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LS poll a battle of ideologies: Rahul
BJP terms Rahul rally a flop show
BJP all set to take back 22 HLP leaders
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BJP still dithering over Mandi candidate
BJP holds meeting in Mandi
Sukhu is my friend: Anurag
Transfers in Education Department
At 98, Roshan Lal is all set to cast vote
‘Evaluation of compensation from power firms justified’
Una Milkfed plant runs into losses
Kullu-Manali airport set to have another airline
Jyoti Murder Case
Upgraded school functioning depends on availability of facilities: Govt
Fruit, vegetable growers get tips at seminar
Kiratpur-Ner Chowk nh
four-laning
Labourers not paid wages in Baijnath
Rampur hydro project inaugurated
Governor, CM condole Khushwant Singh’s death
Amit Bharmouri is zila parishad chairperson
Two injured as jeep falls into nullah
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LS poll a battle of ideologies: Rahul
Dharamsala, March 20 He was also not available for comments. He had openly expressed his displeasure at not being given due respect during Rahul Gandhi’s visit. Mankotia had been feeling marginalised after his re-induction into the party during the last Assembly elections. About 300 ex-servicemen drawn from the state interacted with Rahul Gandhi. The Congress had registered about 2,000 ex-servicemen, but due to security reasons only 300 could make it to the interaction. Rahul termed the Lok Sabha elections as a battle of ideologies. He said while the Congress stood for empowering people, the Opposition represented only the rich people of the country. Rahul said the election was a battle of thoughts in India. On the one hand, it was the Congress which felt that power should be in each and every hand and that was how the country could be powerful, and on the other, the Opposition felt that the country could be run only by the powerful and the rich and they had no place for the poor. He assured the ex-servicemen of making whole-hearted attempts to fulfil demands of veterans and representation for the armed forces in the Central Pay Commission. Addressing ex-servicemen, Rahul Gandhi said he agreed with the view that there was a divide between the armed forces and the bureaucracy. “I could feel this divide during the one-rank, one-pension issue,” he said. Later, Rahul Gandhi also addressed a meeting of the HPCC at the Paryas Bhawan in
Dharamsala. Meeting with ex-servicemen
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BJP terms Rahul rally a flop show
Shimla, March 20 State BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt today said all claims that the rally would be a big one had fallen flat. “It is only Congress workers who attended the rally,” he said. He said the attendance was not even 10 per cent of the gathering at Narendra Modi’s rally at
Sujanpur. Dutt said Rahul appeared totally unfamiliar with the issues concerning Himachal and kept harping about the same old
RTI, Jan Lokpal and Food Security Act. “He claimed that under the UPA regime, employment had been generated for
lakhs, but gave no figures like the NDA which under Vajpayee had provided jobs to 6.25 crore in a span of merely six years,” he remarked. He said the UPA in its 10-year rule had been able to provide jobs only to 75,000 persons. The BJP leader said Rahul spoke on women's reservation, but the fact is that despite the BJP supporting the Congress on the issue, the Bill was never passed. “This only goes on to prove that the Congress is not keen to provide reservation for women,” he said. |
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BJP all set to take back 22 HLP leaders
Shimla, March 20 Having taken a cue from 2012, when it apparently ignored the dissidents, the BJP is all set to take back into its fold 22 leaders, including half a dozen former MLAs, District Chief of the HLP and other leaders, all of whom were once associated with the BJP. The presence of the HLP in the election arena had a bearing on the BJP tally in the 2012 Assembly polls. Former Rohru MLA and senior HLP leader Khushi Ram Balnata, along with Naveen Dhiman, former BJP legislator from Pragpur in Kangra, met state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti to discuss the return of these leaders back into the party fold. Sources said the HLP had been asked to prepare a list of all the leaders who were keen on tracing their way back as the BJP high command had already given its nod for their return. "Senior HLP leaders met me with regard to return of almost two dozen former BJP leaders back into the BJP. They will be inducted into the party soon," said Satti. He said a final decision will be taken within a week's time. Those likely to return include former MLAs Balnata, Naveen Dhiman, Ninju Ran, Chet Ram Negi and other senior HLP leaders. The list of 22 names also includes district chiefs of HLP. "We had left the BJP so that we could carry out a crusade against all corrupt elements, but with the HLP toeing the Congress line, that purpose has been defeated," said a senior leader. Ever since Balnata was issued a show-cause notice and stripped of all party posts by HLP chief Maheshwar Singh last week, there was speculation that the former Rohru MLA would return to the BJP. The return of some of these HLP leaders will certainly make a difference when it comes to the Lok Sabha elections. Some other senior BJP leaders, including former Baijnath MLA Dulo Ram, who too had joined the HLP, has already returned to the party. Same is the case with former Nurpur MLA Rakesh Pathania, who had not joined the HLP, but had contested the last two Assembly elections as an Independent, winning the electoral contest once. |
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BJP still dithering over Mandi candidate
Shimla, March 20 Even though names of Ajay Rana, Ram Swaroop and Manali MLA Govind Singh Thakur are on the cards, the delay confirms that the BJP is lagging behind in the campaign. Moreover, with Pratibha Singh, the sitting MP and wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, starting her campaign after being elected in the June by-election, it will certainly put the BJP in a disadvantageous position. The possibility of Jai Ram Thakur, sitting BJP MLA, being fielded cannot be ruled out. Though the party was keen to field him, he expressed his unwillingness to contest once again. It was Jai Ram who was pitted against Pratibha Singh in the June 2013 by-election after Virbhadra vacated the seat on becoming the Chief Minister. Jai Ram lost by a margin of 1.37 lakh, but it was felt that he was still the most formidable candidate. State BJP president Satpal Singh Satti said the party was hopeful that the candidate would be declared by the parliamentary board yesterday, but the decision was still pending. “The sooner the candidate is declared it is certainly better, but we are hopeful that there would not be much delay now,” Satti said. He admitted that the delay was costing the party dear, but the decision was likely to be taken at the meeting of the parliamentary board on March 23 and 24. The state BJP election committee had sent a panel of four names, including Govind Thakur, Brig Kushal Thakur (retd), Ajay Rana and Ram Swaroop, to the Central election committee. “Though Brigadier Thakur would have been a good choice, majority of leaders are of the opinion that a man from the organisation who is aware of the political set up should be fielded,” admitted a senior party functionary. Party sources said Brigadier Thakur could soon be given some senior party position as he was a respected person. It was felt that considering the small population of ex-servicemen and serving soldiers under the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, Brigadier Thakur would not get much response as compared to the Kangra or Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat. The choice can now be between Govind Thakur or Ajay Rana, The advantage with Govind Thakur is that he hails from a known political family and is a sitting MLA which can help the party in Kullu. As far as Rana is concerned, he is a relatively unknown face confined only to his area. “Fielding Rana will amount to giving the seat on a platter to Pratibha Singh as it will become a one-sided contest so the party must field someone formidable,” said a senior leader. |
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BJP holds meeting in Mandi
Mandi, March 20 He said, “Black money will sneak in and there will be misuse of state government machinery in the election. BJP workers should remain vigilant and connected with voters.” Senior BJP leaders Gulab Singh Thakur and Roop Singh Thakur were among those who attended the meeting. A BJP election office was also started in Mandi today. |
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Sukhu is my friend: Anurag
Hamirpur, March 20 Stating this while talking to mediapersons at Gulela here today, MP Anurag Thakur said, “The Congress leader had thanked me for constructing a cricket stadium
at Nadaun.” Refuting allegations of his being a high-profile leader, he said, “It is not me, but the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency which is high profile due to several development works undertaken in the constituency and I am indebted to voters of Hamirpur.” He said, “My opponent is quite fortunate.” Talking about his plan for the Hamirpur constituency, Anurag said, “I will work for opening a cultural centre -- film studio and shaheed samarak in the constituency.” |
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Transfers in Education Department Tribune News Service
Shimla, March 20 Dhumal, in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Narinder Chauhan, sought an action for the violation of the election code of conduct. He cited three examples of school teachers who had been transferred from Kangra and Una districts and had joined at new places of posting in Hamirpur. He also pointed out that the returning officer (RO) for the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency had already turned down the request made by the deputy director, Elementary Education, to allow joining and relieving of teachers and asked him to seek permission from the CEO. "Despite the RO expressing his inability to permit these transfers, the Education Department allowed joining and relieving which is a clear cut violation of the election code of conduct," he said. He said even in the past several such complaints had been made on which action should be taken.
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At 98, Roshan Lal is all set to cast vote
Chamba, March 20 Vohra has been casting his vote since the first General Election and this time too, he is committed to casting his vote. The nonagenarian has also appealed to all the youth and the elderly to use their right to vote judiciously, thereby inspiring others about their
right. — OC |
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‘Evaluation of compensation from power firms justified’
Palampur, March 20 In a press note here today, KK Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer, Palampur, said the information received under the Right to Information Act (RTI) by a local RTI activist, Onkar Dhawan, was misleading and not based on facts. He said the Divisional Forest Officer had inherent powers to evaluate the damages and he could also overrule the reports of field staff in this regard. He said in the cases of power companies, a team of officers had rightly reduced the rate of compensation from Rs 250 per cubic metre to Rs 50 per cubic metre and this could not be questioned by anyone. Besides, in these cases the higher authorities had also given verbal instructions to the Divisional Forest Officer to review the compensation finalised by the field staff as the same was excessive. The information gathered by the RTI activist had raised doubts over the action of higher officers of the department in reducing the rate of compensation. He had claimed that by reducing the rate the state exchequer had suffered a loss worth crores of rupees. Dhawan had demanded a high-level probe into
the matter. |
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Una Milkfed plant runs into losses
Una, March 20 Besides the Lalsinghi unit, HP Milkfed has processing plants at Totu, Mandi, Kangra, Chamba, Rohru and Kafta besides 21 milk-chilling plants in different parts of the state. It is learnt that the federation is reeling under losses to the tune of about Rs 5 crore. According to information gathered from the Una unit in charge Surjit Singh Mann, four vehicles fan out daily in the directions of Gagret, Haroli, Bangana and Amb to collect milk from about 20 rural-level milk cooperatives functional in the district. He said while the total milk collection per day was 900 litres, only 700 litres was being packaged, with the remaining being transported to other Milkfed plants outside the district. It is learnt that the procurement of milk from rural cooperatives has steadily declined over the years. The reasons being cited are that the rate of milk procurement from the societies was fixed by HP Milkfed at Rs 19.14 per litre for standard milk with 4.5 per cent fat and 8.6 per cent solid non-fat (SNF) contents. These rates are less by about Rs 10 per litre as compared to what firms like Verka and Super offer to the farmers, said dairy owner Mahavir Singh. Delayed payment to the farmers also adds to their reluctance to sell milk
to Himfed. It is also learnt that to meet the specified standards of fat and SNF in packaged milk, the Una processing unit has to add skimmed milk powder produced at its other units, which further raises the cost of production of packaged milk. Incidentally, the Una milk processing plant also has the capacity to produce butter and dairy fats, which have never been produced here. Having to pay a staff of six persons, the Una milk processing plant is already running into a loss. The milk chilling plant at Bangana, having a capacity of 2,000 litres per day is also lying closed for similar reasons. "In order to raise productivity, the rate of procurement of milk from the farmers has to be raised, but that would mean incurring increased losses to the federation," remarked an employee, adding that the Himfed management will have to take immediate steps if it is to save
the cooperative. |
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The Ridge has no custodian
Shimla, March 20 “Even though the city is celebrating 150 years of its existence as the erstwhile summer capital of The Raj, it is sad that nobody knows who is the actual custodian of The Ridge,” said Capt Ved Sud, convener, INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), Shimla chapter. “The Ridge goes unmentioned in the map circulated to tourists,” he claimed. He said, “The Ridge is the heart of the city and is sinking, but rather than stabilising it, there are plans to commercialise it." The state High Court in its order passed on a civil writ petition on September 12, 2008, has banned any gathering on portion of the Ridge under which lies the massive water tank that supplies water to the main city. No truck can pass over this portion, but municipal trucks disobey the order. “The High Court has also ordered that no political rallies or religious/commercial functions can be held on The Ridge, but political parties never bother to implement,” rued residents. Even the Principal Secretary, Home, has issued a notification on September 26, 2008, in its bid to implement the order. The notification mentioned that a prior permission to use the Ridge would be given by the Home Department on recommendation of the District Magistrate. Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said the SMC was the custodian of the Ridge, but a part of the Ridge falls in Ward No. 1, while a part of it falls in the Lower Bazaar. But permissions for major public function come from the Home Department. We have carried a study and proposed commercial supportive complex below the Ridge to support and stabilise it, he added. Chauhan said the SMC was never consulted by the government for celebrating 150 years of summer capital this year. “We are planning our functions and they stand for not using The Ridge for rallies,” he added. Assistant commissioner SMC Naresh Thakur said they were preparing the GIS-based map of the city as they don’t have a proper map so far. |
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Kullu-Manali airport set to have another airline
Kullu, March 20 One will have to pay Rs 9,195 for one-way travel between Chandigarh and Kullu. BS Thakur, founder and Managing Director of the airline, said the eight-seater Cessna Grand-208B aircraft would be based at Bhuntar and operate three flights in a day. The tentative time for departure from Bhuntar would be 7.30 am, 9.50 am and 12.10 pm for the three flights, respectively, and that of return from Chandigarh at 8.10 am, 10.30 am and 12.40 pm. With the shutdown of the lone government air carrier to the Kullu valley since February 15 this year, efforts by private entrepreneurs have given respite to the masses engaged with the tourism industry. Earlier in 1981, Vayudoot started its operations on the feeder routes to metro hubs. The Delhi to Bhuntar route via Chandigarh, operated by the then government carrier Indian Airlines, was taken over by Vayudoot during its initial launching. While around seven return flights operated between Delhi and Bhuntar, lack of traffic caused financial crunch and forced its merger back with Indian Airlines in 1993. Jagson Airline also started its first operations to Bhuntar from Delhi in November 1991. Due to rising cost of turbine fuel, increased cost of operations and lack of support from the state government, the airlines ceased its operations to Kullu in 2006. Another airline, Archana Airways began its initial operations in May 1993, but packed up completely by 2000. Another airline in the name of UP Air made its entrance into the aviation industry from its introductory operations to Kullu from Delhi in 1995. The airlines could survive the challenging aviation industry only till 1996 and vanished thereafter. MDLR Airlines, founded by infamous former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, also chose Kullu sector for their introductory operations in 2007. A daily return flight was operated by the airlines and the fare was between Rs 4,000 and Rs 8,000, till the unannounced closure of the airline in October 2008. Besides, many small airlines or air charter service providers such as CityLink, Aerial Services, Trans Bharat Aviation tried their luck to make a mark in the aviation industry. Kullu Travel Agents Association patron Bhupender urged the state government to assist the new comers with all possible resources and grants. He said the Centre had shown no interest to revive the aviation industry in the state even after repeated hues and cries made by the people. |
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Truck driver’s role under scanner
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, March 20 The defence counsel said that while Sub-Inspector Janak Raj said they never caught hold of Tilak Raj before he was finally arrested on January 16, the then investigating officer Inspector Deepak Kumar said before the formal arrest, Tilak Raj was first apprehended on January 14 and then let off. "The contradictions surfaced while conducting the cross-examination. Inspector Deepak said that Tilaj Raj was apprehended before his arrest but prima facie, when his involvement was not apparent, they let him off," said defence counsel Amandeep Bindra and AS Sukhija. Deepak also told the court that he was the one who had gone to recover the Cruze car used in the crime. Janak Raj said he visited various spots with Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary. The Station House Officer of the Sector 5 police station, Inspector Malkiat Singh, in his statement, told the court that after the reports of hair samples, seat covers, blood tainted clothes from Forensic Science Laboratory in Madhuban were found inconclusive, they sent the same for re-examination to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Chandigarh and another Delhi-based institute. Another witness, Arun K Mauraya, deposed before the court. Mauraya was the one on whose name a mobile number was issued. He supported the prosecution, stating that he never got such number issued. The case
Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary and four others were accused of killing Jyoti, who hailed from Bhunga village in Hoshiarpur. The victim, found murdered on a road in Sector 21 Panchkula, was thought to be coming in the way of Chaudhary's political career, the chargesheet stated. The accused first strangulated Jyoti and a truck was then run over to show it as an accident case. |
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Samiti announces support for Pratibha
Kullu, March 20 Addressing mediapersons at a press conference here yesterday, Satya Prakash Thakur, chairman of the samiti, said as the interests of the masses of Himachal were secure under the leadership of Virbhadra Singh, members of the samiti, at a meeting held at Vikas Bhawan at Bhuntar, had unanimously decided to support Congress candidates in all the four Lok Sabha seats in the state. He added that the samiti would apprise each and every voter about the development works carried out by the present state and Central governments. He stated that booth-level committees would be appointed and meetings in this regard were fixed for March 22, 23 and 28 for the Kullu, Manali and Banjar Assembly constituencies of this district, respectively. He said the meeting for Ani block would be held during first week of April. He further said the future course of action for canvassing would be finalised at these meetings. Senpal Sharma, Sukhdas Nayar, Kishan Thakur and other members of the samiti were present. |
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Upgraded school functioning depends on availability of facilities: Govt
Shimla, March 20 It further submitted before the court that the newly upgraded government school was made functional only when suitable accommodation was available with the government or if required, the local public made the arrangements of additional accommodation to make the school functional. The state furnished this information during a hearing of the letter petition addressed to the Chief Justice alleging that the state government was upgrading the government schools without following the proper procedure and in violation of rules. It was alleged that just to gain political mileage, the schools were upgraded by the government without taking into consideration the strength of the students in the schools as well as the minimum distance from one school to another as prescribed by the rules. It was further mentioned that in some of schools, there was no proper infrastructure or playground despite the fact that the state was upgrading the schools. Treating this letter as petition, the court, in its earlier order, had directed the state to furnish the details in this regard. In compliance with this order, the state has filed an affidavit stating that the numbers of posts as per staffing pattern are also created for the newly upgraded high school and senior secondary school by the government with the notification and the expenditure involved on account of creation of posts is debited to General Education plan. After perusing the information furnished by the state a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan disposed of the petition with the observation that "it appears that the state has taken the steps to do the needful and is also expected that the state will make non-functional schools functional, as early as possible, preferably within six months." |
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Fruit, vegetable growers get tips at seminar
Nurpur, March 20 Subject matter specialist Sudhir Sharma and Horticulture Development Officer Dr Surender Rana educated growers on the cultivation of mango and citrus fruit crops in the region known for producing these fruits. They also suggested measures to save fruit and vegetable crops from insects and improve production in orchards and fields. The growers sought solutions to different problems of fruit and vegetable crops in the area. Addressing the growers, Suresh thanked the department authorities for organising such seminars in the area. He exhorted them to take the benefit of these seminars and adopt scientific techniques in improving crop yield. A large number of women growers also participated in the seminar. |
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Kiratpur-Ner Chowk nh
four-laning Tribune News Service
Mandi, March 20 Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Joginder Walia, president of the joint action committee (JAC), and other office-bearers said, “The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Mandi DC and was attended by members of the JAC and the project director of the NHAI." They said, “The joint action committee has been raising the grievance of residents of four panchayats of Dadaur, Bhour, Kanaid and Chowk to regarding widening the highway to 45 m or constructing a bypass on the 4.7-kilometre stretch." The JAC had been pleading to provide them road service on the above stretch as the area was densely populated and the four-laning project would adversely affect them. The office-bearers also thanked the district administration, NHAI authorities and MP Sita Ram Yechuri for road transport.
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Labourers not paid wages in Baijnath
Palampur, March 20 Official sources said here today that in two dozen panchayats the wages of labourers were outstanding because of an official bottleneck. However, there was no shortage of funds under this head. Meanwhile, the president of the Panchayat Pradhans Union told newsmen at Baijnath that the non-payment of wages to rural labourers had also affected development activities in the area as they had not registered themselves for the works to be undertaken next month. He said repeated requests to the Block Development Officer at Baijnath by the Labour and Panchayat Pradhan had yielded no results so far. He appealed to the Kangra Deputy Commissioner to intervene and arrange the payment of wages to the
labourers. |
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Rampur hydro project inaugurated
Shimla, March 20 On the occasion, RP Singh appreciated the efforts made by KK Gupta, General Manager of the project, and his entire team in expediting the construction of the project. After formally commissioning the plant, Singh said all the six units each of 68.67 MW would be progressively commissioned within the next three months. The project would generate 1,770 million units of electricity per annum. Singh was accompanied by RN Misra, Director (Civil), AS Bindra, Director (Finance), NL Sharma, Director (Personnel), RK Bansal, Director (Electrical), BNS Negi, CVO, and KK Gupta, GM/Head of the Rampur HE project. |
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Tribal status to 21 panchayats sought
Bharmour, March 20 The Akhil Bharatiya Gaddi Janjatiya Vikas Samiti, led by president Lalit Thakur, has reiterated the demand of people of these non-tribal panchayats to grant tribal status to their area having a population of around 40,000. The non-tribal areas include 21 panchayats falling in the Bharmour tribal Assembly constituency which is a part of the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. The non-tribal panchayats include Mehla, Bakan, Bandla, Choori, Darwin, Gurad, Dulara, Preena, Radi, Sunara, Brehi, Gehra, Lech, Kilod, Chhatrari, Piyuhra, Baloth, Kuned, Khundel, Kunr and
Lothal. “The area of 21 non-tribal panchayats though fall in the Bharmour tribal Assembly segment, but are not getting the legitimate benefits earmarked for them by the Central and the state governments to the tribal areas,” residents of these areas reveal while expressing their resentment.
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Governor, CM condole Khushwant Singh’s death
Shimla, March 20 He was known for humour and had abiding love for poetry, they said. Information and Public Relations Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also expressed grief over the demise of the great writer. |
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Amit Bharmouri is zila parishad chairperson
Chamba, March 20 The post of the chairperson fell vacant after a no-confidence motion was passed in the parishad against former chairperson Santosh Thakur a few days
ago. Amit is a zila parishad member from the Bakan ward falling in the Bharmour tribal Assembly constituency of the district. He is son of Himachal Forest Minister Thakur Singh
Bharmouri. — OC |
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Two injured as jeep falls into nullah
Nurpur, March 20 Soni is a medical officer posted at the Samot Primary Health Centre here and Mulkh Raj is driver of the official vehicle (HP48-3845). They were rushed to the Nurpur Civil Hospital. A case under Sections 279 and 337, IPC, had been registered against the jeep driver.
— OC |
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