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Wednesday - May 21, 2025
Weather: 26°C
REGD.-HP-09-0015257
Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s re...
Himachal Erupts: Farmers and Apple Growers Protest...
Shimla, April 25: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder...
ROHRU/JUBBAL:
Eviction notices, crop failures, and bureaucratic high-handedness — Himachal's small farmers and apple growers say they’ve had enough.
On the joint call of Himachal Kisan Sabha and Seb Utpadak Sangh (Apple Growers Association), protests erupted across the state, with a massive dharna and rally organized in Rohru today.
Hundreds of distressed farmers — including women, elderly, and youth — marched through the Rohru town, raising slogans against the state government.
They gathered outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office, submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding an immediate halt to ongoing evictions and house lockouts.
Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Chauhan and Raman Tharta, members of the Seb Utpadak Sangh Rajya Samiti, lashed out at the government, accusing it of hiding behind High Court orders while targeting the poor.
“Khet chhin rahe ho, ghar pe tala maar rahe ho — yeh kisani pe zabardasti ka bulldozer hai,” said Chauhan.
He alleged that the state government has failed to present the farmers’ side effectively in court and warned that if these evictions don’t stop, the agitation will intensify.
“Jubbal-Rohru ke seb ka ek-ek daana aapki economy ko khada karta hai, aur aap unhi logon ko sadak pe la rahe ho,” he said.
The protesting organizations, including the Seb Utpadak Sangh Jubbal Unit, placed the following demands:
Immediate stay on evictions and house lockouts.
Strict implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 across Himachal.
Action against officers violating FRA and displacing forest dwellers.
Regularization of up to 5 bigha land held by poor and small farmers.
Allocation of 2 biswa land in towns and 3 biswa in villages for housing the landless.
Relief and land to those affected by recent natural disasters.
“This isn’t just a legal matter. It’s a battle for existence,” said Raman Tharta, adding that the Seb Utpadak Sangh will not sit silently as the homes and lands of farmers are destroyed under the garb of court orders.
The farmers warned of intensified protests across apple belts if bulldozers are not stopped and justice not delivered.
#SaveHimachalFarmers #ImplementFRA2006 #StopEvictionsNow #JusticeForAppleGrowers
ED’s Big Catch: Gold, Dollars & Docs Worth Over ₹1.5 Cr Seized in Multi-City Raid on Forex Scam
Chandigarh – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unearthed a major money laundering racket linked to TP Global FX/IX Global during simultaneous raids in Mumbai, Bangalore, Jalandhar, Indore, and Kolkata on May 16, 2025.
Acting under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED seized illegal wealth worth over ₹1.56 crore.
The crackdown led to the seizure of foreign currencies—US Dollars, Singapore Dollars, Dirhams and more—worth ₹6.42 lakh, gold bullion pegged at ₹55.74 lakh, and bank balances amounting to ₹94 lakh. Additionally, investigators recovered property documents, multiple digital devices, and incriminating paperwork that could unravel deeper layers of the scam.
The raids targeted M/s TM Traders and M/s KK Traders, suspected to be shell entities operating as fronts for TP Global FX/IX Global—a firm under the scanner for duping investors through unauthorized forex trading platforms.
ED officials said the operation was part of an ongoing probe into illicit financial transactions and forex violations. More arrests and disclosures are expected as forensic analysis of seized devices and documents progresses.
Sources suggest the scam could have links abroad, and ED is likely to invoke FEMA and other cross-border financial laws in the next phase of the investigation.
HPTDC Steps Up Delhi Outreach, Woos Big Bankers for Corporate Tourism Push
Shimla/Delhi | May 20, 2025
In a smart move to turn around its sagging fortunes, the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) ramped up its corporate marketing campaign by hosting a strategic meet with top Public Sector Banks at Himachal Bhawan, New Delhi.
The meet showcased HPTDC’s extensive hotel network, adventure tourism offerings, and curated corporate travel packages — aimed at forging long-term partnerships and MoUs to promote employee tourism.
Senior officials from SBI, PNB, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, UCO Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Union Bank of India, and Oil India Ltd attended the meet.
HPTDC’s presentation, led by GM Anil Taneja, received strong interest from the bankers, who lauded the state’s potential as a cost-effective corporate travel destination.
Resident Commissioner Meera Mohanty, IAS, and Managing Director Dr. Rajiv Kumar, IAS, underlined HPTDC’s renewed metro focus and its push to position Himachal as the go-to hub for business retreats and employee wellness tours.
With partnerships in the pipeline, HPTDC’s metro-centred marketing blitz is fast emerging as a turnaround blueprint.
HPTDC Bets Big on Corporate Tourism to Revive Fortunes — PSUs, Bankers in the Net
In a strategic pivot to pull HPTDC out of its financial slump, the corporation has launched an aggressive corporate outreach in metros, targeting both Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and top banks across India.
Over two high-stakes meetings held Monday rece at Himachal Bhawan in New Delhi, HPTDC pitched tailor-made hospitality packages to senior officials of major PSUs and leading public sector banks.
From ONGC, GAIL and Oil India Ltd to SBI, PNB, Canara Bank, UCO Bank and Indian Overseas Bank, the response has been encouraging — with discussions for MoUs already underway.
The corporation presented its mix of luxury hotels, budget stays, and adventure tourism facilities across Himachal, aiming to tap into the corporate travel, training, and employee wellness segment.
Behind this focused drive is a clear strategy: monetise HPTDC’s idle capacities and diversify clientele. With metro-centric branding, HPTDC is now positioning Himachal as the next big thing in offbeat, cost-effective corporate tourism.
If the leads mature into institutional tie-ups, it could breathe new life into the cash-strapped tourism body — and offer a blueprint for other hill states.
#HPTDCRevival #CorporateTourism #BankOnHimachal #ExploreHimachal
Shimla Exam Scam: After Ambala, Now Himachal's Turn – 39 Caught Cheating with Gadgets, Paper Leak Suspected
Shimla | May 20, 2025
After the Ambala exam center scandal rocked Haryana, now a similar script has unfolded in the hills of Himachal. In a shocking breach during the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti’s recruitment exam for non-teaching posts, 39 candidates were caught red-handed in Shimla using electronic devices to cheat — triggering strong suspicion of a paper leak network operating across states.
Just like the Ambala case — where a cheating gang was found circulating answers during the exam — Shimla’s scandal too points to a syndicate that may have had prior access to the question paper.
High-tech cheating, low patience:
Investigations reveal the arrested candidates had been instructed to send the question paper series code through hidden gadgets — after which they’d receive answers. For 30 to 60 minutes into the exam, many OMR sheets were left completely blank — a big red flag that they were waiting for external help before attempting anything.
Mobile phones seized, SIT formed:
All devices have been sent for forensic examination. Police have filed six FIRs and arrested 39 candidates — including 5 women — mostly from Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, and Delhi. The similarities with the Ambala modus operandi are uncanny.
ASP Ratan Singh Negi is now heading a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe deeper into the racket's reach and links with other centers like Ambala.
Drama at the center – Two escape, one impersonator caught:
In a dramatic turn, two accused — Mandeep Kumar and Aman — fled the exam center by jumping over the boundary wall. A man from Firozabad, Jatin, was also nabbed posing as another candidate, Alok Sharma.
The cheating attempts were reported from six centers in Shimla on Sunday, and the pattern mirrors a larger pan-India nexus. After Ambala, this fresh blow from Shimla suggests the exam mafia may be running a coordinated operation across states, making a mockery of national-level competitive exams.
Will the system finally wake up?
With back-to-back scandals in Ambala and now Shimla, questions are being raised over the security of national exams. Are these isolated incidents or just the tip of a deeper rot?
Stay tuned for more updates as the SIT unravels this multi-state examination scam.
How a Single Letter at the End of a Message Can Save You from Scammers: TRAI’s Smart Code to Beat Fraud
New Delhi/Shimla
In a digital world swarming with spam, scams, and cyber cheats, a single letter at the end of a message could be your shield. Yes, just one alphabet can tell you whether the message in your inbox is from your bank, a government department, a verified service provider—or a scamster trying to rob you blind.
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), the country’s telecom watchdog, has come up with a smart solution to protect the public from fraudsters.
Under new norms, every SMS sent by a registered entity—be it a bank, government body, service provider or marketing agency—must now carry a coded letter at the end.
Here’s how to read the message like a pro:
S: Service message (from your mobile operator, airline, etc.)
T: Transactional message (from your bank or wallet confirming a transaction)
G: Government message (from a verified government department)
P: Promotional message (ads and offers from companies)
And here's the golden rule—if a message has no code (no S, T, G, or P at the end), be alert. It could be a scam. Do not click any links, do not share any OTPs or personal details, and immediately block and report the sender as spam.
Some may wonder: Can scammers not fake these codes?
The answer is no. TRAI has made it mandatory for legitimate senders to register with its DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) platform, and every message they send is verified. If someone tries to misuse these codes, they can be traced and penalized.
The system is fool-proof for now—and designed to empower you, the common citizen. So next time you get an SMS, look at the last letter before you take any action.
As digital and cyber crimes rise day by day, this small awareness can protect your money, your identity, and your peace of mind. Share this with others—it could save someone from getting scammed.
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