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IPS Gaurav Singh and CM’s Security Personnel Exchange Slaps & Kicks, Video Goes Viral, Inquiry Ordered

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sp kullu gaurav singh slaps cm security

Kullu-Superintendent of Police, Kullu, Gaurav Singh, and Chief Minister’s Security Officers got into an ugly brawl outside the Bhuntar Airport in Kullu district on Wednesday. While Gaurav Singh reportedly slapped the security official, ASP, Brijesh Sood, after an argument broke out between the two, another security official of the Chief Minister was seen kicking Gaurav Singh.

The incident has jolted the State Police Department, as well as, the people as all of this ruckus occurred in the presence of Chief Minister and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Video clips of this incident where personnel of the Himachal Pradesh Police exchanged slaps and kicks appeared on social media and are going viral across the nation.  

The incident has attracted widespread criticism over such indisciplinary actions from these high-rank officials. 

It’s pertinent to mention that Gaurav Singh is considered one of the most honest IPS officials serving in the State. His strict action against sand and drug mafia in Baddi industrial area had won him praise from the people. He was hailed as Baddi’s Singham at that time. He continues to work with the same zeal against drug mafia as the SP of Kullu district too. 

What Happened At Bhuntar Airport

According to the initial information available, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur had come to the Airport to welcome Gadkari, who is on a five-day visit to Kullu. When their convoy left the Airport, Gadkari noticed several people who had gathered outside to meet him and share their grievance related to insufficient compensation for the acquisition of land for the four-laning project. These people from the four-lane Sangharsh Samiti were waiting for the Minister outside the Airport.

Meanwhile, CM’s Security Official reportedly started arguing with the SP over allowing people to gather outside the Airport which caused an unscheduled halt for the Minister’s convoy. As per reports, Gadkari had himself asked to stop the car to listen to these people, which led to misunderstanding between the security of the Chief Minister and Chief of the local police. The argument turned into a violent brawl as the SP slapped Brijesh Sood.

Other officials present at the scene tried to intervene and control these officers. This entire episode occurred in front of the Chief Minister’s car.

The people at once rushed towards the spot shouting “ SP sahab ko kyon maar rahe ho (Why Are You Assaulting the SP)?”

Somehow, the remaining police personnel cleared the way for Chief Minister’s vehicle. The people were also heard shouting slogans in support of Gaurav Singh.  

Inquiry Ordered, Three Officials Removed from Duty Till Conclusion of Inquiry

Following this shocking incident, the PHQ came into action and the Director-General of Police, Sanjay Kundu, left for the spot. DIG Central Range, Madhusudan, had already reached the spot to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

The inquiry would be conducted under Section 63 of the HP Police Act, it was informed. 

The IG Intelligence was asked to immediately depute someone to perform the duties of Balwant, HPP, PSO to the Chief Minister immediate effect.

Further, the PHQ, in a statement, informed that till the conclusion of the preliminary inquiry into the incident, Gaurav Singh, Brijesh Sood and  Balwant, will remain on compulsory leave. The headquarters for Gaurav Singh was fixed to be the Range Office Mandi and PHQ Shimla for Brajesh Sood and Balwant Singh.

Further, the DIG CR Madhusudan would perform the duties of the SP Kullu, while the duties of Addl SP, CM Security, will be performed by Addl SP, IIIrd Bn Pandoh, Puneet Raghu.

Himachal Kisan Sabha Alleges the State Govt Didn’t Want Farmers to Meet the Minister

The Himachal Kisan Sabha also issued a statement in which it referred to the incident as another example of the state government’s anti-farmer attitude. The Sabha said that the farmers affected by the four-laning project only wanted to submit a memorandum to the Union Minister to convey their grievance peacefully and the Minister himself agreed to it. Despite this, an unnecessary brawl was created on the part of the Chief Minister’s security.  The Sabha supported the demand of the farmers for appropriate compensation for their land acquired for the project. 

Madan has studied English Literature and Journalism from HP University and lives in Shimla. He is an amateur photographer and has been writing on topics ranging from environmental, socio-economic, development programs, education, eco-tourism, eco-friendly lifestyle and to green technologies for over 9 years now. He has an inclination for all things green, wonderful and loves to live in solitude. When not writing, he can be seen wandering, trying to capture the world around him in his DSLR lens.

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HP Govt Employees to Get Higher Pay Scale on Completion of Two Years of Service: CM Jairam

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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.

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Most Covid Restrictions to be Lifted From March 31, Mask and Hand Hygiene to Continue

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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%.

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HP Cabinet Decisions: Country Liquor Made Cheaper in New Excise Policy, Read All Decisions

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hp cABINET DECISIONS MARCH 20,2022

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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