Bilaspur Hamirpur Dharamsala Mandi Shimla

HVC nominates Dhani Ram
SHIMLA, Aug 31 — Four candidates filed nominations today for the Lok Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh. Those who filed their papers are Mr Kaul Singh (Congress), Col Dhani Ram (HVC), Mr Chet Ram (CPI) and Mr Gopi Chand (Ind).

Major Sudhir Walia cremated
DHARAMSALA, Aug 31 — The residents of Palampur and the adjoining areas today bid a tearful adieu, to Major Sudhir Walia of the 9 Para Commandos, who died fighting the Pakistani infiltrators, in the Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir on August 29.

CM urged to save forest
SUNDERNAGAR, Aug 31 — Mr Chet Ram Sharma, President, Village Forest Development Committee, Derdu, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to issue necessary directions to save the forest of Derdu.

Forum penalises I & PH Dept
SUNDERNAGAR, Aug 31 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Mandi, headed by Mr T.N. Vaidya, yesterday directed the Secretary, I and PH, and the Executive Engineer, I and PH division, Padhar to pay 12 per cent as interest on an insured sum of Rs 1,99,600 for a year as penalty to Mrs Bimla Devi, widow of a labourer, working with the department who died on duty.

Jailed for harassing daughter-in-law
BILASPUR, Aug 31 — Mr P.R. Pahadia, Judicial Magistrate First Class, has convicted Bishnu Ram of Jajer village Bilaspur Sadar under police station for maltreating and mentally and physically harassing his daughter-in-law Salochna Devi by throwing her out of the house and also throwing out her house hold articles and personal belongings.

India can't afford ‘frequent polls’
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Aug 31 — Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister, today said that the country could not afford elections year after year and claimed that the Congress alone could provide a stable government for the country.

Launching the election campaign of its Mandi candidate, Thakur Kaul Singh, former Speaker, he said the general elections cost the state exchequer over Rs 1500 crore and weakened the economy.

He attributed the Pakistani intrusion in Kashmir on the weak government at the Centre. After facing humiliating defeats at the hands of Indian Army thrice in the past Pakistan dared this misadventure in Kashmir Valley as it knew Delhi had the weakest government.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said Mr Vajpayee failed to assess the evil designs of Pakistan when he went to Lahore on his peace mission. While he was embracing Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani forces were engaged in intrusions.

He ridiculed the claims of BJP leaders that what the Congress failed to achieve in 40 years, they did it in just one year. All they did is transfer of over 1,25,000 employees and inaugurated development works initiated by the Congress.

He said it was ironical that when the Congress was in power the BJP made much ado about the use of a helicopter. "We spent Rs 4 crore but they have spent Rs 12.5 crore in 15 months", he remarked.

Mr Kaul Singh, former Speaker, who filed his nomination papers from Mandi accused the BJP of spreading regionalism.

Dhumal promises jobs to youth
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Aug 31 — Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, has asked the party workers, especially the youth, to go to the masses and tell them about the policies and programmes of the party and its governments both at the Centre and in the state.

Addressing a conference of the youth activists of the party at the local Bachat Bhavan today, the Chief Minister said the youth had to play a major role in national re-construction, as they were the builders of future India. He said all facilities would be provided to them for this purpose by the state government.

Professor Dhumal assured the youth that the government would provide more employment avenues for them. The government's move to harness the dormant hydel potential was a step in the direction. He blamed the previous Congress regime for not harnessing power and for misusing the funds given by the Central Government for the power generation programme.

SHIMLA (TNS): Mr Sukhwinder Singh, president of the state Youth Congress, has accused the BJP-HVC combine government of saffronising the services by recruiting around 12,000 RSS and ABVP activists to government jobs.

Mr Sukhwinder Singh, talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, alleged that RSS and ABVP activists had been employed on contract basis to the Subordinate Services Selection Board to facilitate this. Most beneficiaries were from Bamsan assembly constituency of Chief Minster P.K. Dhumal.

He said that about eight lakh unemployed youth were registered in employment exchanges in the state, but the Dhumal government was recruiting RSS activists on contract basis instead.

Mr Sukhwinder alleged that there were large-scale irregularities in the recent selection of staff for the Kangra Cooperative Bank.

HVC nominates Dhani Ram
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 31 — Four candidates filed nominations today for the Lok Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh.

Those who filed their papers are Mr Kaul Singh (Congress), Col Dhani Ram (HVC), Mr Chet Ram (CPI) and Mr Gopi Chand (Ind).

PCC President Sat Mahajan and CLP leader Virbhadra Singh accompanied Mr Kaul Singh along with a big procession of supporters at Mandi when he went to the returning officer's office to file his papers.

Mr Sukh Ram, HVC leader and several ministers of the BJP-HVC combine government accompanied Col Dhani Ram, who filed his papers here as the HVC candidate. They held a rally after filing papers. Mr Chet Ram filed his papers here as a CPI candidate while Mr Gopi Chand, an independent, filed his nomination for the Hamirpur seat.

The Congress replaced its candidate K.D. Sultanpuri, a six-time winner from Shimla (reserve) constituency with a former minister and sitting MLA, Gangu Ram Mussafir. Sultanpuri had won all the six Lok Sabha elections since 1980 mid term poll from Shimla (Reserve) seat with convincing margins, adds UNI.

The BJP and HVC had described the decision of the Congress to change the candidate as acceptance of defeat.

Residents allege police inaction
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 31 — About 200 residents of Ghatti village, falling under the Takipur panchayat, staged a dharna in front of Kangra police station in protest against the failure of the police to arrest those involved in the alleged abduction of a minor girl.

They alleged that it was under the influence of a local leader that the police was not taking the matter seriously.

The parents of the girl alleged that instead of arresting those involved in the abduction, the police had implicated her two brothers in false cases.

"A local leader had been repeatedly pressurising us that we should get our daughter married to his driver and even threatened us that the girl would be abducted in case we did not agree to the proposal", said her father, Rajmal. He said that since the driver was a distant relative, they did not agree to the proposal.

He disclosed that it was on August 23 that three youths came to his house and took away the girl in a van. The next day he went to Kangra police station to get a case registered. But the police did not take any action.

"On the contrary, the police implicated my sons, Rakesh and Ramesh and their two friends in false cases and kept them in the police station throughout the night on August 29", he alleged adding that his sons were severely beaten.

The in-charge of the police station, when contacted, said that a complaint regarding the abduction of the girl had been registered, but no arrests could be made till the girl was recovered and gave a statement.

Major Sudhir Walia cremated
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 31 — The residents of Palampur and the adjoining areas today bid a tearful adieu, to Major Sudhir Walia of the 9 Para Commandos, who died fighting the Pakistani infiltrators, in the Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir on August 29.

The body of Major Walia reached Palampur late in the night and was kept at the military hospital. It was later kept in Pragati Maidan for about an hour where the people of Palampur paid tributes to the valiant officer. The body was then taken to his native village, Banoori, where a large number of people has gathered to attend his cremation.

The younger brother of Major Walia, 24-year-old Mr Arun Kumar, lit the pyre amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras. Major Walia's mother Mrs Rajeshwari Devi, and his younger sister, Ms Asha, were inconsolable as the body was being taken to the cremation ground.

Major Walia was cremated with full military and state honours. The Minister for Technical Education, Mr Ravinder Thakur, placed a wreath on behalf of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal. Among others who were present on the occasion were the BJP MLA, Capt Atma Ram, the local Congress MLA, Mr B.B.L. Butail, and former MLA, Mr M.R. Goma. All shops and commercial establishments remained closed in Palampur as a mark of respect to the martyr.

CM urged to save forest
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Aug 31 — Mr Chet Ram Sharma, President, Village Forest Development Committee, Derdu, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to issue necessary directions to save the forest of Derdu.

According to Mr Chet Ram, who heads the committee, the Derdu forest which is spread over 900 bighas, having more than 25,000 trees adjoining the municipal limits of Sundernagar town. Interestingly, this forest has been raised by members of 37 families of Derdu village gram panchyat, Kapahi, and has been an example of people's participation in raising forests.

He said some people had started constructing roads through the thick forest which had damaged more than 150 trees. The incident was brought to the notice of the Forest Department, but the damage to the forest was still continuing.

Certain miscreants are doing such acts which are not permissible under law, he added.

Forum penalises I & PH Dept
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Aug 31 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Mandi, headed by Mr T.N. Vaidya, yesterday directed the Secretary, I and PH, and the Executive Engineer, I and PH division, Padhar to pay 12 per cent as interest on an insured sum of Rs 1,99,600 for a year as penalty to Mrs Bimla Devi, widow of a labourer, working with the department who died on duty.

The widow, in her complaint had alleged that her husband died in December, 1997. He was covered by the Janata personal accident policy with New India Assurance Company. The scheme had been adopted by the Department of Irrigation and Public Health. It was further alleged that the insured amount was given to her after much delay.

Jailed for harassing daughter-in-law
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Aug 31 — Mr P.R. Pahadia, Judicial Magistrate First Class, has convicted Bishnu Ram of Jajer village Bilaspur Sadar under police station for maltreating and mentally and physically harassing his daughter-in-law Salochna Devi by throwing her out of the house and also throwing out her house hold articles and personal belongings.

The magistrate sentenced Bishnu Ram to six months' imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs 1000 under Section 498-A of the IPC. He also sentenced him to three months' imprisonment and to pay an additional fine of Rs 500 under Section 448, IPC.