My thought process gathers pace in hill station: Ali Zafar
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
Sports seem to be the recent fixation of Bollywood. Inspired by the stupendous success of films based on sports genre, writer-director Ali Abbas Zafar’s next release would be a sports based film.

Presently in Dehradun for a break post the success of his latest film Gunday, Zafar said his next film would be based on sports.

“It is too early to disclose the outline of the film or on which sport is it based, but I am trying to do something different this time,”  he added.

Born and brought up in Dehradun, Zafar completed his schooling from Marshall School before proceeding to Delhi for his graduation from Kirori Mal College. Dressed in a white printed shirt and denims, Zafar tasted success with his debut film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (MBKD), written and directed by him and starring Imran khan and Katrina Kaif.

Zafar said he wrote the scripts of both his films while he was in Mussoorie. “Gunday and MBKD have a close connection with Uttarakhand apart from him. Both the films were born in Mussoorie. The hill-station is where my thought process gathers pace and I am able to write,” he added.

On being asked about experimenting with a different genre each time, Zafar said: “I have always believed that confidence helps a person to perform better. I don’t want to specialise in a particular genre and become over-confident. I want to get out of my comfort zone and come out with a fresh script every time. I get bored of myself if I perform within my comfort zone,” he added.

Speaking about Uttarakhand, Zafar said a lot of people in Bollywood belong to the state.

“We are trying to form a common platform for all those hailing from the state, so that we can represent Uttarakhand in Bollywood. Also, some of us are in talk with the government representatives to make it easier for the filmmakers to come and shoot in the picturesque locations of the state,” he added.

“After the release of Gunday, a lot of industry’s big-wigs such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Mahesh Bhatt, Subhash Ghai called me to congratulate on the success of the film. In fact, Ghai sahib said my films reflected the style of yesteryears film writers and directors,” said Zafar.

Singer Shadab Faridi accompanied Zafar, who sang Jashn-e-Ishqa song in Gunday film.

Speaking about his Bollywood stint, the Sharanpur lad said he considered himself lucky.

“I have seen people struggling for several decades before getting a big break in Bollywood. I am lucky that within eight years I have got the recognition and work with big banners. Jashn-e-Ishqa is a rage and wherever I go people ask me to sing it,” he added. 

 Good Friday observed
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
The state capital today observed Good Friday, which marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Holy masses were organised in various churches.

St Francis Church witnessed a huge crowd. "The day is very important for all Christians across the globe. We remember our lord who was crucified on this fateful day," said Mary, a worshipper at the church.

The day is also known as Holy Friday or Black Friday.

 IAS posts to non-cadre officers opposed

Dehradun, April 18
The IAS Association in Uttarakhand has opposed any move to allot IAS cadre posts to non-cadre officers. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the association held in Dehradun today.

The association also decided to go to court in such matters. It sought a strict implementation of all norms related to cleanliness, parking and entry pass arrangements. It decided that the structure of the Revenue Department should be promptly presented to the 14th Finance Commission taking into account the importance of the revenue police in the hill areas of the state. — TNS

Raagleela, Dhruv Vishwanath & Oakies ready to regal audience 
Ajay Ramola
Tribune News service

Mussoorie, April 18
Musicians from around the country and abroad are ready to regale audience during the annual musical event popularly known as the Big Gig Exclusive scheduled to be held on April 19 in Mussoorie.

This year, like its last editions, the Big Gig Exclusive will see performances of international and local acts of varied varieties ranging from one of the earliest types of Delta Blues to South American folk. After a successful series of two editions, this year the festival is set to take place at The Rokeby Highlands of Landour.

The Dhruv Vishwanath trio is a Delhi-based outfit that has been hailed as one of the best live acts in the country. Raagleela is a fusion band which effortlessly blends Indian classical with western rock. ''Run! It’s The Kid,'' a folk rock quartet, which has been wowing audiences all over the country with their Dylanesque compositions and live energy.

The Prateek Kuhad with their soulful and catchy Hindi numbers have been lined up for this year's show during the musical gig here.

The uniquely gifted Mame , a veteran Rajasthani folk singer, credited with performing at Coke Studio on MTV, will also enthral the audience on the occasion.

The Okies, an American folk duo, and Bootleg Browns, who have been associated with the festival since its first year will also perform during the festival.

The highlight of the festival will be Woodstock School jazz band and the school choir which is considered as one of the best in the country.

This year to make it easier for audience members to come from Delhi, the Big Gig Exclusive has joined hands with Grallo, a UK-based travel company which specialises in providing transport for events.

Prayers on Good Friday across Mussoorie
Tribune News service

Mussoorie, April 18
Churches reverberated with prayers as the Christian community observed Good Friday in Mussoorie today.

Priests in various churches around the town highlighted the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the redemption of the humankind on this day.

Many non-Christians, too, participated in the mass services and prayed for universal peace and prosperity. Special prayers were held at Christ Church at Library Bazaar, Central Methodist Church at Kulri, Hebron Church at Picture Palace, St Peter’s Church at Landour Bazaar and St Paul’s Church at Lal Tibba.

Pastor Nand Kishore from Central Methodist Church blessed the devotees on the occasion and said the day was to remember Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for the emancipation of the mankind. He added Jesus resurrected himself on the third day, on Sunday, and it is due to this reason the Sunday following Good Friday is celebrated as Easter.

Pastor Nand Kishore said Jesus Christ preached selfless love and taught that one should help one’s neighbours. The mankind should follow the path shown by him to lead a prosperous and peaceful life.

Mules to carry EVMs to distant polling booths
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 18
Mules will be used to carry electronic voting machines (EVM) to seven polling booths in the Dahrchula Assembly segment of Pithoragarh district and eight booths in the Kapkot Assembly segment of Bageshwar district which are situated 7 km to 27 km away from road, sources in the election office in the Almora parliamentary constituency said.

They said the polling booth at Namik in the Dharchula Assembly segment is situated 27 km from road. The election office will use mules to carry an EVM and other material to this place. “Other polling booths in the district where the election material will be sent by mules are Bona and Bongling in Dharchula, which are 27 km and 24 km, respectively, from road; Pato and Banjar in the Gangolihat Assembly segment, which are 20 km and 16 km, respectively, from road; and Bhama in Gangolihat and Dobans in Didihat constituencies,” said SC Semwal, District Election Officer, Pithoragarh.

Mules will also be used to transport the election material to the polling booths in the Kapkot segment of Bageshwar district that are situated seven to 15 km from road. “While the Borbalara polling booth in the Kapkot Assembly segment is 15 km from road, the Kunwari and Khalhjuni polling booths are situated 10 km from road. The election material will be sent to these booths through mules while the staff on poll duty will travel on foot,” said the District Election Officer, Bageshwar.

The polling booths in Champawat district have been divided into 42 sectors. While over 400 voters of Khirdwari, a village of the primitive tribe of Van Rawats, have been given the control of one sector making it the smallest sector in the district, over 22,156 and15,713 voters in the Tanakpur and Banbasa sectors, respectively, will form the biggest sectors in the district where 20 polling booths each will be operative on the polling day. 

CM campaigns extensively for wife Renuka in Haridwar 
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 18
Chief Minister Harish Rawat has been canvassing for his wife and Congress candidate from Haridwar Renuka Rawat in the holy city for the past one week.

He also met party workers and addressed public meetings here this morning. He has entrusted local party leaders with managing Renuka's poll campaign.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat presence in the constituency has given momentum to Renuka's campaign, which initially lacked enthusiasm. He has covered most of the Assembly segments, including Mangalore, Jhabreda, Piran Kaliyar, Bhagwanpur, Laksar, Bahadrabad, Lal Dhang and Khanpur, in the past one week.

Addressing a gathering at a function where leaders belonging to the Brahmin community were also present, Harish Rawat said the Congress had respect for all communities and sects. " Renuka's top priority is carrying out development activities. And as a sitting legislator, it's my duty to seek votes for the Congress candidate on my five-year performance as Haridwar parliamentarian."

At an election meeting at suburban Jwalapur, he urged people to vote in favour of Renuka.To woo voters of minority communities, he highlighted pro-minority welfare schemes carried out by the Central and Uttarakhand Governments.

City Congress unit chief OP Chauhan said, "Besides being the Chief Minister, Harish Rawat is also sitting parliamentarian from where his wife is contesting the elections. It's normal that he will be campaigning in Haridwar extensively."

Former MC chairperson Satpal Brahamchari said the Congress' campaign had been lagging behind the BJP owing to the delay by the former in announcing its candidates. However, now with Harish Rawat's participation, the campaigning had picked up pace.

"Harishji is a veteran political leader. No one can match his high calibre, political acumen and vision. He will surely lead the party to victory in the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state," said Dr Sanotsh Chauhan, a senior party leader.

On the other hand, BJP divisional president Vikas Tiwari termed the CM's frequent visits to Haridwar a desperate one. He said Harish Rawat was aware of the fact that his wife was a weak candidate in comparison to Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

 Statehood activists to press NOTA button
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 18
Statehood activists residing in Bageshwar district have decided to press the none of the above (NOTA) button this parliamentary elections in protest against the alleged failure of the state government to identify ‘genuine’ statehood agitators and issue them identity cards for availing of facilities given to them.

“We have identified over 546 families of statehood activists in the district which have agreed to our proposal to press the NOTA button in the coming Lok Sabha elections in support of our pending demands,” said Puran Pathak, convener of the boycott call.

Pathak said though over 349 statehood activists had been identified in the district for issuing identity cards, the administration had done nothing in this direction till date. “We approached court for justice but the administration worked against the directions of the judiciary,” he said.

The statehood activists alleged that the present Congress-led state government had forgotten the real objectives of the formation of Uttarakhand and was working against the vision of the statehood activists and martyrs.

“We have decided to send a message to the state government by pressing the NOTA button in the Lok Sabha elections on May 7,” said Pathak.

AAP manifesto gives priority to Jan Lokpal Bill
Our correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 18
Presenting a blend of popular local issues and national vision of the party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unit in Uttarakhand has presented a local manifesto in the state. It promises democracy based on preamble of the Constitution and decentralising power structure to enable the common man in the state to run the government. “We want swaraj for the common man,” said Dr Shamsher Singh Bisht, campaign head of the party in the state.

The manifesto released last week and distributed by the party unit in the district today gives the top priority to Jan Lokpal Bill. “We have felt that due to absence of Ombudsman in the country, the prices of fuel are increasing and burdening the common man,” said Bisht.

It promises to give the common man its due to panchayats and local bodies by giving powers to these under 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments and handing over all 29 and 18 subjects to them. “We have also promised to hand over control of natural resources to local communities, a clause which has been envisaged in Article 29-B of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution,” said Dr Bisht. It has promised to make taxation policy more transparent to check black money.

It also promises to make forest a means of employment rather than mere environment protection. “By introducing chakbandi in the agriculture sector and giving mining work to gram sabhas, we have the vision to make a self-reliant society in the state,” said Bisht.

The manifesto has been signed by Dr Bisht, Rajiv Lochan Shah, NN Pandey, Pawan Gupta, and Kanchan Chaudhari Bhattacharya.

 Paramilitary forces, 700 home guards for poll duty in Doon
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
Eight companies of Central Paramilitary Forces along with 700 home guards are going to be deployed in Dehradun district for the peaceful conduct of Lok Sabha elections scheduled to take place on May 7 in Uttarakhand.

Though the decision on the deployment of 6 companies of state Provincial Constabulary Company (PAC), which has been demanded by the district police, is still not finalised, the district police are hoping to get what they have demanded.

Apart from 700 home guards that Dehradun police are going to get, the district police have also been given permission to retain 800 home guards out of the total 1100 home guards that function under the district police.

According to SP, Rural, Manikant Mishra, who is also a district nodal officer (police) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in the district, ''we are going to get the required number of paramilitary companies and home guards that we demanded for the deployment in the district to ensure free and fair elections.”

The Tribune has learnt that out of a total 1514 polling stations in the district, 238 have been identified as sensitive and hypersensitive, where the force deployment will be more compared to normal polling booths. The district police have identified 166 sensitive polling booths and 72 hypersensitive, which will majorly be guarded by CPF.

It is to be noted Dehradun district mostly comes in the Tehri Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency but few areas in the district also come in the Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency as well. 

  Aggarwal campaigns for Renuka Rawat

Dehradun, April 18
Cabinet Minister Dinesh Aggarwal urged the residents in Dharampur assembly segment to cast their votes in favour of Renuka Rawat, Congress nominee from the Haridwar constituency.

The minister met the residents of ward No. 46, Majra, Bhramanwala and Niranjanpur and asked them to support Congress candidates in the general elections.

Addressing the gathering, Aggarwal said the Congress had always contributed towards the development of slums. “Residents of slum areas have always supported Congress in both Assembly and general elections and this time too we expect the same support,” he added.

Raes Ansari, Taseen Ansari, Ram Kishen Sharma, Shabbir Ahmed, Ravi Hassan, Ayub Akela and Gurmeet Singh Bagga were present on the occasion. — TNS

 AAP workers roadshow on April 20
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
Aam Aadmi Party workers will stage a road show in parts of Dehradun that fall in Haridwar Lok Sabha in support of their party candidate Kanchan Chowdhary Bhattacharya.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun today, AAP District Dehradun secretary Rajesh Bahuguna said AAP workers will stage a roadshow in Dehradun on April 20.

He said the AAP workers will cover Mohabbeywala, Charkhamba, Subhash Nagar, Mehuwala, Manjara, Azad Colony, Turner Road and Baruwala areas of Dehradun during their roadshow.

Bahuguna said street plays will be also be organised as part of canvassing in favour of the AAP candidates.

AAP leader Sanjay Bhatt was also present during the news conference.

 Overloaded vehicles pose threat to commuters in Jaunpur region
Tribune News service

Mussoorie, April 18
The overloading of jeep and taxis, believed to be a major contributor to the fatal accidents by the owners, is posing risk to the commuters on the roads of Jaunpur development region in district Tehri, revealing the apathy of concerned department in the process.

The jeeps/taxis, overloaded with schoolchildren and the local commuters, can be seen on the Aglar-Thatyur-Mussoorie road plying with impunity and posing a risk to human lives in the process.

The damage to the roads due to the flood disaster in June is making the vehicles less stable and difficult to steer and resulting in bumpy rides for the commuters.

The hapless commuters are forced to travel on the roof and sometimes they hang at the back of the vehicles as no roadways bus or vehicle has been allocated on the Aglar-Thatyur-Mussoorie route.

Most of the jeep owners ignore the specification regarding the amount of weight one vehicle can bear. Apart from this, due to overheating, most of the vehicles plying on the roads are in a worn down condition, thus increasing the chance of premature and dangerous blowouts.

The lack of vehicle fitness test by the Transport Department is also one of the reasons, putting lives of the commuters at risk in the region.

The commuters have to pay the price due to overloading as in case of an accident, the insurance company refuses to disburse the claims for any loss of life.

With overloading, seat belts are often not used as the aim is to pack in as many persons as possible into the vehicle. The whole suspension system comes under stress and the weakest link in the vehicle gives away, resulting in accidents.

Sajawanti, one of the commuters, lamented the fact that the overloaded vehicles are bane for the women as many anti-social elements try to take advantage of the situation, making it difficult for them to travel in such condition.

The villagers from Sirwan, Senjal, Chanangaon, Parodi, Tikri,Kyari, Lalotna,Bichu,Dwargad etc are demanding the introduction of one bus by the government on the road to ease the pressure so that the commuters can travel without any risk.

The ARTO, Tehri, Dr Anita Chamola, when contacted said that she has been receiving such complaints and a campaign to stop such activity will be carried out as soon as Lok Sabha elections are over in the state.

Jot Singh Bisht is Tehri Congress president
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
Jot Singh Bisht will be district Congress president for Tehri. He replaces Kirti Singh Negi, who has recently been appointed as chairman of Bhagirathi Development Authority.

This was informed by state Congress spokesman Mathura Dutt Joshi.

Kirti Singh Negi said that he had left the post as he was occupied with the works of Bhagirathi Development Authority.

 Encroachments: Commissioner to submit report to Nainital HC
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
Even though the Dehradun district administration might be dilly-dallying the anti-encroachment drive for one or the other reason, the Court Commissioner has made up his mind to submit the report in eight weeks to the Nainital High Court.

It may be recalled that responding on the Public Interest Litigation filed by Manmohan Singh Lakhera, the Nainital High Court had ordered removal of encroachments from footpaths in the state capital. In the PIL, Lakhera said: ''The footpaths were created in the city to facilitate walking space for the commuters. However, the footpaths have been encroached upon either by shopkeepers or hawkers and vendors. As a result, commuters have to walk on the busy roads and this leads to accidents.''

To oversee the work carried out by the administration, the court had appointed Dehradun District Bar Association president, Rajiv Sharma, as the Court Commissioner. The HC had directed Sharma to submit a report on the status of footpath encroachments in the state capital.

A couple of days ago, District Magistrate-cum-Mukhya Nagar Adhikari BVRC Purshottam had stalled the drive, citing nomination of candidates as the reason. In fact the claims being made by the administration about Chakrata road being free of encroachments, following their drive, were grounded, when Sharma conducted an on-ground check and found a majority of the road and footpaths still under encroachment.

In a meeting held recently, the various departments, including the DMC, PWD and MDDA, submitted the maps of the areas under their jurisdiction. ''Based on the maps and the actual site, we will be able to ascertain the encroachments. The maps were important to conduct the on-ground checks of the entire city,'' said Sharma.

On being asked about the anti-encroachment drive being stalled by the administration, Sharma said: ''I am not concerned whether they carry out the drive or not. I will be conducting my checks and preparing a report based on the actual condition of the roads. Based on the directions from the High Court, I will be submitting my report within eight weeks.'' 

 3 held for stealing Pak pilgrims’ bag
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 18
The Government Railway Police (GRP) today arrested three persons from the Haridwar railway station for allegedly stealing a bag belonging to Pakistan pilgrims in the city a few days ago.

A contingent of 189 Pakistan pilgrims was on a religious visit to India for the past fortnight and had left Haridwar on the night of April 16. The trio stole a bag containing money belonging to the Pakistan pilgrims, as the latter were trying to board the Dehradun-Amritsar (Lahori) Express from the Haridwar railway station. Chandra Bhan Rabda, coordinator of the pilgrims’ delegation, filed a complaint at GRP station.

The GRP took the help of CCTV footages and informers in the case and arrested Ram Swarup, Ganga Ram and Jagannath, all residents of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

The three accused have admitted to the crime and Pakistan currency amounting to Rs 11,770, besides a mobile phone set, artificial jewellery and various other commodities have been recovered from their possession. SP, City, Surjeet Singh Pawar, said the three thieves had been active in Haridwar since the last Mahakumbh Mela and used to steal purses, bags, mobile phone sets and other commodities from pilgrims.

Pawar added the GRP were interrogating the accused to ascertain whether any other person was involved in the crime. In other major success, the GRP arrested a person from the railway station and recovered banned ‘doda’ drug from his possession.

On a tip-off, a GRP team questioned Anil Kumar, a resident of Hansavali village in Saharanpur, and recovered 5 kg of the banned drug 
from him.

SHO, GRP, DS Bajwa, said the banned substance in 10 packets of 500 gram each was being taken to Nepal through Uttarakhand.

Bazwa said Anil had been booked under Section 8/20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Meanwhile, an intense search operation is being conducted at the railway station in the wake of the LS polls on May 7.

  Social activist Kaushal granted bail

Haridwar, April 18
A major relief to Adhash Kaushal was provided by the district court, when the social activist was granted bail in a 16-year-old case. Haridwar district judge Kum Kum Rani granted bail to Kaushal after being remanded to judicial custody four days ago.

Awdhash Kaushal, founder of Rural Litigation Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), had opposed the shifting of Van Gujjars from Rajaji National Park in 1998. He had agitated with Van Gujjar nomads and tried to enter the park area to show his protest and solidarity with the tribals in 1998.

The then Uttar Pradesh Forest Department had registered a case against Kaushal.

A summon for personal appearance to Kaushal was issued then by the chief judicial court but he did not turn up, as a result of which a non- bailable warrants were issued. Kaushal went to the High Court but his plea was rejected and he had to surrender in the CJM's court. After remaining in judicial custody for four days, Haridwar district judge granted bail to Awdhash Kaushal on his plea today. — TNS

 Absconding criminal arrested after 7 months
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
After almost six months of playing hide and seek with the police, Dehradun police have finally arrested Raju Boxer who was wanted in the case of stabbing two police constables at Nashville Road on September 29 night last year.

The police are not revealing how and from where Raju Boxer had been arrested. But The Tribune has learnt that Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Garhwal, Amit Sinha, had announced cash award of Rs 5000 for the police team that nabbed the absconding culprit.

Reportedly, Raju Boxer allegedly stabbed two Cheetah police constables Anjeshwar and Anuj, who reached Naishwala Road on September 29 night after getting information about an alleged brawl between two groups. Both constables got seriously injured in the incident and had undergone treatment at CMI Hospital.

The then SSP Kewal Khuranna immediately set up five teams to nab Raju Boxer but the teams failed to arrest him even after repeated attempts. Notably, one team was also sent Jammu and Kashmir look for Raju Boxer.

After the police failed to arrest Raju Boxer within the stipulated time period, DGP BS Sidhu suspended Kotwali inspector Jaymal Singh Negi.

It is to be noted that Raju Boxer has a past criminal record and carries a bad name in Chukkhu Wala locality where he resides. 

 Five arrested in dacoity case
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18
The police have arrested five persons on the charge of dacoity, which took place at an Army personnel’s house in SelaQui on April 4.

It was alleged that five armed persons entered the house of Neetu Badoni on the night of April 4 and decamped with cash and jewellery. They also allegedly thrashed Neetu and her tenant Deva, leaving them seriously injured. Neetu's daughter was also present in the house when the incident took place.

SP (Rural) Manikant Mishra said Rajendra, Shyam Lal, Rahul Malik, Phullo and Joginder had been arrested from Sahaspur and the stolen valuables had also been recovered from their possession. They were members of the "Bawariya" gang of the Uttar Pradesh.

The police are interrogating where they were involved in previous robberies and thefts in Vikasnagar and Sahaspur in the past six months.