‘No slackening’ of security measures
SHIMLA, Oct 3 — There will be no slackening of security measures along the Chamba-Doda border during the ensuing winter in view of enhanced militant activity in Kashmir after the Kargil conflict.

Probe into 'rice seed scandal' sought
BILASPUR, Oct 3 — District Congress Committee president Rattan Lal Soni and general secretary Pratap Kondal have demanded a high-level inquiry into what they call the "rice seed purchase scandal" which has resulted in almost the total destruction of the rice crop here.

Chowkidar stabbed
SUNDERNAGAR, Oct 3 — A chowkidar of the Irrigation and public Health Department was stabbed when he was performing his duties yesterday morning.

Computer teachers to intensify stir
SHIMLA, Oct 3 — The Himachal Computer Instructors Association has threatened to convert its 26-day-old chain last into fast-unto-death if its demand was not accepted by the government by October 11.

Vaccination project launched
UNA, Oct 3 — The Rotary Club today launched hepatitis-B vaccination project in the district. Mr J.P. Nadha, Health Minister, inaugurated the project at Town Hall here.

Navratra mela from Oct 10
JAWALAMUKHI, Oct 3 — The 10-day-long Navratra mela will be held from October 10 at the Jawalamukhi shrine.

‘No slackening’ of security measures
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 3 — There will be no slackening of security measures along the Chamba-Doda border during the ensuing winter in view of enhanced militant activity in Kashmir after the Kargil conflict.

Security personnel deployed at forward posts to guard the border of the two states will not be withdrawn until the heights are rendered inaccessible by snow. The police heaved a sigh of relief following the smooth conduct of elections, but it is taking all precautions as the threat of militants sneaking into the state and disturbing the peace persists.

Intelligence agencies had informed the state that militants could target border villages of Chamba district to create panic among people or try to disrupt the Pathankot-Manali-Leh highway, through which defence supplies are transported to Ladakh, during the elections. Although polling has been completed peacefully, there has been no change in the threat perception and thus the security forces will not lower their guard, says Mr T.R.Mahajan, DGP.

He said the Pathankot-Manali-Leh road was closed to vehicular traffic by the end of November, but the securitymen deployed to guard the half a dozen vulnerable bridges on the road would remain. In all, 42 posts, 40 in Chamba and two in Lahaul Spiti, had been set up to prevent militants from sneaking into the state.

Mr Mahajan said the police had given up a plan to recruit ex-Army personnel as special police officers due to a lack of response from ex-servicemen. Instead, it would now recruit 300 SPOs from among civilians. Preference would be given to former police personnel and those already trained by the Special Security Bureau.

They would be paid Rs 1,500 per month. There was adequate time for the recruitment and training of the SPOs whose services would be needed most next summer when the high mountain ranges were accessible, he added.

The police was also creating awareness against militancy among the local people. As many as 167 village defence committees had been set up. The biggest advantage in Himachal was that there was hardly anyone sympathetic to the militants. With the formation of the village defence committees, there was little likelihood of the militants getting a foothold in the state.

Guarding the largely uninhabited Lahaul border was much easier. There was virtually no population up to 50 km on both sides of the Lahaul-Ladakh border. Thus once the Manali-Leh road was closed due to snow it would be almost impossible for militants to trek long distances in high mountains to enter the Lahaul valley. However, it was vulnerable from the Pangi side where the mountain ranges were not so high. The three security posts set up to guard the valley would remain during the winter.

Probe into 'rice seed scandal' sought
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Oct 3 — District Congress Committee president Rattan Lal Soni and general secretary Pratap Kondal have demanded a high-level inquiry into what they call the "rice seed purchase scandal" which has resulted in almost the total destruction of the rice crop here.

Pointing towards the large-scale failure of the crop in various panchayat areas here, including those of Kutheda, Kothi, Dhabhala, Tantha, Bhalswai, Talyana, Harlog and Kuhmajhwaad, Mr Soni and Mr Kondal said yesterday, after a tour of the areas, that the seed had not given any quality crop. Only cattle feed and fodder had matured due to it. There was no rice grain at all in the matured crop, they added.

They said not only action should be taken against those officers who purchased such a faulty seed and distributed it among farmers here, but the government should also order an immediate survey of the crop and compensate the farmers by providing them financial relief as this had destroyed their entire economy.

Cong has ‘virtually conceded defeat’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 3 — Suresh Chandel, state Bharatiya Janata Party president, has said that by changing its stand on government formation every now and then the Congress has virtually conceded defeat.

In a statement here today, he said initially the Congress had been claiming that it alone could form a stable government. However, now when it was convinced that it would not be able to secure an absolute majority, it was emphasising that it should be invited to from the government on the basis of being the single largest party, a dream which would not be fulfilled.

Mr Chandel claimed that the National Democratic Alliance with the BJP as the single largest party would romp home with a clear majority. This pre-poll alliance, having secured the mandate of the people, superseded the claims of any single party or any post-poll opportunistic formulation formed just to grab power.

He said yesterday the Congress again shifted its so-called principled stand stating that it was willing to form a coalition government. Obviously, the party wished to indulge in horse-trading after the elections as it had no identified allies to bank upon, he alleged.

Chowkidar stabbed
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Oct 3 — A chowkidar of the Irrigation and public Health Department was stabbed when he was performing his duties yesterday morning.

The staff of the department has threatened to launch an agitation as no arrest has been made in the case.

According to the police, the victim Ajit Ram was attacked by an unidentified person . He was found lying in a pool of blood.

The police has registered a case under Sections 353, and 332 of the Indian Penal Code. Employees of the department allege that the police had not acted promptly as it was informed about the crime immediately but it took more than six hours for policemen to visit the spot of crime which is just 1.5 km away from police station.

Computer teachers to intensify stir
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 3 — The Himachal Computer Instructors Association has threatened to convert its 26-day-old chain last into fast-unto-death if its demand was not accepted by the government by October 11.

The association is demanding of reinstatement of computer instructors who, it alleged, had been illegally retrenched by the Education Department after five years of service. It criticised the move to provide computer training to science teachers on the ground that it would affect science teaching and deprive the computer instructors of their jobs.

Vaccination project launched
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Oct 3 — The Rotary Club today launched hepatitis-B vaccination project in the district. Mr J.P. Nadha, Health Minister, inaugurated the project at Town Hall here. More than 5,200 men, women and children registered themselves for hepatitis-B vaccination for which the club charged Rs 150 each from adult and Rs 75 each from those below 19 years of age.

At Prem Ashram Home for Retarded Children nursing staff of the ashram gave hepatitis-B vaccination doses to children who had come from nearby villages.

Mr Hari Singh, President, Rotary Club and other office-bearers of the club attended the function. This was the first hepatitis-B vaccination camp in the district.

Navratra mela from Oct 10
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Oct 3 — The 10-day-long Navratra mela will be held from October 10 at the Jawalamukhi shrine.

The Jawalamukhi Temple Trust authorities are making arrangements for over five lakh pilgrims expected to arrive here from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, UP and Rajasthan.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, elaborate security arrangements have been made for the mela.