Himachal Pradesh shuts down schools, colleges, universities, cinema halls till March 31

All religious functions, fairs and sports events have also been cancelled as a preventive step to contain the spread of coronavirus; no positive case in state so far.

The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday ordered that all anganwadis, schools, colleges, universities and cinema halls in the state will remain closed till March 31 as a preventive measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

In a suo motu statement made in the assembly, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the scheduled school exams will continue according to schedule but all government and private educational institutions will remain closed.

All religious functions, fairs and sports events have also been cancelled.

The chief minister directed all legislators to cancel public meetings in their respective constituencies.

Kingpin of online fraud held in Bengal

Our Correspondent

KULLU, January 11

The police have arrested the main accused in the online forgery case from West Bengal.

SP Gaurav Singh said the police had arrested Abhishek Kumar Singh from Asansol in a case related to online fraud of Rs 10 lakh from the bank account of a victim of Nirmand.

The SP said the accused had transferred the amount from the bank account of the victim into various fake Paytm accounts and later withdrew some money and bought some gift vouchers which he sold to other persons. The SP said the accused purchased 29 mobile phones from gift vouchers worth Rs 3 lakh.

Singh said the accused was involved in various cyber frauds and was already booked under a case dated November 7, 2019, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 120B of the IPC in Asansol Durgapur cyber crime police station and was out on bail.

The SP said the police had arrested seven persons from Jharkhand and West Bengal in four such cases.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

State govt wasting time in CAA propaganda, says Pathania

Our Correspondent

Kangra, January 11

Congress leader Kewal Singh Pathania today lambasted the state government for ignoring the problems of people and wasting time and energy in propagating the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Pathania said here that the people of the state, who had voted for the BJP, were feeling cheated as the government was not interested in the development of the state and in providing employment to lakhs of jobless youths.

He alleged that unemployment and the prices of essential commodities were on the rise and people were suffering on all accounts but the government was busy propagating the CAA. He said that the condition of roads in the state was pitiable but the government was busy with the CAA campaign to please the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Govt has failed to fulfil poll promises: Agnihotri

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, Janaury 11

Mukesh Agnihotri, Leader of the Opposition, today said that the two-year rule of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh was a 'total failure'. The government failed to fulfil election promises made to people such as a clean administration, better roads, clean drinking water and employment to the youth. As a result, people were getting disillusioned with the Jai Ram Thakur government, he added.

No steps taken to mobilise revenue

The debt of the state has crossed Rs50,000 crore and the government has taken no measures for revenue mobilisation in the past two years. Public funds are being used to purchase expensive vehicles, sponsor unnecessary foreign tours and providing luxuries, while RSS leaders, some select officers and contractors are ruling the roost.

Mukesh Agnihotri, leader of the opposition

Agnihotri was addressing a rally of Congress workers on the occasion of the launch of a statewide campaign against the 'failures of the BJP government'. He said that the Congress would organise such rallies in all Assembly constituencies to apprise people about the misdeeds and anti-people policies of the government.

He said that in the past two years corruption had touched new highs, and it had become very difficult for people to get their works done in government offices. Politicians were patronising the mining and drug mafia. He added that honest and hardworking officers had been sidelined by the government while corrupt officials had been given key postings.

He said that the Congress would hand over documents about 'scams' and 'failures' of the Jai Ram Thakur government along with credible evidence to the Governor to demand appropriate action against the BJP government, he added.

He said that anti-social elements were trapping adolescents, school students and unemployed youths by offering different types of intoxicants and drugs and the government was unable to deal with the situation. He added that now even heroine (chitta) was easily available in the state. In the past one year, the police had seized 8.5 kg of 'chitta' in the state.

"The debt of the state has crossed Rs 50,000 crore and the government has taken no measures for revenue mobilisation in the past two years. Public funds are being used to buy expensive vehicles, sponsor unnecessary foreign tours and providing luxuries, while RSS leaders, some select officers and contractors are ruling the roost," he alleged.

Agnihotri said that the government had increased the tax burden on people by raising the prices of diesel and petrol. The prices of onion, vegetables and pulses were skyrocketing but the government had been a mute spectator and busy making announcements, he added. The number of registered unemployed had swelled to 8.5 lakh while thousands of posts were lying vacant in key departments such as education, health, public works, irrigation and public health, agriculture, horticulture and HPSEB, which are facing an acute shortage of staff.

Ashish Butail, local MLA, said that the state government had adopted the pick and choose policy in the allocation of funds and the Assembly constituencies represented by Congress MLAs were being denied funds for development activities.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Bedi’s poetry book out

ibune News Service

Shimla, January 11

Governor Bandaru Dattatreya today released a collection of poems "Meri Hi Koi Aakriti", written by Gurmeet Bedi at Chandigarh.

The collection, which became the part of the world book fair, has also been translated into German language.

The Governor congratulated Bedi on winning many awards at the national and international levels and hoped that he would continue to enrich the literary world with his writing.

There are 63 poems in the collection which have been published in renowned magazines. The country's famous poet Padma Shree Leeladhar Jagudi has written the preface of the collection of poems.

Bedi has made a mark in the literary landscape of the country as a poet, storyteller, novelist, satirist and columnist and has given nine books to the literary world in addition to three novels.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Eight pensioners honoured

Our Correspondent

NURPUR, JANUARY 11

The HP State Pensioners' Association organised its annual function and honoured eight pensioners here on Saturday.

The association has been organising 'Samman Samaroh' for the past many years to honour those who crossed the age of eighty.

The function was presided over by the seniormost government pensioner, Prem Das Sahotra (94), who honoured the octogenarians and presented them a shawl, cap and a memento.

Earlier, bureaucrats were invited as the chief guest. Presiding over the function, Sahotra exhorted the pensioners to be united for the common cause of pensioners and extend the whole-hearted support to the association.

SL Gupta, association president, briefed them about the activities and efforts undertaken by the association in solving their problems. Gupta said it was organising its monthly meeting every month on second Saturday to redress the problems with the authorities.

The association also urged Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to convene a meeting of pensioners forthwith.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

All roads in Shimla Urban area were open for vehicular traffic

Shimla, 11 January

Deputy Commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap today said all roads in Shimla Urban area were open for vehicular traffic​ and buses were plying except on the Victory tunnel to Lakkar Bazar stretch. Snow clearing operations were going on a war-footing on the Shimla-Theog road and sand was being spread to make it road worthy. Shimla-Chail, Shimla Rampur road via Narkanda was blocked and adequate machinery has been deployed by the district administration to restore traffic.

Amit Kashyap said snow clearing operations were going on in full swing on the Chopal-Shimla, Khadapathar road and sand was being spread to avoid skidding of vehicles.

Khadrala, Sungri and Hatu road was blocked due to snow.

The Deputy Commissioner said HRTC buses were not plying in Upper Shimla areas and were being diverted via Dhami. He said there was no need for panic as supply of essential commodities was available in far-flung Dodra Kwar sub division which was snow bound.

Amit Kashyap said the District Administration was ready to meet any eventuality and can be contacted at Helpline number 1077 and 0177 2800880, 280081, 280082, 280083.

Heavy rain and snow forecast for Himachal Pradesh on January 13 and 16

Shimla, January 11

While over 800 roads in various parts of Himachal Pradesh, including a majority in Shimla zone, remain blocked following heavy snow on Wednesday, the meteorological department has issued a fresh orange warning of heavy rain and snow on January 13 and 16.

Many parts of the state, including Kufri and Manali, continued to reel under biting cold at sub-zero temperatures with the lowest in the state recorded in Lahaul and Spiti district's administrative centre Keylong at minus 14.3 degrees Celsius, Meteorological Centre Shimla Director Manmohan Singh said.

Normal life in many parts of the state has been thrown out of gear.

According to the data provided by a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) official on Friday evening, 835 roads, including 642 in Shimla zone, are still blocked.

However, the director said 440 machines, including 381 earth movers, 16 bulldozers and 43 tippers, were on the job to clear snow from roads.

On Friday, an elderly person died after falling from a slippery snow-covered road in Shimla.

Several people were seen slipping on a road near the official residence of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, eyewitnesses said.

The Met centre issued an orange warning of heavy rain and snow on January 13 and 16 with forecast for rain and snow in the state from January 11 to 17 with back-to-back western disturbances.

The first western disturbance will be active in the state from January 11 to 13 and the other from January 14 to 16, the weatherman said.

The colour-coded warnings are issued to alert the public ahead of severe or hazardous weather, which has the potential to cause "damage, widespread disruption or danger to life".

Orange is for weather that has the capacity to cause significant impact. PTI

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Panel: Tackle complaints by women with sensitivity

Our Correspondent

Una, January 10

The Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Women today organised a workshop on proper handling and dispensation of complaints registered by women for police personnel at the Police Lines.

Commission Chairperson Daisy Thakur presided over the workshop where Una SP Devakar Sharma was also present. Thakur said nature had awarded an equal status to men and women, but the society had defined the two genders differently and there were some fields where the performance of women was far better than men.

She said families were the basic building blocks of society and women should be respected at both places. She called upon the women to shun fear and develop confidence so as to be able to face tough situations. Addressing nearly 100 police men and women, Thakur said women complainants should be dealt with sensitivity and respect since they approached the law enforcement agencies as the last resort to the atrocities being meted out to them. She said in case of family disputes, due counseling should be given to all parties involved.

The SP said a women police station was recently made functional at the Una district headquarters. He said 638 complaints had been registered at the station in 2019, of which 635 had been settled. Earlier, Commission Law Officer Anuj Verma informed the gathering about various programmes of the women commission besides speaking on laws that gave special rights to women.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Remove hanging trees

Precariously hanging trees in the Changar area under the Sundernagar Municipal Council are posing a threat to commuters in the region. Strong winds can uproot these anytime, which may prove fatal. There is a need to cut these trees to avoid any harm to the public. The Municipal Council should do the needful as the Mandi Deputy Commissioner has already issued directions in this regard.

Suresh Chauhan, Sundernagar

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Open dumping of garbage

Due to inadequate dustbins in the Dharamsala Municipal Corporation area, people are being forced to dump solid waste in the open. Heaps of garbage can be seen outside the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board (HPSEB) building. The dustbin, placed near the main road, scars the city. It is the duty of corporation officials to keep the city clean.

Mahesh Kumar, Dharamsala

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Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Khair wood logs seized in Nurpur, jeep driver held

Our Correspondent

NURPUR, JANUARY 10

The police seized khair wood logs in forest area, while the driver of the jeep carrying the wood was arrested here today.

Forest guards who were on patrolling duty in the forest area in Rehan area last night had intercepted a pick up (jeep) and found that 15 khair wood logs were being transported in it without proper legal documents.

The guards detained the vehicle driver whereas his two accomplices fled teh spot on being intercepted. The forest department had reported the matter to the Nurpur police.

According to Sahil Arora, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nurpur, the police seized the khair wood logs and impounded the jeep. The jeep driver, Mohan Singh, a resident of Rehan was also arrested.

A case under sections 379 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and Sections 41-42 of the Indian Forest Act has been registered against the accused.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Free education for Pragpur students

Kangra, January 10

Industries Minister Bikram Singh Thakur today announced free education for poor students in the Jaswan Pragpur segment.

He was speaking at the annual day function of Government Senior Secondary School at Laag Bhalyiana in Pragpur. The minister adopted five students from Laag Bhalyiana school, who would get free education for a year. Students presented a cultural programme and the minister gave them Rs 11,000. He announced Rs 10 lakh for the construction of three rooms in the school. Meritorious students were given prizes.

Neel Kant Sharma, principal of the school, read out the annual report. The minister said Rs 35 lakh had been sanctioned for "Jal, Jeewan" Mission for Pragpur. He also listened to the grievances of the people. — OC

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Snow-capped Billing delights tourists

Dharamsala: Severe chill and freezing temperatures were not deterring tourists from enjoying tandem flights from the world famous paragliding site Bir-Billing in Kangra district. After heavy snow in the last two days, entire plateau of Billing take-off site located at an altitude of about 2,400 metres from sea level is covered under about one feet snow.

Surinder, a tourist from Punjab, said that snow covered Billing looks like a white paradise. Though very few tourists are coming to Billing due to extreme chill these days, a paraglider said it was an entirely different experience watching scenic snow clad mountains while flying from a paraglider.

"We get very small window to fly in these conditions. Today we enjoyed the experience as there was bright sunshine that provided wind thermals for flying in the afternoon", he said.

Bir Billing, ranked among the top 10 paragliding sites of the world by various magazines of adventure sports, attracts thousands of paragliders from across the world every year. Tns

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Tree falls on HPU hostel

The SFI unit of Himachal Pradesh University submitted a memorandum to the chief warden, demanding shifting of girl students residing in Manikaran hostel as a tree fell on the building on Wednesday. Members said it was risky to stay in the hostel. SFI campus president Raviner Chandel demanded a mess for students staying back during holidays.

Students form human chain

A human chain was formed by students, teachers and the managing committee of the Bhartiya Public School for communal harmony in the state and country. The chain was flagged off by chairman of the school Dharam Malhotra. Bhartiya Public School, Chamba, was established in 1971 and will celebrate its golden jubilee in the 2020-21 session.

NSS camp begins at Kangra school

An NSS camp began at Government Senior Secondary School at Rajol in Kangra. As many as 53 volunteers are participating in the camp. Principal BS Guleria said personality development of volunteers would be a priority. Ten personalities will deliver lectures on vital subjects.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

HC sets aside woman panel communication

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, January 10

THE CASE

• The court passed the judgment on a petition filed by Income Tax Inspector Varun Khari, who challenged the Woman Commission's communication to the Income Tax Chief Commissioner whereby it had requested that the petitioner may not be transferred from Shimla till the finalisation of a complaint filed by his wife against him before the commission

No doubt the HP State Woman Commission is empowered to look into the complaints and take suo motu notice of the matters pertaining to deprivation of the rights of the women but, is bound to act within the four-corners of the statute that created it.

This was held by the HP High Court while dealing with the question of powers of the Woman Commission. A division Bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice CB Barowalia further observed that "the Commission is a creation of the statute and, therefore, is bound to act within the four corners of the statute."

The court passed this judgment on a petition filed by an Income Tax Inspector, Varun Khari challenging the communication issued by the Woman Commission to the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax whereby it had requested that the petitioner may not be transferred from Shimla till the finalisation of a complaint filed by his wife against him before the commission.

While setting aside the communication issued by the Woman Commission, the court observed that "the communication is not in the form of advisories and, therefore, we have no hesitation to conclude that the procedure adopted by the State Commission is without any authority as the Commission is not entitled to issue the advisories to the employer of the petitioner that too without any information to him."

It is alleged in the petition that the communication issued on January 30, 2018, by the State Woman Commission is illegal and without any authority. It was further contended that the Commission had no jurisdiction to even request the I-T Chief Commissioner not to transfer the petitioner from Shimla till the finalisation of this case and asking him not to permit the petitioner to vacate the premises in question. This is beyond powers vested with the Commission under the Act.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Thrust on developing tribal areas, says CM

Shimla, January 10

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said the state government was giving thrust on development of tribal areas of the state so that they could be developed at par with the other areas of the state. He said this while presiding over the 47th meeting of Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) here today.

He said Rs 904 crore Plan and Rs 831 crore Non Plan allocations have been made under the Tribal Sub Plan during the current financial year. The Chief Minister said several policy decisions were taken by the Council since Single Line Administration was adopted to solve various issues of the tribal people. He said 9 per cent of the state budget has been earmarked for Tribal Sub Plan for development of the tribal areas.

Thakur said Rs 144.17 crore had been earmarked for construction of buildings, roads and bridges, Rs 169.37 crore for education sector, Rs 99.22 crore for health sector and Rs 59.54 crore for irrigation and water supply schemes in the tribal areas.

The Chief Minister said the government was ensuring that regular helicopter sorties were carried out to facilitate the people of the tribal areas. Last year 71 helicopter flights had been carried out in the tribal areas and 2,303 people benefited. He said the state government had taken up the matter of providing subsidy on helicopter services for tribal areas during the year 2018-19 with the Tribal Affairs Ministry and Rs 4 crore subsidy was received by the government. — TNS

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

On run after attacking Nurpur man, 2 held in Punjab

Nurpur, January 10

Following a tip-off, the Indora police arrested two persons from Kamahi village in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, on Thursday evening for allegedly attacking a person at his home on the intervening night of January 7 and 8 at Mand-Ghandran village here.

The police had registered a case against the accused, indentified as Sucha Singh alias Manda of Mand-Ghandran and Sarthi of Uleharian.

As per information, the accused had barged into the house of one Dilawar Khan when the entire family was asleep and attacked him with an iron rod. Dilawar was seriously injured in the attack. The family members, who identified one of the assailants, got a case registered under sections 323,458 and 34 of the IPC against the accused, who were on the run. The duo had been hiding at the house of a relative in Hoshiarpur. The police today produced the accused in the court, which remanded them in police custody for further investigation. A personal enmity between the victim and the accused is stated to be the cause of the attack. — OC

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Cong misleading public on CAA: Shanta

r Correspondent

Palampur, January 10

Senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar today said the Congress and other parties were spreading canards about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Kumar, who was speaking at a public meeting organised by Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar in his home constituency Sulaha, said what the Congress and other opposition parties were doing was condemnable. "This is an attempt to fan confusion among people of various communities, leading to baseless discussions. The purpose of the CAA is to provide Indian citizenship to refugees," he said.

The BJP leader asked people not to be misled. Referring to Kashmir, he said: "With the removal of Article 370 from Kashmir, the country has come under a single rule." Parmar hit out at the Congress, accusing the party of misleading people over the Act. He also clarified that the legislation had no provision to take away citizenship.

"The Congress is spreading rumours that Muslims may lose their citizenship. Don't misguide and divide people over the CAA," he stated. The CAA would provide citizenship to the minorities, who faced religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Pakistan failed to implement the Nehru-Liaquat pact to protect religious and other rights of the minorities.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Palampur villagers protest youths’ arrest

Our Correspondent

Palampur, January 10

Hundreds of agitated men, women and children staged a dharna at the office of the SDM at Baijnath in protest against the arrest of two persons in a murder case.

The residents of Gadiara village, shouting anti-government slogans, reached the office of SDM Baijnath and staged a dharna for two hours lodging protest against the arrest of two youths of the village in connection with the murder of a school teacher whose body was recovered from a gorge last month.

The villagers, in a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and a copy of which was submitted to the SDM, said that police was not investigating the case properly and implicating innocent persons who were not linked with the murder case. They said the police had arrested the village youths without any solid evidence against them.

They demanded that the case should be re-investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) so that real culprits were arrested. They also demanded the immediate release of village youths.

SDM Chhavi Nainta told the villagers that she would forward the memorandum to the higher authorities so that justice was done and innocents were not harassed.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service

Martyr father’s cry goes unheard

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, January 9

Rulia Ram Walia, father of Maj Sudheer Walia, who had attained martyrdom while fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir, is moving from pillar to post for the past 20 years for the installation of a statue of his son in Palampur or his native village but the bureaucracy of the state is unmoved.

Rulia Ram has met the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs, Deputy Commissioners and other senior dignitaries of the government, but all in vain.

He also announced returning his son's gallantry awards, including Ashok Chakra, but even after a year, no land has been earmarked for the statue.

The Tribune team called on Rulia Ram on Sunday at his native Banuri village, 6 km from here. In a choked voice, he said the state and Centre had no respect for martyrs. "Whenever any soldier attains martyrdom, the state government makes tall claims of providing all kinds of help. However, no one comes forward to fulfil those promises later. There are many other families which have been fighting for the completion of projects announced in the name of their kin who sacrificed their lives for the nation," said a teary-eyed Rulia Ram.

He said both state and Central governments had failed to acknowledge the supreme sacrifice made by his son and had not installed his statue in the town or at their native village. Besides Ashok Chakra, Major Walia was decorated with Sena Medals for gallantry on two occasions for combating militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also served as an ADC to former Army chief VK Malik for two years. In his book 'Kargil : From Surprise To Victory', General Malik has devoted a full chapter on Major Walia.

Courtesy: Tribune News Service