Shimla, April 4
The race for the ticket for the Sujapur Assembly bypoll, to be held on May 7 along with Lok Sabha elections, seems to have narrowed down between former minister Anita Verma and Anita Rana, wife of former independent MLA Rajinder Rana whose resignation led to the holding of the bypoll.

The three-member ministerial committee, set up by the Congress for selecting the candidate for Sujanpur, today shortlisted five names by forming two panels and laying down certain norms and criteria for arriving at a final decision.

It is likely that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu will together make the final decision when they meet here tomorrow.

The names of Anita Verma and former MLA from Bamsan Kuldip Pathania have been included in one panel while the other panel has the names of Anita Rana, Naresh Thakur and Hamirpur District Congress Committee president Arun Thakur.

The committee, headed by Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes, met here to shortlist the names of 14 contenders who have applied for the ticket to the District Congress Committee (DCC), Hamirpur. The meeting was attended by Transport Minister GS Bali but Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur was not present as he was campaigning in Darang, his Assembly segment in favour of Pratibha Singh, sitting Mandi MP and Congress nominee.

The committee which took the opinion and consent of the Health Minister on the telephone has listed the strengths and weaknesses of five contenders along with their names.

The committee has mentioned that Anita Verma has lost two consecutive Assembly elections from Sujanpur. They have placed Kuldip Pathania in the same category as he too has lost two Assembly elections. Another factor mentioned is that he is an outsider and does not belong to Sujanpur.

The second panel has three names of fresh faces, including Anita Rana, Naresh Thakur and Arun Thakur. All three are new to electoral politics though the latter two have been associated with the party organisation for quite some time.

Anita Rana is a novice but she will represent her husband who had won as an independent candidate from Sujanpur in 2012. The fact that her husband was a hardcore BJP man who parted ways with the saffron party on being denied the ticket could have been a drawback but with Rana now being the Congress nominee for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, it will unlikely affect her prospects.

Committee forms two panels Panel I - Anita Verma and Kuldip Pathania -- both former MLAs who have lost two elections Panel II - Anita Rana, wife of Rajinder Rana, Naresh Thakur and Arun Thakur, office-bearers of the District Congress Committee, Hamirpur

Solan, April 4
PK Dhumal, former Chief Minister, today said the prosecution sanction against him by Governor Urmila Singh in a case of land leased to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) for the construction of a cricket stadium was politically motivated. She had not only shown haste, but also not consulted legal experts.

Addressing party workers at Arki, he said the Congress was targeting them for making sports facilities available to the youth.

Dhumal said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was levelling baseless allegations against BJP leaders to mislead the masses.

Reacting to an allegation that he had manipulated the delimitation exercise and this had led to reservation of the CM’s earlier constituency of Rohru, Dhumal said this exercise was conducted in 2004 when Virbhadra Singh was the Chief Minister and said even his constituency of Bumsen in Hamirpur district too had been affected. He said since the Delimitation Commission was a constitutional body, it was absurd to conclude that it worked under political pressure.

Referring to Vakamullah Chandershekhar, he reiterated that he was running the Chief Minister’s home and was providing loans for repair of his house and also his children’s business. He said the state too was being run by him and development was adversely hit. Dhumal said the employees were feeling cheated by the Congress government which, despite assuring them benefits of 4-9-14 from 2007, had not even granted the complete financial benefits under this policy from 2012. The daily wagers were also suffering as they had failed to get the promised wage of Rs 200 per day.

He attacked the Congress for protecting middlemen, hoarders and corrupt.

He urged party workers to highlight the BJP’s policies and misdeeds of the Congress among the people and ensure that they participated in the electoral process as each vote was crucial to ensure the victory of their prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Earlier, Virender Kashyap, sitting MP, who was seeking re-election urged the people to support him.

Shimla, April 4
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said the Congress was trying to divert the attention of public from main election issues by unleashing political vendetta against the HPCA which had created a world-class stadium at Dharamsala. It was a public asset which had brought laurels to the state.

Dhumal, addressing rallies at Ghanahati in the Shimla (Rural) Assembly segment and Arki in Solan district today, lashed out at Virbhadra Singh for implicating his political opponents in false cases.

"The Congress regime is using the Vigilance and pressurising officials to register cases against its political opponents but I have full faith in the judiciary as well as the people, who will give the final verdict," he said.

He said Virbahdra, who was himself facing a CBI probe, was insecure of his own future. "Being mired in controversies and alleged corruption charges, this seems to be his last-ditch effort to frame others," he remarked.

Dhumal said the decision to give the land on lease to the HPCA was taken by the Cabinet in the interest of the state and promote sports. He added that the stadium and other properties of the cricket body were not in the name of any individual, but of the association, whose efforts had been lauded internationally.

"It is only because of the efforts of the HPCA that sports persons from the state have been able to make a mark at the national and international level," he said.

Dhumal said the main election issues were price rise, corruption, unemployment, threat to the security of the nation.

"The main issue in Himachal will be the utter failure of the Virbhadra regime on all fronts as people are not getting subsidised ration, jobs or unemployment allowance," he said. He added that the state government had failed to get the special industrial package renewed and nor could it get the Rs 4,250 crore power arrears from the neighbouring states.

Palampur, April 4
Chander Kumar, a senior Congress leader who is contesting elections from the Kangra parliamentary seat, today asked BJP leader Shanta Kumar to reveal details of the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund utilised by him in the past six years when he was a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Addressing mediapersons at Baijnath today, Chander Kumar said Shanta had received Rs 12 crore as MPLAD fund in the past six years, but till date, he had not disclosed where he incurred this amount.

It was yet to be clarified whether these funds were utilised in the state or outside, he added. He asked Shanta to specifically declare how much amount to which panchayat or institution had been given out of his MPLAD fund.

He said there was no Modi wave seen in the state and people had already expressed full faith in the leadership of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

He said if the UPA was voted to power, he would make efforts for the expansion and conversion of the Kangra valley rail line into a broad gauge.

Earlier, he also addressed public meetings in lower areas of Palampur and asked people to support the Congress who had made vast development in the state in the past 30 years.

Chamba, April 4
Former Union Minister Shanta Kumar, who is a BJP candidate from Kangra, has condemned the action of the Congress government against former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the HPCA case.

Addressing a press conference here today, Shanta Kumar described this action as "political revenge", stating that this would cost the Congress dear in the elections.

“There are other cases of serious nature lying pending with the government for the past many years, but to initiate the HPCA case in haste in view of the general election is wrong”, Shanta said, eulogising Virbhadra Singh as a "seasoned and wise leader" from whom it was not expected.

Commenting upon the elections, Shanta stated that the electioneering had deviated from the basic issues while the trivial issues were being triggered for debates which were painful. The required standards of the elections had been gone down, he lamented.

“Fundamental reform in the election laws is my priority during which the use of money should be the least”, Shanta contended, affirming that he would take the lead and tell the people not to accompany the fleet of vehicles when he would file nomination papers on April 17. Shanta Kumar described the spending of money lavishly on the elections as the ‘criminal national wastage’.

Speaking about his priorities after winning the elections, Shanta reiterated that a "Dhauladhar tourism development project" would be drawn up envisaging the promotion of religions and eco-tourism in Kangra valley up to Baijnath.

He said the project would also include the ropeways in the Dhauladhar ranges for tourists to enjoy the landscapes of snowfall. Besides, the lakes, which had come up with the construction of hydropower projects, would be an added attraction to the tourists, Shanta further stated.

Hamirpur, April 4
BJP candidate from the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency Anurag Thakur today said the focus of the BJP had always been on development and it had been with people in the hour of happiness and distress.

Addressing election meetings at Gawardu, Kakadyar and Utpur under the Sujanpur Assembly segment, Anurag Thakur said people were well aware of the condition of Lagwalti area before Prem Kumar Dhumal became the Chief Minister of the state.

Anurag Thakur said “I had have always fought for the rights of ex-servicemen in and outside Parliament and would continue to highlight their issues in the coming times.”

Criticising the Congress, Thakur said, "Congress leaders have tried to befool voters through false promises and propaganda, but now people have understood their tricks and would teach a lesson to them in the parliamentary elections.”

Refuting allegations of Congress leaders about his absence from the constituency and remaining busy with cricket, he explained, “People know that I give ample time to raise issues of the area in Parliament.”

Anurag Thakur said, “My effort to promote cricket in the state has borne fruits and today, several players from the state are playing international cricket.”

Shimla, April 4
Chief Electoral Officer Narinder Chauhan today directed all 12 Deputy Commissioners and heads of civic bodies across the state to identify sites to ensure equitable space for all political parties for election advertisements.

Chauhan today shot off letters to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shimla and Commissioner Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) to ensure that the hoardings did not violate the norms laid down for advertisements. He wrote similar letters to the other 11 DCs and heads of municipal bodies.

“Having noticed these election hoardings, I have directed the DCs and MC authorities to identify new sites for display in case the entire available space has been bought by one political party so that in the eventuality of demand, there is alternate site available,” he said.

He added that they had also been asked to ensure that the hoardings maintained the designated distance from the national and state highways in keeping with the norms.

Huge hoardings and billboards, largely featuring BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and All India Congress Committee vice-president Rahul Gandhi, are competing for space at vantage points in the town.

The situation is no different at other places in the state.

As per the norms for display, a minimum distance of 100 metres in case of national highways and 50 metres in case of state highways has to be maintained. In most places, this norm is being flouted. Averting any untoward distance or clash between workers of different political parties is apparently on the CEO's mind.

Since elections in the state will take place after over a month on May 7, the campaign and publicity are yet to begin in the true sense. Hoardings and advertisements of political parties other than the Congress and BJP are yet to make an appearance.

No Himachal Day celebrations?
Considering the poll code of conduct, there is uncertainty even over the holding of the Himachal Day official function on April 15 at all district headquarters. Since the ministers preside over the functions at the district headquarters, there is a possibility that Himachal Day would be celebrated only at the state level at one place and it would be presided over by the Chief Minister. The necessary directions from the Election Commission are being sought.

Hamirpur, April 4
After the registration of two criminal cases against BJP leaders and Governor’s nod to prosecute former CM PK Dhumal, the BJP are putting up a brave front now. But it may make the party a bit defensive too in the Hamirpur constituency.

Moreover, the election campaign is picking up pace now and the Congress leaders will leave no stone unturned in exploiting these issues.

The registration of an FIR against former Badsar MLA Baldev Sharma for allegedly sexually assaulting a married woman from his own constituency was an embarrassing incident for the party. The Congress and the BJP activists are holding a dharna and a counter dharna now in the Badsar Assembly segment to put their point across the public.

BJP leaders are terming it a ‘vilification campaign’ against the former MLA, questioning the motive of the victim who registered the case after two years.

State BJP president Satpal Singh Satti, while commenting cautiously on the issue, said: “If somebody has done something wrong, he should face legal consequences. But this case is being raked up by Congress leaders to draw political mileage in the election.”

Another case was registered against district BJP president and party MLA Vijay Agnihotri regarding an alleged provocative speech made at Badsar, thereby violating the model code of conduct. BJP leaders, however, termed it a political vendetta.

Similarly, the Governor's nod to prosecute former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would also require some explaining on the part of the BJP, as the Congress leaders have been trying to target Dhumal and his MP son Anurag Thakur, heading the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, for the alleged irregularities in allotting land to the HPCA. Former CM PK Dhumal said: “Registration of false cases against BJP leaders by the Congress government cannot deter party leaders from exposing their misdeeds and we will fight it out on the field.”

Una, April 4
State BJP spokesman and election in charge of the Hamirpur parliamentary segment Parveen Sharma today alleged that anticipating defeat in the general election, the state Congress had turned desperate.

In a communiqué released here, he said the nod to prosecute former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal and allegations levelled against former BJP MLA Baldev Sharma, were attempts to push the BJP on the backfoot.

Terming such acts politically motivated, Sharma said the people were already aware that while in power, the state Congress leadership had always misused its position to victimise political opponents. He said Dhumal and Anurag would come out clean from the prosecution.

The BJP spokesman said allegations against Baldev Sharma for molesting a woman were false and baseless. He said the BJP stood united against the autocratic, vindictive and victimising Congress regime and would give a befitting reply to the ruling party in the coming general election.

Sharma said while Central agencies were already investigating into the serious charges of corruption against Virbhadra Singh and his family members, his public replies on the issues had not been convincing.

Kangra, April 4
“Congress is not a party, but a movement of national reconstruction and women emp-owerment is its top priority.”

State Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh said this while addressing public meetings at Tikka Sahib in Shahpur and Kholi near here today.

Targeting women voters, Vikramaditya said the Congress party was eager to provide reservation to women in the Lok Saba and state assemblies. He said the Congress brought Right to Food Act and increased the LPG cylinders from 9 to 12.

He counted the achievements of the Congress government in the state for the past more than one year and the achievements of the UPA government during the last decade.

He said without any discrimination, the Congress developed both upper and lowers regions of this hill state. He said Shanta Kumar, who was opposing the BJP leadership in the state earlier, has now started praising the party after he was offered the ticket.

Shimla, April 4
The issue of excluding Rs 15.35 crore environment management fund from the Local Area Development Authority (LADA) fund due on JP Energy company raised by a Kinnaur-based NGO has crashed hopes of people who were protesting in Kinnaur.

The previous BJP government, in a meeting chaired by the then Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop and Principal Secretary (Power) Bhim Sen on September 3, 2009, had decided to include the environment fund in the LADA fund.

The JP company has agreed to clear all liabilities before selling the 1,000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo and 300 Baspa power projects to TAQA, a Abu Dhabhi consortium.

Sources said the company had agreed to clear all dues, including Rs 103 crore LADA fund, Rs 13.60 crore for damage to crops in four panchayats in Kinnaur, Rs 7.63 crore of ITI Urni and Rs 11.41 crore for a 40-bed hospital at Sholtu.

But the state government had expressed its helplessness to exclude Rs 15.35 crore environment management fund from the LADA fund and would be included in the Rs 103 crore LADA fund, revealed officials.

The decision has evoked the ire of Himlok Jagriti Manch, Kinnaur. Convener Ranjit Negi said we oppose all adjustments. "The wrong doings by the previous government should be corrected by the present government," he said.

The LADA and environment management fund were separate things, Negi said. The LADA fund was spent illegally by JP company to get a NOC from four gram panchayats. "The ITI and hospital funds should not be included in the LADA fund," he asserted.

Residents lambasted the company for selling the two projects without taking any NOC of the gram sabha which was mandatory under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

“The company also violated the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996, and tribal laws and the sellout to a foreign company poses a security risk in the border area,” he charged.

Principal Secretary (Power) SKBS Negi said the company had agreed to clear the pending dues after the state government issued them a notice. “We have taken up the matter with the JP company and the process is on,” he added.

The case The state government has expressed helplessness to exclude Rs 15.35 crore environment management fund from the LADA fund and would be included in the Rs 103 crore LADA fund The previous BJP government, in a meeting chaired by the then Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop and Principal Secretary (Power) Bhim Sen on September 3, 2009, had decided to include the environment fund in the LADA fund. Residents allege JP Energy Company was selling the 1,000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo and 300 Baspa power projects without taking any NoC from the gram sabha, which is mandatory under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Shahpur (Dharamsala), April 4
The Railways should be converted into a public sector corporation. It is running like a government department and not performing as per expectations. The Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia stated this while interacting with students of the Central University Himachal Pradesh here today.

Ahluwalia said a few decades ago, the infrastructure of the Railways was on a par with that of China. The latter is now far ahead of India in terms of railway network infrastructure. The basic reason for that is that China has refurbished its railways ministry whereas in India, it is just like any other government department.

He said the total subsidy on passenger freight in India is around Rs 20,000 crores annually. In China, the passenger fare in railways is more than commercial freight rates. In India, it is the reverse. In case the commercial and passenger freights in Indian railways were rationalised, it could help in the industry's growth, Ahluwalia said.

Earlier, while delivering a lecture on Indian Economic Objectives and Prospects, Montek said in the last two years, the annual growth rate of the Indian economy had gone down from 8 per cent to 5 per cent. Two-third of the reasons for the slowdown in the Indian economy were domestic while one-third of these were linked to the global slowdown, he said.

The basic domestic reasons responsible for slowdown in the Indian economy were environmental clearances and increasing non-performing assets of the banks and non-availability of finances in the market, he added. In the last one decade, there has been a huge increase in investments in India.

The systems in India for environmental clearances were unable to cope with increase in investment proposals, he said. Another reason for the economic slowdown was uncertainty in policy in view of the polls, he added. Whichever government is voted to power in India after May, the economy would achieve a growth rate of about 5.5 per cent this year and about 7 per cent next year, he said.

The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission claimed there had been reduction in poverty in India in the last 10 years. About 140 million people in India had come out of the poverty line in the last 10 years, he said, quoting a poverty measure whose authenticity has been doubted of late.

About the allegation that the poor were getting poorer due to the policies of the present government, he said it was not true. He said though there was no data on income to substantiate the fact that poor were getting poorer in the country, in terms of consumption index, there has been a small increase in inequality in the Indian society. He said the view regarding increasing inequality in the Indian society has been created by media.

In many foreign countries, products meant for the middle class are advertised. In the Indian media, the products meant for the high end society are largely advertised. This has created an impression that the gap between rich and poor is increasing, claimed Ahluwalia.

Thus spake Montek Ahluwalia said China was far ahead of India in terms of railway network infrastructure China had refurbished its railways ministry whereas in India, it is just like any other government department, he said About 140 million people in India had come out of the poverty line in the last 10 years, the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman said, quoting a poverty measure whose authenticity has been doubted of late

Palampur April 4
The Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT) (CSIR), Palampur, has signed an MoU with Phyto Biotech, Kolkata, for transferring technology for production of unique autoclavable super oxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme.

This enzyme is discovered from a high-altitude plant growing under snow. Persistent hard work over the years resulted in deciphering the SOD gene. Thereafter, protocol was developed for cloning of the gene in E coli. The enzyme thus produced has the same unique feature as that of the plant.

The SOD-based formulation can be used by the cosmetic industry to develop anti-ageing creams by the food industry for extending shelf life of fruits and vegetables. SOD also finds wide applications in the medical industry during cryo-surgery and preservation of organelles.

The agreement brings together academic and industry wherein CSIR-IHBT will provide knowhow and technical support while Phyto Biotech will produce and commercialise the enzyme.

Sundernagar, April 4
A five-day-long traditional Devta mela started here today. Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Onkar Chand Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion, who led a colourful procession at the opening ceremony.

The procession started from PWD rest house and culminated at the Community Hall in Jawahar Park.

As per traditions, the chief guest performed the puja of Dev Mahunag, the main deity of Sundernagar (old Suket Estate), Dev Kamarunag (locally known as Bada Deo) and other hill gods.

Hundreds of hill gods have been brought from various parts of old Suket Estate for the five-day-long fair.

The main deity, Dev Mahunag, has been brought from the interiors of Karsog. The contingent along with the deity travelled a distance of 120 km on foot.

Likewise, Dev Badayogi has been brought from Tattapani area of Karsog. The contingent travelled a distance of 130 km on foot.

All deities brought here had to cover a distance ranging between 50 and 100 km and were brought here on foot.

Sharma said the government was committed to provide all facilities to the contingent accompanying hill gods in order to promote cultural heritage of the state.

Palampur, April 4
Despite specific orders of the state High Court, the authorities at Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University have not released the pension for January, February and March.

This has irked members of the HP Agriculture University Pensioners’ Association, who have criticised the authorities.

Association president Dr Susheel Kumar Phull today said the university authorities were giving a step-motherly treatment to its retired employees. He said they were not releasing their pensions regularly, adding that they had to move the HP High Court once, after which the arrears of pension were paid to them.

He said the university authorities were again adopting delaying tactics under the pretext of financial crisis, but were regularly releasing all benefits to its serving employees.

Phull said: “Now, the pension for January February, March is overdue and the pensioners have not been paid so far.” He said they would again knock at the doors of the High Court and file a contempt petition against the university management if they failed to release the pension in the next 10 days.

Earlier, the HP High Court withheld the salary of vice-chancellor and registrar for not releasing the pensions of retired employees of HPAU.

The High Court had also expressed displeasure over the treatment being meted out to retired employees by the university and directed the university to release the pension immediately.

Una, April 4
Two Jalandhar youths allegedly took away a motorcycle at gunpoint near here yesterday. While one of them gave the police the slip under cover of darkness, the other, who fired in the air, when cornered, surrendered.

According to SP Anupam Sharma, daily wager Kishan Pal, resident of Raja Ka Sehelpur in Bilari Municipal Committee of Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh, complained to the police that two youths near the Swan river on the old Hoshiarpur Road took away his motorcycle at gunpoint.

The SP said inter-state barriers were immediately ordered to be sealed. About an hour later, the accused, on two motorcycles, broke the Pandoga barrier. He said policemen chased the accused. While one of them escaped, the other one rushed towards the Bankhandi forests on the Una-Hoshiarpur road.

Sharma said torches and searchlights were pressed into service. The police, along with some local youths, combed the forest area. Suddenly, he said, there was noise of a gunshot and the accused, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, threatened to kill himself. He said counselling led to the surrender of the accused.

The arrested youth has been identified as Kulwinder Kumar of Raipur Pharla under Sadar police station, Jalandhar. Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, resident of Hardo Pharla under Sadar police station, Jalandhar, is still at large. The SP said Kulwinder had admitted to having purchased the weapon from Uttar Pradesh, which is a foreign make Petra Beretta 7.65 mm bore pistol. It still had three rounds in it.

Sharma said according to the Punjab Police, criminal cases were pending against the two under various sections of the Arms Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act besides theft and robbery. He said police parties had been sent to Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur to nab Gurpreet. The Una court has remanded Kulwinder Kumar to judicial custody till April 8.

Solan, April 4
The Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Bank (HPSCB), set up in 1953, has crossed the figure of Rs 100 crore for the first time and earned a gross profit of Rs 108 crore in 2013-14. Given the fact that cooperative banks are generally marred by high non-performing assets and other financial liabilities, this was a milestone in the bank’s history.

The state has seven other cooperative banks based in Solan, Kangra, Mandi and Chamba districts.

It was interesting to note that despite granting promotions to 422 employees in 2013-2014 in various categories, recruiting 154 employees and regularising the services of 355 employees, the bank’s profitability could achieve the milestone in the previous fiscal.

Though new recruitments and promotions were a huge drain on the bank’s salary bill, it did not impact the profitability which had for the first time crossed the Rs 100-crore mark, sources said. This figure stood at Rs 65.96 crore in 2010 and reached Rs 97.48 crore last year.

Since non-performing assets are considered a major stumbling block in the financial health of any bank, special efforts were made to reduce this liability and the Net NPA of the bank has come down significantly to 5.06 per cent at the end of the current financial year.

The credit-deposit ratio of the bank has also improved significantly and touched 48 per cent. Despite the challenges posed by infotech savvy private and commercial banks, the bank has not only retained its hold, but has increased it significantly by rolling out customer-friendly services and policies.

The bank’s financial soundness is also reflected from its healthy capital to risk (weighted) assets ratio (CRAR) which is 19.50 per cent and way above the stipulated benchmark of 9 per cent. This was a significant achievement at a time when even the nationalised banks are requiring doses of capital infusion from the government to spruce up its CRAR.

Kangra, April 4
The Medical Council of India (MCI) completed a two-day surprise inspection of the DRPGMC, Tanda, yesterday. It appreciated the infrastructure and faculty at the college.

DRPGMC spokesman Dr Munish Saroch said a two-member team of the MCI, including Dr Anoop Raj from the Department of ENT, Maulana Azad Government Medical College, New Delhi, and Dr Seshangiri Rao, Professor, Department of Surgery, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, had come for the inspection. They arrived at the college on April 1 for the renewal of permission for the fourth batch of MBBS students as the number of MBBS students was increased from 50 to 100 this academic year under Section 10A of the IMC Act, 1956.

During the visit, the team inspected all departments, including the rural centre at Shahpur, Saroch added. He said the team had expressed satisfaction over the availability of infrastructure and faculty at the college. The MCI on the directions of the apex court is conducting surprise checks at medical colleges.

Nurpur, April 4
The Indora police recovered the body of a person hanging from a tree in the nearby Tappa forest here today.

The deceased had been identified as Rasal Singh of Jangrara village. Villagers who spotted the body informed local gram panchayat pradhan Jaram Singh, who further intimated the Indora police. The police took the body into their possession and sent it to the Nurpur Civil Hospital for postmortem.

As per information, the deceased was father of three children and worked as a helper in the office of the Forest Department at Tappa Dhoog in the Indora forest range.

Kartar Singh and Parshotam Singh, brothers of the deceased, suspected that their brother was murdered and demanded an inquiry into the case.

A team of forensic experts from Dharamsala inspected the spot and accumulated circumstantial evidences.

Shimla, April 4
A joint team of conservationists and hunters and Rampur forest department yesterday trapped a leopard, suspected to be a man-eater, in a cage at Koftadhar. The leopard is suspected to have killed two children at Jahoo and Bijnour beats of Nankheri jungle under Rampur forest division since February.

The leopard was spotted trapped in a cage by the shepherds in the Nankhari jungle in the morning. They informed locals about it. They, in turn, informed the joint team of hunters led by Ramesh Chauhan and forest staff led by DFO Rampur Amit Sharma about it.

“We trapped the animal in the cage laid on the path of the animal four days ago,” said Ashish Dasgupta, a sharpshooter and a member of the State Board for Wildlife.

“We spotted it moving with a female at a distance,” he said.

They wanted to be doubly sure and did not want to kill the innocent animal. They studied its movement before they laid two traps to cage the animal, said Dasgupta. “It was finally spotted on the camera four days ago after we resumed operation. We are happy they have trapped the leopard without killing it, which has served the purpose of conservation in the state,” he added.

DFO Rampur Amit Sharma said, "It is a full-grown adult, which had apparently killed two children in February last."

The leopard entered the cage, having been drawn to a bait. It was trapped in one of the cages in the wee hours, said a team.

Sharma said the feline had been transported to the Tutukandi zoo and would be kept in captivity there. A team of veterinarians would examine the leopard, he added.

Mandi, April 4
The Mandi Nagrik Adhikar Manch has demanded inspection of all new inter radiation data resource meters installed by the HP State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL).

Addressing a press conference here today, manch president Harmit Bittoo and other office bearers said, “The new meters are giving sleepless nights to consumers due to exorbitant electricity bills, and HPSEBL should inspect all new meters.”

They said, “The manch has also opposed consumer service charge levied by HPSEBL and demanded its immediate withdrawal.” — TNS