H I M A C H A L    P R A D E S H    E D I T I O N

Gorton Castle gutted
Shimla, January 28
Top two floors of the British-era building Gorton Castle, which housed the Civil Secretariat of the British regime in 1904 and the Accountant General office at present, were destroyed in a fire early today. The century-old four-storey heritage structure was engulfed in flames after a fire broke out around 3 am today in the top two floors. Fire personnel were informed about the incident around 3.35 am as efforts were made jointly with the Army to prevent the fire from reaching the lower floors.

The Gorton Castle building; and (right) a key architectural landmark building on fire in Shimla on Tuesday. Tribune photos

Fire-fighting system exposed
Shimla, January 28
Though Shimla Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Malhotra has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire incident, it has exposed the flawed fire-fighting system. A hydrant between the Vidhan Sabha and Gorton Castle was buried under tiles while Fire Brigade hoses mismatched with the two hydrants. Securitymen at the AG office were clueless about the fire hydrants. They lost 45 minutes.

Viplove files nomination papers
Shimla, January 28
Viplove Thakur, a senior Congress leader, today filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant in April on the completion of the term of former Chief Minister and BJP leader Shanta Kumar. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, ministers Vidya Stokes, Kaul Singh Thakur, GS Bali, Sujan Singh Pathania, Mukesh Agnihotri, along with several Congress MLAs and party leaders, were present.

Viplove Thakur files her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha seat in the presence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in Shimla on Tuesday.

RinGside view
Unforgiving humour
The absence of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal from the meeting held with all legislators to discuss priority schemes had CM Virbhadra Singh remark, "Naughty professor bunking classes." Whether it is the Congress or the BJP in power, former Chief Ministers usually do not attend these meetings held to discuss the development schemes which the legislators want to be taken up on priority. However, bureaucrats as well as ministers and MLAs present during the meeting were quite amused at the Chief Minister's spontaneous reaction to his predecessor's absence.

BJP's one-vote, one-note drive begins from Solan
Solan, January 28
Balbir Punj, BJP state in charge, today launched the party’s one-vote, one-note campaign to collect funds for the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for the upcoming 2014 Lok Sabha elections here. Addressing mediapersons, he said they were yet to finalise the candidates for the Lok Sabha polls and the re-entry of those who had been expelled from the party would be considered on a case-to-case basis.

BJP state in charge Balbir Punj and MP Virender Kashyap address mediapersons in Solan on Tuesday.

CBI files chargesheet in cement scam
Shimla/Siund, January 28
After detecting forged records falsely claiming delivery through 41,152 trucks worth Rs 1 crore in the stores of the 800-MW Parbati project-II, the CBI has filed a chargesheet against six main accused —Three officials of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a general manger of Gammon India and the two private transporters at the special CBI court here.

Trials for national skiing championship held
Manali, January 28
Selection trials for the junior, sub-junior and children categories of skiing were conducted at the Solang ski slopes, 13 km from here, for selection of the Himachal Pradesh Junior Skiing team. The national junior skiing championship is being conducted on February 4 at Auli, under the banner of the Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI). It is being organised by the Winter Games Association of Uttarakhand, Ski Clubs Association and Uttarakhand Government.

Rs 16 crore for roads, bridges: Speaker
Palampur, January 28
Himachal Assembly Speaker Brij Behari Lal said Rs 16 crore would be spent on roads and bridges in the Palampur constituency during the current financial year. Addressing mediapersons at the PWD rest house here, Butail said he had envisaged a plan to make Palampur a model constituency of the state. He categorically stated there would be no shortage of funds.

The darbar organised in Palampur in progress. Photo: Ravinder Sood

Gen Zorawar's statue re-installed at park
Bilaspur, January 28
Social organisation Chetna re-installed a statue of General Zorawar Singh at the General Zorawar Singh Park in Raura sector here in a largely attended function yesterday. The statue installed here earlier was disfigured by some anti-social elements recently.

Rajinder Rana to woo voters from Baddi
Solan, January 28
Desirous of contesting the parliamentary poll from the Hamirpur seat, Rajinder Rana, an independent MLA from Sujanpur, has chosen Baddi to reach out to people of his constituency residing in this industrial belt. Rana, who was in Baddi on Saturday, planned to organise a programme under the banner of a social organisation, Sarvkalyankari Society, on February 2. He would honour people from various fields for their outstanding contribution to society at the function.

7 shops catch fire in Shimla
Shimla, January 28
As many as seven shops were gutted while four shops and seven vends were partially damaged after a fire broke out in a wine shop in the Lower Bazaar of the city around 1.30 pm today. Short circuit in the wine shop was the likely cause of the fire. Fire tenders rushed to the spot as soon as the fire was noticed, said shopkeepers.

3-year jail for 2 youths
Una, January 28
Additional District and Sessions Judge Devinder Kumar Sharma today sentenced two local youths to three-year RI for severely beating up a driver from Hamirpur district. They were also fined Rs 5,700 each.

Cop held for taking bribe at Nahan
Nahan, January 28
The Nahan unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), led by Inspector Ishwar Singh and Sub-Inspector Manvinder Thakur, today arrested a policeman, Hari Krishen, for taking bribe. He was caught at Sarahan here while accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from Satish Kumar.

Cong, BJP fighting mock battle, says HLP
Bilaspur, January 28
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) has taken the Congress and the BJP to task for “fighting a mock battle”. HLP district president Daulat Ram Sharma said on Saturday that both parties had not taken any action against corruption and had ignored problems of people of the state.

AIDS control society on strike from tomorrow
Bilaspur, January 28
On a call given by the All-India AIDS Control Employees’ Association, members of the HP State AIDS Control Contract Employees’ Association have also decided to go on an indefinite strike from January 30.

Teenager dies in road mishap
Una, January 28
A 17-year-old boy who was seriously injured in a road accident at Dehlan village last night succumbed to his injuries. He died on the way to the PGI, Chandigarh. Police sources said the victim, Gaurav Kumar, was riding a bicycle when a Maruti car (HR-26-H-1870) hit him from behind. Gaurav was of Dehlan village. The body was handed over to the parents after postmortem, said DSP Surinder Sharma. He added that the vehicle had been impounded and a case registered under Sections 279, 337, 304-A, IPC, and Sections 185 and 187 of the Motor Vehicle Act. OC

AAP flays admn for ‘indifference’ towards freedom fighter
Dharamsala, January 28
The district unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today condemned the district administration for its indifferent attitude towards Hoshiar Singh Thapa, a veteran freedom fighter, who was forced to resort to a dharna during the Republic Day function at Dharamsala. The freedom fighter sat on a dharna outside the venue for not being provided a place to sit at the function. He was later persuaded by officials of the district administration and provided a proper place to sit. AAP district coordinator Aman told the district administration to tender a written apology or they would be forced to sit on a dharna. TNS

Campaign on UPA policies
Chamba, January 28
In the wake of the coming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has launched a door-to-door campaign to highlight the programme and policies of the UPA government at the Centre and the state. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anil Sharma who kicked off the campaign of the Congress here yesterday, appealed to workers to thwart the false propaganda of the BJP of overlooking the development made by the Congress government. Congress district president Surinder Bhardwaj boosted the morale of party workers on the occasion. OC

Plea to upgrade Kangra polytechnic
Kangra, January 28
Former Parliamentary Secretary and a close aide of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Surender Kaku today sought the upgradation of Kangra Government Polytechnic to an engineering college. Kaku said Technical Education Minister GS Bali had promised to set up a Government Degree College in the changer belt of the Kangra Assembly constituency. Seeking the Chief Minister’s intervention into the matter, he also demanded the setting up of a satellite town here. Kaku criticised former Chief Minister PK Dhumal for inaugurating the Mini Secretariat in an incomplete condition. — OC

CM takes stock of damage
Shimla, January 28
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said he would urge the Centre to get the Gorton Castle building reconstructed along the old lines as it was a heritage structure and part of the British legacy. “I am really pained to see such an imposing structure suffering huge damage in the fire and since it is under the CPWD, I will urge the Centre to restore it to its original look,” he said. He visited the site to take stock of the damage and also spoke with Satish Lamba, Chief Accountant General (Audit). “We will have to shift our offices to the accommodation that we have in the Railway Board building,” he said. — TNS

Woman receives burns, critical
Kangra, January 28
A 33-year-old woman today was admitted to the DRPGMC, Tanda, with 90 per cent burn injuries, the police said. SHO Bhadur Singh said the victim identified as Neha, a resident of Geora village, was cooking when her clothes caught fire. A woman tried to douse the flames, but by that time she had received 90 per cent burn injuries, the SHO disclosed. She was rushed to Gangath hospital from where she was referred to the DRPGMC, Tanda. The woman has an eight-year-old son and four-year-old twin babies. He said the investigation was in progress. OC

Chhatrari PHC sans doctor
Chamba, January 28
Residents of the far-off Chhatrari area in the district are unable to derive the benefits of health services provided by the state government in the absence of a doctor at the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Chhatrari. Reports said the PHC had been functioning without a doctor for the past some time despite persistent demands of locals. — OC

Gorton Castle gutted
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Major fire at Shimla’s Gorton Castle: Firemen battle the blaze that broke out at the British-era five-storey Gorton Castle, which houses the Accountant General’s Office, in Shimla early on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Shimla, January 28
Top two floors of the British-era building Gorton Castle, which housed the Civil Secretariat of the British regime in 1904 and the Accountant General office at present, were destroyed in a fire early today. The century-old four-storey heritage structure was engulfed in flames after a fire broke out around 3 am today in the top two floors. Fire personnel were informed about the incident around 3.35 am as efforts were made jointly with the Army to prevent the fire from reaching the lower floors.

It was only around 10.30 am that the fire could be controlled even though smoke rose from the smouldering structure throughout the day. The first information about the fire came not from four security guards on duty in the AG office, but from a guard of a hotel, located adjacent to the building.

The fire personnel had to break open the main entrance of the building to enter it as it was locked when they reached there around 3.45 am.

With massive woodwork adorning the interiors of the grey stone building constructed in 1901 catching fire, sky-high flames rose from the building. It is only after the inquiry, ordered into the incident, is complete that the real cause of fire will be known. The possibility of short-circuit or a heater having been left on could not be ruled out, said officials.

With vehicles being parked on both sides of the building inside the compound, Army personnel had to remove these to pave the way for the movement of big fire tenders. A portion of the stone wall was also pulled down by a JCB for providing access to the hosepipes to douse the flames.

Over a dozen British-time buildings have already been lost in devastating fires since Independence. Though the four-storey structure was centrally heated, heaters were also being used. “The fire broke out in the flag mast side of the building and within no time it spread to the top two floors,” said Satish Loomba, Chief Accountant General (Audit). He said the main server and computers had been saved but some record of pension, salary, Contributory Provident Fund and leave had been gutted.

With the red tin roofs and turrets, which gave it a castle-like look, being reduced to ashes, the stark grey stone walls presented a gloomy look. Efforts were on to save the documents, computers and furniture which were damaged due to water.

Constructed with grey stones quarried from the Sanjauli hills from 1901 to 1904, the imposing structure, which derived its name from its first owner, was a must-see, especially for British and other foreign tourists.

About Gorton Castle

Gorton Castle belonged to Gorton, ICS in 1840. To accommodate several offices, the structure was constructed from 1901 to 1904. Though the original design was made by Sir Swinton Jacob, it is Major HF Chesney under whose supervision it was erected and housed the Civil Secretariat with offices such as Home, Legislative, Finance, Education and Land Department. At present, it houses the Accountant General office

Fires in British-era buildings

• Snowdown Hospital building
• Walker Hospital
• Wild Flower Hall, Mashobra
• Kennedy House
• Kennedy Cottage
• Himachal Dham
• Western Command
• Raj Niwas
• General Post Office
• DC office
• US Club Army Mess
• Old Central School building

Fire-fighting system exposed
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 28
Though Shimla Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Malhotra has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire incident, it has exposed the flawed fire-fighting system. A hydrant between the Vidhan Sabha and Gorton Castle was buried under tiles while Fire Brigade hoses mismatched with the two hydrants. Securitymen at the AG office were clueless about the fire hydrants. They lost 45 minutes.

Though fire tenders from the Army were also requisitioned, which were smaller in size, the Fire Brigade could not make a full assault on the flames due to the vehicles parked on the premises.

A Fire Brigade team, which was alerted at 3.36 am, reached Gorton Castle in three minutes and broke the lock of the building and the gate, but only one fire tender could enter the building as the vehicles parked there came in the way of other fire tenders entering the premises.

Nobody in the AG office knew as to when the last fire inspection was carried out, despite the fact that a weekly fire inspection of 79 heritage buildings was mandatory, said members of the heritage committee.

The firemen found extinguishers fitted on each floor functioning, but the internal security staff of the AG office noticed the fire when the first floor had already caught fire, revealed insiders.

"We have saved data in the main servers, but the records such as service books of the state and AG office employees and PF accounts have been destroyed. But they have back-up in different buildings," said Satish Loomba, Principal Accountant General. "We will assess the loss which may take days," he added.

The Tribune had highlighted in its columns that heritage buildings in the city faced fire threat as fire safety measures were not in place. "We will check as to when the last fire inspection was carried out," said Sushil Kumar, AG.

The fire threat looms over old ramshackle buildings, including heritage buildings and 258 old houses declared unsafe by the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) in this city, which has already reported five incidents of fire this year.

Viplove files nomination papers
In absence of BJP candidate, she may be declared elected on January 31
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

RinGside view
Unforgiving humour

The absence of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal from the meeting held with all legislators to discuss priority schemes had CM Virbhadra Singh remark, "Naughty professor bunking classes."

Whether it is the Congress or the BJP in power, former Chief Ministers usually do not attend these meetings held to discuss the development schemes which the legislators want to be taken up on priority. However, bureaucrats as well as ministers and MLAs present during the meeting were quite amused at the Chief Minister's spontaneous reaction to his predecessor's absence.

The meeting with MLAs to discuss priority schemes also saw the lighter side of the Chief Minister. On being urged by some legislators to give priority to schemes in their constituencies "as he was a powerhouse", he could not help remarking that they, on their part, should not try to snap wires.

"You should keep this in mind while you try to snap the connection, but also do not forget that you could get an electric shock in the process," he said, leaving the MLAs quite embarrassed.

Marvel reduced to ashes

The devastation caused by fire to the top two floors of the Gorton Castle, housing the office of the Himachal Accountant General (AG), left the entire town in pain. Residents, many of whom were awake throughout the night, regretted the loss. A major portions of yet another marvellous building had gone up in flames.

Old-timers rued that despite more than a dozen priceless British legacy buildings being lost in devastating fires, nobody seemed to have learnt a lesson.

Though "angithis" have been banned in all government offices as the major buildings are centrally heated, callous use of heaters and other electrical appliances continues to be a cause of worry.

Mock drills are held as part of disaster management, but when there is real trouble, irritants like haphazard parking of vehicles causing obstruction for fire tenders or ambulances are still too common in the hill town, which has narrow serpentine roads.

"Is it necessary that we learn a lesson only when the few remaining British architectural marvels are reduced to ashes?" asked a pained officer on seeing the remains of the building.

Potent packages

While politicians are under attack for alleged corruption and revelations are being aired in the media against many of them, other sections of the society are also feeling the heat.

Though the media is playing a crucial role in exposing politicians, a few of them are under attack. The conduct of certain mediapersons has always been a matter of private discussion among those from the media and some time in the public too.

Since it is often "difficult to publish the allegations against unscrupulous elements in the media", the people involved in exposing such elements have come up with a method to do this: they bring out "info packages" posted on e-mails or circulated secretly. The "packages" are being delivered in press note boxes.

While the actual objective of circulating the packages is to target certain journalists to expose them, many a time, this route is misused to settle personal scores. All in all, these info packages have definitely made these revelations a matter of concern for the media.

(Contributed by Pratibha Chauhan)

BJP's one-vote, one-note drive begins from Solan
Tribune News Service

Solan, January 28
Balbir Punj, BJP state in charge, today launched the party’s one-vote, one-note campaign to collect funds for the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for the upcoming 2014 Lok Sabha elections here.

Addressing mediapersons, he said they were yet to finalise the candidates for the Lok Sabha polls and the re-entry of those who had been expelled from the party would be considered on a case-to-case basis. He said the criteria such as sense of remorse and his standing in the public would be taken into account while deciding upon such cases.

He said the February 16 rally of Modi at Sujanpur, which had been termed a parivartan rally, would be the largest rally ever held in the state.

Punj said the BJP was clear about its PM candidate as well as its policies while the Congress lacked both. Condemning the Congress, he said the party had failed to practise democracy and it only followed the dictates of its president Sonia Gandhi.

Later, he said BJP workers would reach out to maximum households and target every booth by January 31. People would be issued coupons under this programme and they could contribute from Rs 10 to Rs 1,000.

Dr Rajiv Bindal, MLA, Nahan, also launched this campaign from Sataun in Sirmaur district where he urged BJP workers to ensure the maximum support for the Modi rally.

CBI files chargesheet in cement scam
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla/Siund, January 28
After detecting forged records falsely claiming delivery through 41,152 trucks worth Rs 1 crore in the stores of the 800-MW Parbati project-II, the CBI has filed a chargesheet against six main accused —Three officials of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a general manger of Gammon India and the two private transporters at the special CBI court here.

They have been charged under Sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468 and 471, IPC, and Section 13/2 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI has named then Deputy Manager of Parbati II, Anil Sharma, now transferred to another project, two storekeepers Bamandev and Nyan Sukh, all NHPC officials, General Manager, Gammon India, SK Mandireta and two private transporters Ashwani Kumar and Jagdish as main accused in the Rs 1-crore cement scam.

They have been charged with forging records falsely claiming that 41,152 trucks of cement had delivered stock at NHPC’s stores for the period from 2010-2012, causing a loss worth Rs 1 crore to the state exchequer, revealed CBI officials.

Confirming that the CBI had filed the chargesheet, CBI SSP R Upasak said the chargesheet had been filed against six main accused.

The CBI established that truckloads of cement meant for Parbati-II were falsely shown to be lifted from Chandigarh stores of the NHPC, but these never reached the Parbati-II stores here, said a senior CBI official here today.

The CBI has questioned more than 20 key NHPC officials in the scam after an FIR was lodged at its police station in Shimla last year.

Trials for national skiing championship held
Our Correspondent

Manali, January 28
Selection trials for the junior, sub-junior and children categories of skiing were conducted at the Solang ski slopes, 13 km from here, for selection of the Himachal Pradesh Junior Skiing team. The national junior skiing championship is being conducted on February 4 at Auli, under the banner of the Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI). It is being organised by the Winter Games Association of Uttarakhand, Ski Clubs Association and Uttarakhand Government.

These trials were conducted under the supervision of Jagdish Lal, vice-president, HPWGA, Mahavir Thakur, Deputy Director, Atal Bihar Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, and general secretary, WGFI, Roshan Lal. Teams in the 10-20 years age group are:

Boys, 18-20 years: Rajat Thakur (Solang), Rohit Thakur (Palchan), Sunil Thakur (Ruar), Himanshu Thakur (Burua) and Chandan Sethi (Palchan).

Girls, 18-20 years: Varsha Devi (MSA, Manali) and Gayatri (Palchan).

Boys, 16-17 years: Vineet Sharma, Anil Chand (Solang), Satyam Kanthla (Narkanda) and Diraj Thakur (WSC, Manali).

Girls, 16-17 years: Aanchal Thakur (HIAS), Ishani Singh (WSC, Manali) and Priti Thakur (Ruar).

Boys ,14-15 years: Yogesh (Ruar), Paras Thakur (Palchan), Saurav (Burua) and Shivansh Seth (Palchan).

Girls,14-15 years: Sandhya (Palchan), Promila Thakur (Burua), Tanya (Ruar) and Ridhima (WSC, Manali).

Boys, 11-12 years; Ujwal Negi (Narkanda),Vikas (Ruar), Nikhil Thakur (WSC, Manali) and Gaurav (HIAS).

Girls,11-12 years: Ankita (Ruar) and Yashita Thakur (Narkanda).

Rs 16 crore for roads, bridges: Speaker
Our Correspondent

Palampur, January 28
Himachal Assembly Speaker Brij Behari Lal said Rs 16 crore would be spent on roads and bridges in the Palampur constituency during the current financial year. Addressing mediapersons at the PWD rest house here, Butail said he had envisaged a plan to make Palampur a model constituency of the state. He categorically stated there would be no shortage of funds.

He said Rs 5 crore had been allocated for the Paror Lahala-Chachian road, while Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned for the Nagri-Manimahesh road.

He said the construction of the Mehanja-Chimbalhar and Ghuggar Tahkurdwara roads would be completed in the next six months under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

The Speaker said an estimate of Rs 1 crore had been prepared for the beautification of the Mini Secretariat, Palampur.

Earlier, Butail organised a khula darbar and listened to the grievances of the public.

Gen Zorawar's statue re-installed at park
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, January 28
Social organisation Chetna re-installed a statue of General Zorawar Singh at the General Zorawar Singh Park in Raura sector here in a largely attended function yesterday. The statue installed here earlier was disfigured by some anti-social elements recently.

Industrialist Nand Prakash Vohra presided over the function while Col (retd) Sohan Singh was the chief guest.

Col Sohan Singh said countries which forgot their heroes, got lost in history. He said Bilaspur (Kehloor) should be proud that it had produced a great warrior son like General Zorawar Singh.

He said but for the valour of General Zorawar Singh, Ladakh and adjoining territories would not have been a part of India today, as it was he who turned out Chinese forces from the Indian territory and even laid down his life while fighting the forces.

Present on the occasion were leaders and representatives of several organisations, including Chetna, Himalaya Parivaar, Nagar Parishad president Rajni Sharma, Hukam Singh Thakur, JK Nadda, Subhadra Nadda, Ram Lal Pundir, Amar Singh Kashav, Man Mohan Bhandari, Ram Gopal Dogra and Tek Chand Saini, among others.

Rajinder Rana to woo voters from Baddi
Tribune News Service

Solan, January 28
Desirous of contesting the parliamentary poll from the Hamirpur seat, Rajinder Rana, an independent MLA from Sujanpur, has chosen Baddi to reach out to people of his constituency residing in this industrial belt. Rana, who was in Baddi on Saturday, planned to organise a programme under the banner of a social organisation, Sarvkalyankari Society, on February 2. He would honour people from various fields for their outstanding contribution to society at the function.

Rana said he would hold such a function in Chandigarh on February 2 and then in Baddi. He said Virbhadra and Mukesh would be present at both functions.

Though a section of the Congress was opposed to his candidature from Hamirpur as he had been a close confidant of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, he was being supported by Virbhadra and was hopeful of procuring the ticket for the Hamirpur seat.

7 shops catch fire in Shimla
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 28
As many as seven shops were gutted while four shops and seven vends were partially damaged after a fire broke out in a wine shop in the Lower Bazaar of the city around 1.30 pm today. Short circuit in the wine shop was the likely cause of the fire. Fire tenders rushed to the spot as soon as the fire was noticed, said shopkeepers.

Shopkeepers, Home Guard jawans, policemen and others converged on the scene and helped firemen fought the flames and prevented these to spread to the nearby shops.

Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said seven shops were gutted while four others, including seven street vends, suffered partial losses.

Deputy Commissioner Shimla said the loss was being assessed but the the preliminary estimates put it at Rs 50 lakh. The victims would be compensated.

Shimla Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dular said the police had registered a case.

Forensic experts would investigate the case tomorrow, he added.

3-year jail for 2 youths
Our Correspondent

Una, January 28
Additional District and Sessions Judge Devinder Kumar Sharma today sentenced two local youths to three-year RI for severely beating up a driver from Hamirpur district. They were also fined Rs 5,700 each.

District Attorney NC Ghai said on November 16, 2012, Parveen Kumar of Hamirpur was transporting poultry birds in his vehicle from Hoshiarpur to Bhota. When he reached Lalsingi village near Una, occupants of a car reportedly got into an altercation with him on the issue of overtaking.

Ghai said though the matter was sorted out, when the vehicles reached Una, Parveen’s vehicle was forced to stop. The occupants of the car, Munish Kapila of Pul Wala Bazaar and Sagar Puri of Masit Wali Gali, both in Una, beat up the driver, who had to be referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, in a serious condition.

Cop held for taking bribe at Nahan
Tribune News Service

Nahan, January 28
The Nahan unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), led by Inspector Ishwar Singh and Sub-Inspector Manvinder Thakur, today arrested a policeman, Hari Krishen, for taking bribe. He was caught at Sarahan here while accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from Satish Kumar.

The police said Hari, who is posted at the Pacchad police station, was to arrest Satish against whom the warrants had been issued in a cheque-bounce case. Hari asked him for the bribe to save him from being arrested. But the latter reported the matter to the Nahan VACB that nabbed Hari with the bribe at the Sarahan bus stand.

VACB SP Surinder Verma said a case under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act had been registered against the policeman.

Cong, BJP fighting mock battle, says HLP
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, January 28
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) has taken the Congress and the BJP to task for “fighting a mock battle”. HLP district president Daulat Ram Sharma said on Saturday that both parties had not taken any action against corruption and had ignored problems of people of the state.

He said it was surprising to see that the BJP had suddenly developed respect and affection for Congress leader Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

He also criticised the statements of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, adding that not a single person had been charged in the matter for the past one year.

Sharma claimed that it would be HLP’s turn as the third alternative in the state to replace both the “corrupt” parties whose image was already polluted among masses.

AIDS control society on strike from tomorrow
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, January 28
On a call given by the All-India AIDS Control Employees’ Association, members of the HP State AIDS Control Contract Employees’ Association have also decided to go on an indefinite strike from January 30.

Association state president Vinod Sharma and general secretary Ankur Oberoi stated this at a state-level meeting held here on Saturday. Fifty delegates from all over the state attended the meeting. The members decided to follow the directions of their national body.

They said their long-pending demands regarding the regularisation of services, same pay for same work, implementation of salary structure from April 2012 without abolition of any posts, adoption of two members in the policy-making body and withdrawal of new salary order of January 9, 2014, were being ignored despite repeated requests.