Decline in Kangra's crime rate
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 6 — Contrary to reports of deteriorating law and order situation in Kangra district, the police today claimed that compared to previous years, there had been a decline in crime rate.

The district police chief, Mr K.C. Sadyal, while addressing a press conference here today, said the total number of crimes registered in Kangra during 1998 was 2099, compared to 3418 during 1997. The crime rate during 1998 was the lowest in the past five years.

Besides, the crimes against women in Kangra district were fewer in number in the past few months compared to previous years. As compared to 12 rape cases during 1997 and 21 during 1996, there had been nine rape cases during 1998. Of these nine cases, eight had been solved and in one case samples had been sent for DNA testing. "It is probably the result of the extensive awareness campaigns launched by the police that there has been a decrease in crimes against women, which includes kidnapping and harassment by husband and in-laws. As compared to 31 kidnapping cases last year, there had been 29 cases this year, he claimed.

A positive step being taken by the police in cases of harassment by husband and in-laws is that the entire dowry brought by a girl is to be returned to her there and then as by the time a case is decided in court, there is hardly any record left of the dowry items. The number of cases of harassment of women had also come down from 52 to 50 during 1998, Mr Sadyal said.

The number of murders that took place in Kangra during 1998 was 37, as compared to 35 in 1997. However, Mr Sadyal said, seven of these cases were moving towards cancellation and 18 had already been put up in court. Four of the cases remained to be solved.

The number of cases filed with the police regarding detection of gambling, charas smuggling and under the Arms Act had also gone up. The quantity of charas and opium seized had also gone up during 1998. The police seized 56 working stills last year compared to only nine during 1997, he added.

Uncertainty dogs HP varsities
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA: The functioning of all three universities in Himachal Pradesh is in the doldrums because of uncertainty at their top level.

At least two universities face uncertainty ever since the BJP-HVC combine government came to power. It is reported that these universities were facing unrest and uncertainty because of the "saffronisation" process launched by the ruling BJP.

The committee appointed to look for a new Vice-Chancellor for Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) here in place of Mr C.L. Kundu, whose term expires in the next couple of days, has not yet finalised any names.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Palampur-based agriculture university is also facing an uncertain future as the Chancellor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, has been asked by the high court to take action against him and all those involved in the irregular admission of four candidates for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry course.

The court observed that the university was being run in a shocking manner.

Although the functioning of the HPU remained smooth under Mr Kundu, but the BJP Government does not appear to be in a mood to grant him another term. Before coming to power, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, had always criticised Mr Kundu.

Soon after the Dhumal Government came to power, the first thing it did was to appoint one of their confidants as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the HPU in an apparent bid to clip Mr Kundu's wings.

The Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Solan is also in the grip of a controversy over the authorities move to amend the statute to sideline the Students' Welfare Officer and appoint a Chief Warden of "their choice" to control hostels.

The university first remained in the news over the uncertainty related to the continuance in office of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr L.R. Verma.

Now a fresh controversy has been triggered following a proposal having been made by Mr S.S. Jhina, a nominated member of the Board of Management of the University, to create the post of Chief Warden. The proposal has been cleared by the Academy Council and will now be put before the university's management board for final approval.

Mr Jinha enjoys close proximity with the BJP leadership, it is understood.

60 died in Tibetan jails, says book

DHARAMSALA, Jan 6 — Sixty Tibetan prisoner have died in jails due to torture since China signed the United Nations convention against torture and other cruel or degrading treatment or punishment.

This fact has come to light in the latest publication. "Tales of Terror: Torture in Tibet", released by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, here. The report is a comprehensive study on torture practices which continue despite China's participation in the convention against torture (CAT). The report includes testimonies from exiled Tibetans, who have endured torture and the case histories of the 60 deaths.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights, Mr Lobsang Nyandak, said political prisoners faced the greatest torture risk. Many of them had died in detention or within a few months of release on medical parole.

The report details various torture techniques used against political prisoners, including use of electric shocks, aerial suspension, sexual assault and attacks by ferocious dogs. Over the years, the techniques of torture has become more sophisticated and infliction of internal injuries are inflicted ruthlessly.

Many nuns and women, political prisoners, are humiliated and even sexually abused with electric batons. The report highlights China's failure to adhere to the obligations under the CAT and other related conventions.

Insurance co told to settle claim
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Jan 6 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed National Insurance Company Ltd to pay Rs 7000 with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum with effect from January 17, 1997, to Naseem Ahmed of Shyampur village in Paonta Sahib tehsil of the district for failing to pay his insurance dues after the death of his buffalo.

The insurance company has also ordered to pay Rs 1000 as damages and Rs 500 as litigation cost. This direction has been ordered to be complied within 30 days.

According to the observations made by consumer forum President Mringendra Singh and its member N.A. Sheikh, here yesterday, the complainant Naseem Ahmed insured his buffalo with National Insurance Company for Rs 7000. The buffalo died of a disease on January 16, last year and the post-mortem examination of the buffalo was conducted the next day. When he approached the insurance company for claim the company refused to make any payment to Naseem Ahmed.

The main plea of the insurance company was that the complainant failed to supply the tag of the buffalo to which the forum did not agree.

In another case, the forum directed Messers Hyderabad Allwyn Ltd, Andhra Pradesh, and their local dealer Messers Seema Enterprises to replace the refrigerator of Chander Swaroop, who purchased it from Seema Enterprises with seven days.

ABVP protest on Patents Bill tomorrow
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 6 — The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad will organise state-wide protests on January 8 to express its opposition to the Insurance Regulatory Bill and the Patents Bill.

Mr Mohindra Dharmani, organising secretary, said the claim of the government that the entry of foreign companies in the insurance sector would increase gross domestic product and bring in foreign exchange was far-fetched. The long-term consequences would be disastrous as foreign companies could throw the Indian companies out of business and establish a monopoly as in the consumers goods sector.

Besides, these companies would be interested in doing business in the social sector as a result of which poor workers and farmers would be denied the much-needed insurance cover.

Similarly, the Patents Bill would have far-reaching implications for the agricultural, industrial and pharmaceutical sectors. Poor and illiterate farmers could violate the patent laws out of ignorance and run into problem.

The parishad would organise an awareness campaign to educate the masses regarding the disastrous implications of the two Bills, Mr Dharmani said.

Resin producers don't respond to govt tenders
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 6 — The Solan District Resin Producing Farmers Association today boycotted the process of submission of tenders to the Himachal Pradesh Forest Corporation for the extraction of resin from government forests. It was protesting against the reduction of the support price for resin from the 1997 rate of Rs 2,700 per tonne to Rs 2,000 per tonne this year.

The president of the association, Mr R.D. Bhardwaj, told mediapersons the resin producers had been promised higher rates after its discussions with the higher authorities by the corporation. But the needful was not done.

Resin extraction provides jobs to thousands of peasants of the HPFC earns over Rs 1500 crore in revenue each season.