised by the sangh here today.

The sangh would protest against the harassment and discrimination being meted out to sanitation workers in the state.

Sangh president Bhagwat Prasad Makwana said the state government was not showing interest in resolving the issues and problems being faced by sanitary workers.

“Following the formation of the state, every department was restructured and new posts created, but nothing was done for the municipal corporations in the state. Neither new posts were created nor sanitary workers were regularised. We would hold a protest demonstration and a meeting with the state government,” he added.

In the first phase of demonstration from February 5 to 7, a protest demonstration would be held outside the MCs offices and a memorandum be submitted to the MNAs and mayors. On February10, a demonstration would be staged outside the Vidhan Sabha and a memorandum would be submitted to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in support of demands. If demands were not met, they would go on an indefinite strike. — TNS

‘Underpaid’ councillors demand hike in salaries
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
The backbone of HIV/ AIDS control programme, the counsellors engaged in providing counselling and testing at the integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) in hospitals continue to be underpaid and ignored.

Since the deployment of the counsellors in 2002 at various district hospitals in the state, their work load continues to increase but their salaries have remained static.

“I continue to receive the same salary when I joined the job in 2002. We cannot raise a banner of revolt against the government because we are not the government employees,” said a councillor on the condition of anonymity.

All the councillors have been employed on contractual basis and receive their monthly salaries as part of the state AIDS control programme run by the National AIDS Control Organisation.

The 49 ICTC centres, set up at various district hospitals, combined hospitals and community health centres are manned by the trained ICTC counsellors. After setting up of these centres, the HIV/ AIDS control programme has received the much needed fillip.

But strangely the services rendered by the counsellors whose burden has been increasing every year seem to have not impressed the officials of the state, “There has been no recommendation coming from our state bosses for revising our salaries to the national level officers. The attitude of the authorities is not helpful, my pay band continues to be in the range of Rs 8,000-12000 and I have lost all hope of any revision,” said a counselor. “The attitude is quite demoralising,” added the councillor.

Also due to daily interaction with the patients, some of whom belong to high risk groups, the counsellors subject themselves to great deal of risk but there is no one to look into this aspect of their profession and recommend suitable hike in salaries.

Residents demand installation of more tubewells
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
In view of the rising problem of water supply in the Majramafi area, the residents of the Gram Sabha under the banner of Keshar Jan Kalyan Samiti held a protest at the Jal Sansthan office here today. They demanded installation of more tubewells and repair of the leaked pipelines in the area to ensure uninterrupted water supply.

In a memorandum submitted to the Managing Director of the Jal Sansthan, the residents claimed that the population of the area had increased manifold in the last one decade, which had intensified the problem of water scarcity in the Gram Sabha.

According to the Keshar Jan Kalyan Samiti, resident of the welfare association of the area, localities including Kalinga Vihar, Mohkampur Kala, Bhagwati Puram, Ganesh Puram, Rajeshwari Puram, Shivnarayan Vihar, Krishna Puram Colony, Shivnanda Vihar and Valmiki Basti are the most affected places.

Meanwhile, the residents were also demanding an increase in the timings of water supply and all the residential colonies must get uniform water supply.

Govt to regularise contractual workers

Dehradun, January 23
In a major relief to the thousands of contractual employees and daily wagers working with the various corporations in the state, the government has cleared the decks for their regularisation.

The government in its order passed on Wednesday said daily wagers, contract and work charge employees would be regularised working in the various government departments.

The GO, issued by Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma, also mentioned that the financial liability arising out of the regularisation of the employees would be borne by the corporations and the state exchequer would not provide any assistance. — TNS

Exhibition on fuel-efficient appliances organised

Dehradun, January 23
A two-day exhibition of fuel-efficient and energy saving appliances/equipments and a free pollution check-up camp for vehicles was organised at KDMIPE complex, ONGC, here today.

The GGM (support manager), KDMIPE ONGC V Banerjie inaugurated the exhibition and enquired about the various energy saving products. He emphasised on conserving oil and gas and talked about its judicious utilisation.

He urged everyone to maintain their vehicles in good condition in order to avoid fuel wastage and stop pollution. — TNS

High command to select Cong LS candidates
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
In a meeting held last evening, the election committee from Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee with a view to select candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections authorised the high command to select candidates for all the five parliamentary seats in the state.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, Uttarakhand Congress Chief Yashpal Arya, senior Cabinet minister Indira Hridesh and other senior party leaders.

Later, Uttarakhand Congress Chief Yashpal Arya said a one line resolution was passed in which the election committee authorised party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi to select the candidates for all the five Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Eminent personalities remember Swami Vivekanand
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 23
Eminent literary personalities, academicians, philosophers, and followers of Swami Vivekanand gathered here at Shiv Dal School, Jagjeetpur, to pay tribute to the 19th century philosopher.

Speaking as a chief guest, Leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt said Swami Vivekanand not only spread his ideas and philosophy across India but also abroad. He added for the awakening of our soul the more one travels one’s knowledge gets enhanced, the youth needs to imbibe the path shown by the Swami.

Noted literary personality and author of ‘Swami Vivekanand - The Known Philosopher The Unknown Poet,' Dr Radhika Nagrath, highlighted the poetic genius of the philosopher, classifying his poetry into two groups - poetry of advaitism and the poetry of devotion.

Nagrath pointed that Swami Vivekanand preached in his poems that the best and sincerest way of worshipping God was to love fellow beings, especially the poor people by alleviating their sufferings.

“If we apply Swami Vivekanand’s philosophy, surely it will lead to greater harmony between different religions of the world, as he taught us to live for others,” said Dr Nagrath.

Shiv Dale Public School Founder SwamI Sharad Puri Maharaj, Shravan Nath Math Jawahar Lal Nehru College Principal Avneet Kumar Ghildiyal, former Principal Dr Alok Sharma, Gawaksh Joshi, Prerna Kainthola, Jatin Handa, Shubham Chaudhari, Manoj Khanna, Gaurav Naithani, Akash Mehta along with large number of youth were also present at the seminar.

16 sub-inspectors promoted
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Sixteen civil police sub-inspectors were promoted to inspector rank today after clearing the interview process, which held on Wednesday at Dehradun police lines.

Around 72 sub-inspectors from across the state appeared before the interview board, which was headed by Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sidhu.

The board recommended 16 sub-inspectors to be promoted to inspector.

Two sub-inspectors from Dehradun district namely, Yogendra Kumar Sharma and Ashok Kumar Tyagi have been promoted to Inspector rank.

Five sub-inspectors from Haridwar district have been promoted to inspector while two sub-inspectors each from Pithoragarh and Nainital were promoted.

Sub-Inspector Mithelesh Kumar Barthwal was also promoted to Inspector.

Six tigers, 86 leopards died in 14 months: Report

Dehradun, January 23
Six tigers and 86 leopards died in the state in the past 14 months with unnatural factors like illegal poaching and accidents responsible for the death of 32 of them, says an official report.

From the beginning of 2012 to February 2013, a total of six tigers died in the hill state out of which two died in mishaps and the remaining four died natural deaths, it said.

The forest areas of the state were also witness to the deaths of 86 leopards during the period out of which three fell prey to poachers, 27 died in accidents and the rest died natural deaths, the report said.

Effective patrolling by forest guards in the sensitive areas where the forest dwelling Gujjar community is in dominance and strengthening the intelligence mechanism are the measures suggested in the report to rein in the number of unnatural death of big cats.

However, noted environmentalist Anil Prakash Joshi blamed the forest department for the situation.

It is due to the lackadaisical approach of the Forest Department that poachers get away with impunity, he alleged. — PTI

Demand for regularising services of contractual MDDA staff
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 23
Newly elected president of the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority Karamchari Sanyukt Sangathan Surya Prakash Rankoti and secretary TS Panwar today met Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in support of their demand for the regularisation of services of the contractual MDDA employees.

Panwar said their delegation was led by Congress leader Ashok Verma. They urged the Chief Minister to accept their demands. The Chief Minister reportedly assured them of looking into their demands.

Police karamchari sangh protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Perturbed over the non-fulfillment of 22 point demands, members of the Parvatiya Rajasva Police Karamchari Sangh staged a protest rally outside the residence of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.

The members are on strike since January 1 and are demanding the cancellation of 10 per cent seats earmarked for the ministerial staff for the post of Naib Tehsildar.

The revenue police workers deployed in the hilly areas of the state are also demanding the rights and emoluments at par with the civil police active in the plain areas of the state.

Work on Lakhwad project to begin in February

Dehradun, January 23
Work on the Lakhwad Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project will begin from next month as the final clearance for the project from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest will be received within three days, press note issued by the state government said today.

Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar yesterday held a telephonic conversation with Secretary, Forest and Environment Ministry, Dr V Rajgopalan, and Additional Inspector General, Forest, Harish Chaudhary, regarding the project. The 300-MW project will also benefit Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. — TNS

Mystery shrouds ITBP official's death

Dehradun, January 23
An Indo-Tibetan Border Police inspector died under mysterious circumstances here yesterday.

Patras, who hailed from Jharkhand, was undergoing training at the ITBP academy in Mussoorie. He was taken ill on Wednesday morning after which he was admitted to the Civil Hospital. Doctors referred him to another hospital due to his deteriorating condition, where he died during the treatment. — TNS

Mandi samiti officials seek state employee status
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
The Dehradun Mandi Samiti officials have sought the state employee status for themselves.

At a meeting held in the city yesterday, the samiti officials said they had been demanding the state employee status, but the state government was yet to respond to their issue.

They said waver of the mandi fee from fruits and vegetables would have an adverse impact on the revenue of the mandis.

Ajay Dabral, a samiti official, said the loss of revenue due to waver of the mandi fee from fruits and vegetables would lead to a crisis for the samiti.

He added this would also affect various farmer-friendly schemes started by the mandi samiti and would cause a fund crunch.

Dabral said the samiti officials had decided to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on the matter.

Kailash Chandra Sharma, Lal Bahadur, Lavlesh Kumar, Bhuwan Chand Arya and Navneet Kumar also attended the meeting.

Sanitation workers’ hunger strike enters third day

Dehradun, January 23
The indefinite hunger strike by sanitation workers of the Municipal Corporation Dehr-adun entered its third day.

The employees gathered under the banner of Safai Karamchari Union and staged a dharna in the complex of Municipal Corporation Dehradun.

Meenu Gagat, Union General Secretary, said they had several meetings with the principal secretary and the MCD officials, but they had not provided any help so far. — TNS

Ajay Rao wins carom tourney
Mohit, Furkaan Ahmed win doubles title
Tribune News Sevice

Mussoorie, January 23
On the concluding day of the fourth carom tournament, Ajay Rao was the winner in the individual category. The tourney was organised by the Mussoorie Sports and Cultural Committee at the Radhakrishan Temple, here today.

Ajay defeated Mohit by reaching the 29 points first. The final score read 29-06. In the doubles title event Mohit and Furkaan won the title by a margin 29-27. The duo defeated Ajay Rao and Subash Kavi to lift the title.

The chief guest on the occasion Municipal Council President Manmohan Singh Mall along with Former Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, International Carom referee and Uttarakhand Carom association secretary and coach AK Gupta distributed the citation and awards to the winners. Shanu Verma received the consolation prize for an outstanding performance in the tournament while Manuj Agarawal, Kamraqan Ahmed, Tejpal Kharola, Akshay, Subash Kavi and Jagmohan, received the award for entering the semi-finals in the doubles and individual events respectively.

The State Secretary of the Carom Association AK Gupta speaking on the occasion said he was delighted to learn that a carom tournament was on in Mussoorie and subsequently made a journey to the town to watch the tournament.

Gupta also said the state government should provide affiliation to the Carom Association in the state sports council and fund them adequately so that they could play at the national and international level and bring laurels to the state.

The chief guest on the occasion MC President Manmohan Singh Mall and Former MLA Jot Singh Gunsola welcomed the State Secretary of the Carom Association and said it was indeed an honour that a person of such stature was here to motivate the players.

Dehradun, ONGC emerge champs
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 23
Dehradun and ONGC emerged winners in the finals of the 4th Uttarakhand State Basketball Championship here today.

In the women’s category, Dehradun defeated IIT, Roorkee, in a four-set match 36-28. For the winning team, Sarah was the highest scorer with 12 points.

In the men category, the ONGC team won the championship by defeating Dehradun 52-23. Murli remained the highest scorer in the match.

Hrinder Maan, Director, Doon International School, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony held at Welham Boys’ School. Maan felicitated the winners and praised the organisers for successfully finishing the championship.