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Haunted Shimla locality performs Havan, sprinkles Gangajal, still reluctant to use Keleston water tank supply
Reportedly, one of three accused, Tejinder, made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide by hanging himself from a blanket.
SHIMLA- The Keleston-based water storage tanks of Shimla’s Civic body has been cleaned again after CID claimed recovery of Yug Gupta’s skeleton remains from it. Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has assured the tank is cleaned properly, but the residents of the locality are still haunted by the fact that they were served water from a tank containing decomposing dead-body of a 4-years-old, who was kidnapped, tortured, and thrown alive into the tank. Residents are not able to muster enough strength to use this water for drinking purpose, and are instead running to bawaris (natural water resources) in the area. A long line of people could be seen at these bawaris.
Also Read: Skeleton of missing Shimla kid recovered after 2 years from MC water tank near Bharari
People even performed a ‘havan’ (religious ritual) near the mentioned tank and residents from localities like Keleston, Bhattakuffar etc. attended it and made offerings. A number of school students were also present at the Havan besides political faces like Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj. All prayed for the peace of the departed soul. Holy Gangajal was sprinkled praying for purification of the place.
Entire Shimla was shocked after disclosure of facts in Yug murder case, and Shimla town’s civic body came under scanner for its alleged carelessness in regular cleaning of its storage tanks and making no provision for safety and security.
Shimla Mayor Cry Foul, Says No Remains Found Inside Tank
The Mayor of Shimla, Sanjay Chauhan, has questioned CID’s investigations and has claimed that all remains of Yug’s skeleton were recovered from surroundings of the Keleston-based water tank, not from inside. He alleged Congress and BJP of playing cheap politics over death of an innocent child.
An FIR was registered on Shimla MC on a complaint of DSP (CID) Bhopinder Bragta, who mentioned that some remains of skeleton along with a concrete slab and rope with which Yug was tied were recovered from the tank.
CPIM has also opened attack on government. Senior CPIM leader Rakesh Singh, in a press conference, alleged that underworld has taken command of government in Himachal that has lead to deterioration of law and order. Mr. Singh mentioned several cases of missing people and failure of police to trace them. He also alleged that Yug could have been saved if Shimla Police had not tried to save the culprits, who had high-profile links. He demanded making phone call details of three accused public, which will reveal truth behind the case.
One of Accuse Attempts Suicide in Prison Cell
Reportedly, one of three accused, Tejinder, made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide by hanging himself from a blanket. Following this attempt to weave a rope from the threads of blankets to harm himself, the jail authorities have ensured that no such substance be placed in their cells which can be used for committing suicide. All accused are kept separate from other prisoners due to fear of assault.
Photos: Angry mob at Shimla Court Complex roughs up Yug murder accused
CID awaits DNA Test Results
Blood of Yug’s father has been sent for DNA test to verify the skeleton remains are indeed belongs to deceased boy. It is, however, being considered only a legal formality as CID claims strong and ample evidences against three accused, Tejinder Singh, Chander Sharma, and Vikrant Bakshi, who are in judicial custody until September 8. Although, the skeleton remained in water for about two years, but still DNA test can be conducted using femur bone and mandibular canine, said CID.
Photo: Jagarn
Shimla-Himachal Pradesh Government employees working in different departments before January 3, 2022, would be given a higher scale at par with other employees on completion of two years tenure of regular service. A higher pay scale was also announced for the Junior Office Assistants (IT) on completion of two years of regular service.
Chief Minister Jairam Thakur made these announcements during the Karamchari Maha Sammelan of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation at the hotel Peterhof on Sunday.
He appreciated the role played by the employee especially frontline workers in the battle against the pandemic.
He said most of the government employees in the state have been given revised pay scales and on average, every employee has got the benefit of a 12 to 15 percent salary hike. There has also been an increase in the pension of about 1.50 lakh pensioners of the state. The financial benefits of Rs. 7801 crore have been given to state government employees and pensioners from the year 2018 to 2022. The pensioners who retired before 2016 are getting the benefit of a 15 to 20 percent increase in the pension while around 40 thousand pensioners who retired after 2016 would be benefitted soon, he said.
He said the daily wages were Rs. 210 in the year 2017 which has been increased by the present state government to Rs. 350. Similarly, 12 per cent interim relief annually has been provided to government employees and pensioners during the present government’s tenure. He said the Himachal government has provided Dearness Allowance to its employees and pensioners on the lines of Punjab and Central governments from the due date. The Punjab government has given only 5 percent interim relief to the employees while the Himachal government has provided 21 percent interim relief to its employees.
“Out of the total interim relief amount given to the employees and pensioners amounting to about Rs. 6500 crore, Rs. 3500 crore has been paid during the tenure of our government” added the Chief Minister.
He said that the state government has increased the government contribution for NPS employees from 10 percent to 14 percent benefitting more than one lakh employees. The NPS employees are being given the benefits of retirement and death gratuity at par with employees falling under the old pension scheme. The government has also increased the upper limit of death gratuity from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.
The Chief Minister said the state government has also increased the honorarium of para-workers working in various departments. The salary of outsource workers has been hiked by Rs 1,500 per month.
Non-Gazetted Employees Federation President Ashwani Thakur thanked the Chief Minister for providing various financial and other benefits to different categories of government employees.
New Delhi-The Centre has issued a notification to the States informing that the provisions of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005 will not be invoked in the country after March 31. The Union Health Ministry said that the use of face masks and following hand hygiene will continue.
It implies that most of the Covid-related rules and restrictions would end.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued the notification which said that the decision was taken following the overall improvement in the situation and the preparedness of the government in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, local authorities and State police can still invoke fines and criminal cases against persons violating COVID-19 norms under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a senior government official said.
The DM Act was invoked on March 24, 2020, due to the pandemic
“Over the last seven weeks or so there has been a steep decline in the number of cases. The total caseload in the country stands at 23,913 only and the daily positivity rate has declined to 0.28%. It is also worth mentioning that with the combined efforts, a total of 181.56 Cr vaccine doses have been administered,” the notification said.
“I would like to mention that in view of the nature of the disease, we still need to remain watchful of the situation. Wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the States/UTs may consider taking prompt and proactive action at a local level, as advised by MoHFW (Health Ministry) from time to time,” the notification said.
The Indian government had issued various guidelines and measures for the first time on March 24, 2020, under the Disaster Management Act to curb the COVID-19 situation in the country, which have been modified several times thereafter.
India currently has 23,087 active COVID-19 cases and recorded 1,778 new cases and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate has also declined to 0.28%.
Shimla-A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet was held on March 20, 2022, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
The excise policy for the financial year 2022-23 was approved. Approval was also given for the renewal of retail excise vends in the state for the financial year 2022-23 at the renewal fees of 4% of the value of unit/vend.
The State Government said that wants to enhance the government revenue and curb the smuggling of country liquor from the neighbouring states by a reduction in its price.
The brands of Country Liquor will be cheaper as license fees have been reduced. This will help in providing good quality liquor at a cheaper rate to the consumers.
In the new excise policy, the 15% fixed quota of country liquor for manufacturers and bottlers to be supplied to the retail licensees has been abolished. According to the government, this step will give the retail licensees to lift their quota from the suppliers of their choice and further assure the supply of good quality country liquor at competitive prices. The MRP of country liquor will be cheaper by 16% of the existing price.
In this year’s policy, the Gaudhan Vikas Nidhi Fund has been enhanced by Re.1/- from the existing Rs.1.50 to Rs.2.50.
The fixed annual license fee of Bars has been rationalized by abolishing the area-specific slabs of license fee. Now throughout the State, there will be uniform license slabs based upon the room capacity in hotels.
Rates of the annual fixed license fee of Bars in the tribal areas has been reduced considerably.
Further, all the above stakeholders will have to install CCTV cameras at their establishments as it was made mandatory for them.
Wholesale vends and retail vends, the penalty provisions under the H.P. Excise Act, 2011 have been made more stringent.
An end to end online Excise Administration System would be established in Himachal Pradesh, the government said.
HP Government estimates a collection of Rs 2131 crore revenue during the year, which will be Rs. 264 crores higher than the financial year 2021-22 – growth of 14% in state excise revenues.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to amend Himachal Pradesh Disaster Relief Manual-2012 to include deaths due to biting of honey bees, hornet and wasps, accidental drowning and deaths due to accidents of vehicles (including land, water and air) under this Manual.
The Cabinet gave its approval for filling up 11 posts of ‘A’ Class Tehsildar in Revenue Department through direct recruitment on regular basis through Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.
HP State Toll Policy 2022-23
The HP Cabinet also gave its nod to HP State Toll Policy for the year 2022-23 which envisages auction cum tender for all the toll barriers in the State. During the year 2021-22, toll revenue has registered a growth of 20 percent of the previous year’s revenue.
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