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Tuesday - April 22, 2025
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01:48 PM
Tuesday - April 22, 2025
Weather: 16°C
REGD.-HP-09-0015257
"Our Power, Our Planet”: Dehradun Students Lead th...
2,000 new posts promised, reshuffle in motion—but...
Himachal Pradesh University marks Civil Services D...
Breaking | Terror Hits Pahalgam: 26 Tourists Killed in Cold-Blooded Attack, Nation Mourns, Netas React
Pahalgam/Srinagar, April 22 – In one of the most horrific terror strikes in recent times, 26 innocent tourists were gunned down and dozens injured in a chilling attack by terrorists at a tourist resort in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The attack has sent shockwaves across the country and is being seen as a deliberate attempt to cripple the Valley’s recovering tourism economy just ahead of the summer season.
The victims, many of them from Gujarat and Maharashtra, were relaxing at the picturesque resort when terrorists opened indiscriminate fire.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of mayhem as people ran for cover while gunmen fired randomly, turning a peaceful holiday destination into a warzone.
The video is viral on social media with young wife screaming for help to shift her husband to hospital.
What is shocking is that there was no policeman around, no security petrol, no police help, no ambulance around the tourist area.
The terrorists came, opened fire on helpless tourists and disappeared from the resort leaving the resort littered with bleeding bodies and screams.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the "cowardly terror attack" and said security forces have launched a massive manhunt.
> "I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. I’ve spoken to the DGP and security officials.
The injured have been shifted to GMC Anantnag for treatment. I pray for their speedy recovery," he said.
But official version on terror toll is not out so far.
The attack comes as a huge blow to the Union Territory’s economy, which had just started to limp back to normalcy after years of violence.
With tourism picking up in May-June, this strike appears aimed at reviving fear in the Valley and deterring visitors.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah came down heavily on the perpetrators and promised swift retribution:
> “We will avenge every drop of innocent blood spilled in Pahalgam. This is not just an attack on tourists—it’s an attack on the idea of peace and humanity. Our forces have been given a free hand to eliminate those responsible.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too condemned the incident in strong words, calling it an assault on the soul of Kashmir:
> "I'm shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators are animals, inhuman, and worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough."
Abdullah said he was cutting short his engagements to return to Srinagar and take stock of the situation.
His party colleague Sakina Itoo has already reached the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured.
Security forces, including the Army and J&K Police, have cordoned off the area and intensified search operations in the forests and adjoining hills.
This attack comes just a year after the deadly assault on Amarnath pilgrims, raising serious questions on intelligence and preparedness under the NC-led alliance government.
With emotions running high and the nation in mourning, pressure is mounting on authorities to not just catch the terrorists, but also fix accountability for what many are calling a massive security failure.
(Developing story – more updates awaited)
"Our Power, Our Planet”: Dehradun Students Lead the Charge Against Plastic on Earth Day
— Over 20 schools join SDC Foundation’s Earth Day 2025 drive
Dehradun:
It wasn’t just speeches and slogans this Earth Day — students across Dehradun turned into green warriors under the global theme
“Our Power, Our Planet.” The Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation led the charge, celebrating Earth Day 2025 at more than two dozen locations with one clear goal — tackling plastic pollution.this
From Doon University and Tulas Institute to CNI Girls Inter College and GGIC Rajpur Road, over 20 government and private schools teamed up with SDC Foundation to turn Earth Day into a real movement. Students were asked to bring plastic waste from their homes, which was collected at SDC’s plastic banks and will be sent for recycling.
Awareness through Action
Plastic-themed cultural programs, street plays, poster-making, and pledge ceremonies filled school campuses. Students learned about the harmful impact of plastic on the planet and took oaths to reduce single-use plastic in their daily lives.
“No to Single-Use Plastic” — The New Student Mantra
Many students pledged to be ambassadors of change — promising to educate their families, friends, and neighbors about the dangers of plastic waste.
“The response was overwhelming — students didn’t just participate, they took ownership,” said Dinesh Semwal from SDC Foundation.
Plastic Banks Across the City
Praveen Upreti of SDC Foundation shared that over 300 plastic banks have already been set up across Dehradun, and plans are in place to repurpose the collected plastic into useful materials like blocks, benches, and even for road construction. “We dream of a Dehradun free from single-use plastic,” he said.
The Team Behind the Scenes
The success of the campaign was made possible by a hardworking team — Devika, Bittu, Pramod, and Subhash — who coordinated with schools and ensured that each event ran smoothly.
SDC’s Pyare Lal thanked all partner institutions and highlighted how heartening it was to see such high energy and commitment from students.
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh High Court today issued notices to state government and police to file Status report in connection with the mysterious death of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi and fixed the next date for hearing on May 20.
In a twist that’s rocked Himachal Pradesh’s power corridors, Kiran Negi, the wife of Chief Engineer Vimal Negi—whose body was found from Bhakra Dam on March 18 under mysterious circumstances—has knocked on the doors of the High Court, demanding a CBI probe into his death.
The petition, filed by Negi’s wife, was heard today before the bench of Justice Ajay Mohan Goel in the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Alleging foul play in her husband’s sudden and suspicious death, she has sought a CBI investigation, citing deep mistrust in the ongoing police probe.
In her plea, she has made the following parties:
– The State of Himachal Pradesh
– Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh
– Home Secretary, Himachal Pradesh
– Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh
– Superintendent of Police, Shimla
– Station House Officer of the concerned police station
– Union of India through the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)
The FIR in the case has been registered under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (abetment to suicide). Notably, three top officials of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) have been named as accused: Managing Director Harikesh Meena, and Directors Shivam Pratap Singh and Des Raj.
The petitioner has alleged that these officials mentally harassed and pressured Vimal Negi through sustained workplace victimisation, ultimately driving him to death.
She further claimed that Negi had confided in her about receiving threats and being targeted through official intimidation and professional isolation.
Despite these grave allegations, she contends that the police are treating the matter as a routine suicide case, overlooking glaring red flags and failing to investigate the role of those in power.
The petition also notes that one of the accused, Harikesh Meena, has already secured bail from high court, further fuelling the family’s suspicion of a cover-up.
The High Court has taken the matter into consideration and fixed the next hearing in case on May 20 with notices likely to be issued to all the respondents.
The bail application of Meen is coming up for hearing in the High Court on May 2.
Des Raj has got interim bail from Supreme Court as the state did not contest the case and next date of hearing in July.
2,000 new posts promised, reshuffle in motion—but silence on corruption and cost escalations raises eyebrows
Shimla, 21 April – Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today sounded the alarm bells on power losses and rampant electricity theft—but his high-level meeting on Monday ended up scratching the surface while leaving the deeper rot untouched mainly in HPPCL.
Chairing the review meet with top brass of the power sector, the CM ordered feeder metering, consumer mapping, and a full-blown data overhaul in HPSEBL to track and curb power theft.
But offical release didn't reveal data on how much these losses stand.
Is it industry sector or household consumers stealing electricity?
But even as he announced 2,000 new posts for T-mates and linemen, the ground reality remains that the electricity board is crippled by severe staff shortages, especially in divisions like Chopal, Rohru, Rampur and Theog in Shimla, and other districts such as Sirmaur, Solan, Mandi, Chamba and Kangra.
“These are not small gaps—they’re gaping holes in the system,” a senior engineer said off record.
“Linemen are overworked, poles are unattended, and rural feeders often go unmonitored for days.”
When villagers lodge complaints, pet answer is: we don't have staff.
Staff Shuffling, Not System Overhaul
The CM set an April 30th deadline for HPSEBL staff currently on deputation in other power bodies to choose whether they want to return.
Civil wing employees can shift to PWD. While this move may declutter roles, it still feels like reshuffling chairs on a sinking ship, critics say.
The CM remained mum on pressing issues like the long-stalled revamp of HPSEBL, release of pending subsidies, and the alleged corruption in the Pekhubela solar project and Shong-Tong under HPPCL—projects that’ve been under scanner for inflated costs and shady tendering that allegedly resulted in the mysterious death of HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi last March.
HP Power engineers bofy and BJP and family members have levelled serious allegations against the top officials and power that be.
Has he discussed the Onkar Chand Sharma inquiry report? Officials ate tight-lipped.
Shong-Tong: Another White Elephant?
The 450 MW Shong-Tong project in Kinnaur, marred by delays and alleged cost escalations, was briefly reviewed.
Sukhu set a deadline of November 2026 for its completion and directed officials to prepare power evacuation plans.
But there was no word on the project’s controversial past or accountability for missed timelines and ballooning budgets.
Transfers in Industrial Pockets
To tackle localised corruption, Sukhu ordered the transfer of officials who have overstayed in industrial zones.
While it’s a welcome step, many insiders believe frequent transfers can’t fix systemic rot without strong anti-corruption action.
What’s Missing?
The meeting was attended by top officials including HPSEBL Chairman Sanjay Gupta and Power Secretary Rakesh Kanwar.
But despite all the big talk, there was deafening silence on real reforms—no audit demands, no action on corruption, no timeline for subsidy release, and no announcement on how HPSEBL will be financially revived.
Bottomline: Sukhu’s talking tough, but unless he clears the cobwebs of corruption, pending dues and staff crunch, Himachal’s power sector will remain in the dark, say critics.
The state doesn't need just new posts and policy tweaks, it needs a full-blown cleanup.
Lawyers Gherao Chhota Shimla Police Station After Cop Thrashes Advocate, Protest Brings Capital to Standstill
Shimla, April 21:
The legal fraternity in Himachal Pradesh rose in rebellion on Monday as lawyers from the High Court and district courts in Shimla boycotted proceedings and gheraoed the Chhota Shimla police station, demanding justice after a lawyer was allegedly thrashed by a policeman.
The most hit were the common citizens whose cases were postponed for yet another date as proceedings were disrupted by the protest.
Chants of “Police goons down down!” echoed outside the police station, which is barely a stone’s throw from the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat.
The protesting lawyers demanded an immediate FIR against the accused cop and strict departmental action, slamming the administration for shielding those in uniform.
“If this is how a lawyer is treated, imagine the horror a common man faces at the hands of the police,” shouted one of the protesting lawyers, summing up the widespread anger in the legal community.
Addressing the agitated lawyers senior advocates Shravan Dogra, Ashok Sharma, Sanjeev Bhushan, Kochar, president of HP High court Bar Piyush Verma and others lodged the strong protest that the matter has become very serious and needs its quick resolution before things go out of hand.
"we have come to know that the police administration is doing partisan role for the last one week. This has forced lawyers to come here and gherao to the police station. The police cannot take law into its hand and every body has to act per the Constitution", Dogra said.
The protest not only sent shockwaves through the corridors of power but also brought traffic to a screeching halt on the busy Chhota Shimla–Sanjauli road. With tourists thronging Shimla in the peak season, the gherao caused massive jams and left locals fuming.
Meanwhile, social media exploded in outrage, with netizens posting videos and questioning the police’s high-handedness. “If the law’s custodians are being beaten on the streets, is anyone safe in Himachal?” asked one user.
Despite public fury and the lawyers’ demand for swift justice, the administration remained tight-lipped till evening, further fuelling the perception of systemic arrogance.
The ball is now in the government’s court—will it stand with the rule of law, or let rogue elements in uniform rewrite the law on the streets?
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