Capt Amol Kalia cremated
UNA, June 21 — Thousands of men, women and children lined up on the Mehatpur-Una-Chintpurni road when the body of Capt Amol Kalia entered Himachal Pradesh from Nangal today.

Villagers hand over suspected spy to police
MANALI, June 21 — Residents of Shanag gram panchayat, 6 km from here, handed over a person moving about in suspicious circumstances to military police transit camp at Palchan on the Manali-Leh highway last night.

• Cong team visits martyrs’ residences

One dead, 4 missing as truck falls into Ravi
CHAMBA, June 21 — One woman was killed and four persons were missing while four others were injured seriously when a canter no. HP-48-798 fell into Ravi near Dharwala 30 km from Chamba on the Chamba-Bharmour highway today.

Mahajan evasive on LS ticket
MANDI, June 21 — Himachal PCC chief Sat Mahajan said here today that clouds of uncertainty regarding the candidate for the Mandi parliamentary seat would be cleared only after acceptance or denial of share of seats to the HVC, the coalition partner of BJP in the state.

ASI suspended
SUNDERNAGAR, June 21 — ASI Jai Chand of Karsog police station has been suspended for not handling properly case of accident. In an accident two boys were killed and another was injured seriously, as a private bus of 'Gaytri Travel', HP-30-2595 run over and killed these boys on June 14 at Pangna in Karsog subdivision 70 km from here.

Health workers hold protest
NAHAN, June 21 — The Multi Purpose Health Services Karamchari Mahasangh, Sirmour, staged a dharna in front of the Chief Medical Officers office today in support of their demands.

Kashmiri Hindus organise yajna
SHIMLA, June 21 — The local Kashmiri Hindus organised a yajna today to mark "Jeth Ashtami" and pay homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives fighting Pakistan-backed intruders in Kargil.

Protest by coop bank employees

Officers, jawans trained for Kargil terrain: Gen
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 21 — Lt-General Vijay Oberoi, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command (ARTRAC), today said that the Indian Army was the best trained in the world and fully equipped to take on Pakistani intruders in the high mountains of Kargil or any other terrain.

Talking to reporters here he said no doubt Pakistani army was also highly trained but the Indian officers and jawans were better in every respect and they would push back the intruders as planned by the commanders in charge of the operations. "Training of personnel is the most important activity during peace time and we deploy the best persons to carry out the job", he said.

Referring to the difficult terrain in Kargil he said it was no problem as the officers and jawans had been given specialised high altitude training. There were two high altitude training schools: one at Gulmarg and the other at Sonmarg for training officers, NCO's and JCO's.

Since the country's border encompassed all types of terrain ranging from deserts to high altitude mountains and glaciated areas, the training provided to personnel was rigorous and varied. Besides pre-commission training, which was imparted at the Indian Military Academy and the National Defence Academy and regimental centres for new recruits the personnel were imparted specialised training in handling weapons and other equipment, jungle warfare, counter-insurgency operations. Besides, technical training was given to a large number of categories like signallers, engineers and those handling computers.

Earlier, Gen Oberoi formally received boxes containing thermal wear and food stuff collected by various women organisations of the city for jawans manning the Kargil front. Appreciating the gesture he said no Army could fight the enemy without the support of people. This act of the local women was a manifestation of national spirit which inspired and motivated the jawans to fight for the country.

The organisations which collected the material included the state Social Welfare Board, Inner Wheel of the Rotary Club, the All India Women's Conference and the Shimla Council for Women.

Gen Oberoi advised all those who wanted to help the jawans to make donations in cash as it would enable the Army authorities to procure exactly what was required.

Dhumal threatens to "expose Cong misdeeds"
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, June 21 — Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal threatened to expose "misdeeds" of the Congress leaders if they continue to oppose the BJP government over 'Operation Vijay' issue for the sake of opposition and hoped that, better sense would dawn on them in this period of national crisis.

The Chief Minister was speaking on the occasion of 460th Jayanti of Maharana Partap organised by the Rajput Kalayan Saba Himachal Pradesh at Kangra last evening. He said the opposition was trying to get political mileage from the Kargil situation which was unfortunate. He asked the Congress leadership to explain why the martyrs of 1962, 1965, and 1971 were not given financial and other benefits.

The Chief Minister said that the greatest tribute to the National heroes would be to make future generations know their heroic deeds. He said Maharana Pratap was representing the whole nation, not a particular caste or state.

He said Maharana Pratap was the guiding factor for Indian forces currently fighting against Pakistan in the Kargil sector. He suggested that the the Rajput Sabha should set up a national museum at Kangra and keep monographs of national heroes and make their history available to prove as guiding factors inspire young Indians. He said that the state government would extend financial assistance to the sabha for this project.

He stressed on that remarriage of widows should be encouraged as he was moved after seeing young women in early twenties were faced with the death of their husbands in the Kargil operations. He said 17 brave soldiers and officers from Himachal had so far sacrificed their lives while fighting Pakistani intruders. He said they included one each from Chamba, Una, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Bilaspur, three from Hamirpur, four from Kangra and five from Mandi districts. He said we had to make these sacrifices for the blunders committed by previous leadership.

Mr Gulshan Singh Charak, MLC from Jammu and Kashmir said that he was thankful to Dr Farooq Abdullah Chief Minister of J&K for deciding to celebrate birth centenary of great patriot Brigadier Rajender Singh, saviour of Kashmir this year. He described Pakistan a country which can never be trusted. Several Cabinet Ministers and MLAs were also present.

List of HP Congress candidates soon
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, June 21 — A large number of supporters of Mr Mahajan, from the Kangra area, today met the election observer, Mr V. Hanumantappa Rao, who is also the Chairman of the Election Committee, during his two-day tour of the state. They are learnt to have requested Mr Rao, that in case Mr Sat Mahajan, contests the election, he should be allowed to continue the state party president. In case the party implements the "one man-one post" principle, Mr Sat Mahajan, could be asked to resign from the post of state party chief.The observer, Mr Rao, himself, admitted that some of the party men from Kangra, had made this appeal to him.

The election observer, Mr Rao, today met the party workers in Mandi, Dharamsala and Nurpur, to assess their mood, as to who should be made the party candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. After visiting all four Lok Sabha areas, Mr Rao, left for Delhi, today. He disclosed that the names of Mrs Pratibha Singh, wife of the former CM and CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh and Ms Kavita Gaur, daughter of Mr Sukh Ram, HVC Chief, did not figure in the list of Congress probables for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Mrs Pratibha Singh, had unsuccessfully contested the last election from Mandi Lok Sabha seat, while the PCC chief has been circulating the name of Mr Sukh Ram's daughter as the Congress candidate for the Mandi seat.

Mr Rao, said that his endeavour would be to convey the opinion of party workers to the high command, so that an early decision about the candidates can be taken. "Since there has been a tradition in the Congress that candidates are not decided till the last date of withdrawals, I will try to impress upon the AICC president, to take an early decision, especially in case of Himachal, because of the difficult terrain" he observed. He agreed that the BJP already had taken a lead in almost finalising its candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.

To a question, regarding the re-induction of former Communication Minister, Mr Sukh Ram, into the Congress, he said that he was not in a position to comment, as the AICC president, PCC chief and the CLP leader were the only persons to take a decision in this regard. He however, added that in Mandi district people had divided opinion about his re-induction into the party. While some feel that this move will strengthen the party, there are others who are of the opinion that it would damage the party, he opined. He added that ultimately it is the high command which will take a decision, but Mr Sukh Ram's name did not figure as the probable candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat.

Mr Rao, dismissed any factionalism within the party. "The PCC chief and the CLP leader are the two eyes of the party and both are working towards the benefit of the organisation," he said. He said that from his two-day tour of the state, he did not get any impression that there were differences between CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra and the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan. Nor had anyone made the demand for a change of the Pradesh Congress Committee President, he added.

Crusade against torture
From P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

PARWANOO (Himachal Pradesh): Meet Dr Inge Genefke, a Danish physician, who has devoted her life healing torture victims worldwide. She specialises in neurology. TNS met this humble, humane, frail women — she will be 60 on July 6 next — with nerves of steel at a workshop-cum-seminar on "Torture, torture victims and their rehabilitation". She inaugurated the workshop meant for doctors, members of the Indian Medical Association and the judiciary and journalism.

Dr Genefke is at present Secretary-General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture victims (IRCT), which she founded with three other Danish doctor colleagues in 1985. As a consequence of the efforts put in by this no-nonsense woman and her organisation, there is a far greater awareness on torture and how governments all over the world sanction the practice of this inhuman method to remain in power.

How did she get involved in this project? TNS asked her this question during a recess in one of the sessions — "Torture in the world today" — held at the Timber Trail heights.

It was in 1979, as a young neurologist, she happened to examine some torture survivors and was horrified. Soon she formed the first Amnesty International Medical Group aimed at diagnosing torture. Soon the small group of Dr Genefke caught the attention of the world. What began as a small centre, which has headquarters in Copenhagen today it has 200 centres worldwide.

Having graduated in medicine from the University of Copenhagen in 1965, she went about her profession and developed a great interest in cases related to "trauma and stress and worked for mitigating human suffering". Going over her three-page curriculum vitae, one is impressed by her achievements and crusade against torture. For her pioneering work recognitions and awards were but a natural corollary. Beginning with the 1982 Dane of the Year Award by the International Press Centre, she was named the European of the Year by Reader's Digest for 1999. India's Journal of the Indian Medical Association gave her Dr Deepak Banerjee Award for the best published paper in 1996, while she has been bestowed several human rights awards by different organisations, including being given Honorary Citizenship by Monteveglio, Italy.

She is married to Dr Bent Sorensen, who is engaged in the UN Committee against torture and the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

If she is keen on media exposure of the perpetrators of torture, she also vehemently advocates that doctors must also get actively involved and learn diagnosis of torture victims and have firm conviction not to succumb to pressures "whatsoever" to give wrong reports or compromise on their Hippocratic oath: Above all do no harm.

She recalled the methods used in torture by man against a fellow human being. including women and children. Electric shocks applied to sensitive body areas; suspension of victims for hours by arms or legs; forcing head under water; beating under the feet; committing sex offences; using trained dogs for direct attack or for rape of men and women; forcing filthy food and water down the foodpipe etc.

Dr Genefke is all out for establishing rehabilitation centres for the victims, who must be made to feel wanted, cared. The IRCT also brings out a magazine, Torture: Never More". It is because of this single woman's determination that international organisations like the UN have adopted a resolution to observe June 26 each year as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

She is currently engaged in making preparations for an international conference proposed to be held in New Delhi.

Capt Amol Kalia cremated
From Our Correspondent

UNA, June 21 — Thousands of men, women and children lined up on the Mehatpur-Una-Chintpurni road when the body of Capt Amol Kalia entered Himachal Pradesh from Nangal today.

Residents of Mehatpur, Una, Jhalera, Bhera, Bhusara, Mubarikpur and Bharwain villages lined up and chanted slogans Amol Kalia amar rehe" and "Pakistan murdabad".

The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, laid wreaths on the today at Una and presented a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to Mrs Usha Sharma, mother of Amol Kalia. He said Capt Amol Kalia had died hero's death and brought glory to nation, Army and Himachal Pradesh.

Earlier, Army vehicles carried the body of Capt Amol Kalia from Nangal to Chintpurni. The mortal remains were consigned to flames with military honours at Chintpurni. A contingent of the Army reversed arms and then fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to the soldier.

Flt Lieut Aman Kalia, elder brother of Capt Amol Kalia, lit the pire amidst slogans. As many as 15,000 persons were gathered at the cremation ground.

Wreaths were also laid by Mr Parveen Sharma, Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Mr Lalji Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Mr I.D. Bhandari, DIG Northern, Mr K.S. Narang, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Khushi Ram, ADC, Ropar.

Villagers hand over suspected spy
to police
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, June 21 — Residents of Shanag gram panchayat, 6 km from here, handed over a person moving about in suspicious circumstances to military police transit camp at Palchan on the Manali-Leh highway last night. According to villagers the stranger for a few days worked as a servant of a local resident and after two days he was again in search of job in surrounding villages leaving his job at the previous resident's house. According to sources he could not get private job because he was looking a suspect and was not disclosing his actual whereabouts. On this villagers handed him over to Military Police based at Palchan village.

According to Army sources the nabbed person did not reveal his exact address till he was remanded in Military Police custody.

It is learnt that the stranger with light brown beard is of about 27 years introduced him as Dil Bahadur Bom s/o Amar Bahadur, village Lati, post office Nwagarh, district Betari, Nepal.

A note book, Rs 500 and blankets has also been recovered from him.

A lot of details written in Nepali were also found in his note book. Today the Army police handed him over to the local police. According to police sources the stranger again told the local police that he was Dil Bahadur s/o Amar Bahadur but no detailed address. The Manali police has started interrogation of the suspected person.

Cong team visits martyrs’ residences
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, June 21 — An 18-member team of the Congress led by former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Thakur Kaul Singh visited residences of five martyrs of the district who laid down their lives in Jammu and Kashmir while flushing out Pakistan infiltrators.

The team, which included former Industry Minister Rangila Ram, former IPH Minister and AICC member Natha Singh, Prof Vir Singh Rao Chauhan and Zila Parishad chief D.D. Thakur, visited the houses of Grenadier Sarwan Kumar in Bahli village near Rewalsar, Capt Deepak Guleria of Cholthra village in Sarkaghat, Tek Chand of Siyahn village, Rajesh Chauhan of Dhanotu village and Naresh Kumar of Kalauhad village.

Mr Kaul Singh regretted that the district authorities had failed to inform Congress about the arrival of the bodies.

One dead, 4 missing as truck falls
into Ravi

CHAMBA, June 21 (PTI) — One woman was killed and four persons were missing while four others were injured seriously when a canter no. HP-48-798 fell into Ravi near Dharwala 30 km from Chamba on the Chamba-Bharmour highway today.

An official spokesman said that the canter (truck) was carrying a Gujjar family and their livestock on way to Bharmaour.

He said that out of the nine persons travelling in the canter four including Mohd Hussain and his two daughters besides driver of the truck and livestock were still missing in Ravi.

He said that the wife of Mohd Hussain succumbed to her injuries in the district hospital Chamba while three of his daughters were admitted to the district hospital including the conductor Taj Kumar.

The Deputy Commissioner of Chamba K.Sanjaymurthy has sanctioned a relief of Rs 25,000 to the next of kin of the deceased Noorjans and Rs 1000 to the wounded seriously.

A hunt was launched to search the four persons missing in Ravi and the livestock also which was being carried by them in the vehicle. The Gujjar family belonged to a nearby hamlet of Rajera in Chamba district.

Mahajan evasive on LS ticket
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, June 21 — Himachal PCC chief Sat Mahajan said here today that clouds of uncertainty regarding the candidate for the Mandi parliamentary seat would be cleared only after acceptance or denial of share of seats to the HVC, the coalition partner of BJP in the state.

When a correspondent commented if he was hoping against hope he said "no" anything could happen in politics any time. He did not conceal his liking for Mr Sukh Ram, HVC chief, and an arch enemy of Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Himachal Chief Minister.

He said the Congress was formulating a strategy to win all four seats in Himachal.

The Congress had won only one seat of Shimla in the last Lok Sabha elections. Mr Sat Mahajan had himself lost to BJP leader Shanta Kumar.

When a correspondent asked if he was shirking to contest from the Kangra seat where he had been defeated, he said a number of voters of the Nurpur constituency wanted him to stay in state politics and as a disciplined soldier of the party he would abide by the decision of the party high command.

He pleaded that wives of the martyrs should be declared and honoured as war widows and should be provided government jobs.

ASI suspended
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, June 21 — ASI Jai Chand of Karsog police station has been suspended for not handling properly case of accident. In an accident two boys were killed and another was injured seriously, as a private bus of 'Gaytri Travel', HP-30-2595 run over and killed these boys on June 14 at Pangna in Karsog subdivision 70 km from here.

According to the police the driver of bus fled the spot. Residents were demanding arrest of the accused (driver of the bus). Investigation of the case was assigned to another police official but A.S.I. Jai Chand without authority filed report in the court but he was not in charge of the case. On his report the bus was released. The report said that the police had no objection if bus was released.

People protested and alleged that the police was not handling the case properly. The S.P. Mandi deputed Dy. S.P. (H.Q.) to visit the spot and do the needful.

The DSP observed that the report was filed by the ASI without authority as he was not in charge of the case. On this observation ASI Jai Chand was suspended and was directed to report at Police Lines Mandi.

The police has also arrested the driver of the bus in connection with a case under Sections 279, 338, 304 A of the Indian Penal Code and detained in judicial lock-up at Karsog.

Health workers hold protest
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, June 21 — The Multi Purpose Health Services Karamchari Mahasangh, Sirmour, staged a dharna in front of the Chief Medical Officers office today in support of their demands.

Employees raised slogans against the State Government and damaged the immediate implementation of their 12-point charter of demands. Mr N.R. Thakur, state president of the sangh, has threatened to intensify the agitation in case the demands were not accepted.

The employees also raised anti-Pak slogans and burnt an effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,

Mr Thakur announced that all 6,000 members of the sangh has decided to donate one-day salary in the Chief Minister Sainik Welfare Fund.

Kashmiri Hindus organise yajna
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 21 — The local Kashmiri Hindus organised a yajna today to mark "Jeth Ashtami" and pay homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives fighting Pakistan-backed intruders in Kargil.

The members of the community expressed their deep condolences to the bereaved families of martyrs on the occasion. Participants also sought the blessing of "Maharagnaya" for the community scattered all over the country due to militancy in Kashmir for the last one decade.

Special prayers were offered for the peace of the souls of those brave soldiers who laid down their precious lives in fighting the Pakistan-supported terrorists and in defending the borders in the Kargil sector.

The participants prayed to goddess Durga to bless the defence forces to destroy the enemy, restore peace in Kashmir so that all the displaced people could return to their homes with honour and dignity.

The Kashmiri Pandit Sabha held its annual elections in which following were elected: president — Mr S.L. Kaul senior vice-president — Mr R.J. Kaul, vice-president — Mr S.N. Kaul and general secretary — Mr R.N. Kaul.

Protest by coop bank employees
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 21 — Members of the State Cooperative Bank Employees Union staged a demonstration here today in protest against the inordinate delay in release of revised pay scales.

The union threatened to stage a dharna in front of the head office of the bank on June 25, if its demand was not accepted.