3 rebel Cong candidates withdraw
SHIMLA: Three Congress rebel candidates from the Pragpur Assembly constituency have withdrawn from the poll fray in favour of Congress candidate Yog Raj. Amarnath Bazwaria, Permanent Secretary of the PCC, today said PCC president Sant Ram appointed Pritam Shehria as the joint secretary of the PCC, while Manohar Lal had been nominated as assistant secretary of the block Congress committee Pragpur and the third candidate Lakhbir Singh had been made the member of the district Congress Committee Kangra.

Rs 20,000 penalty in excise raids
SOLAN : The Excise and Taxation Department of this district in a special drive to check tax evasion has detected 59 cases and collected Rs. 20,000 as penalty on Kalka-Shimla highway during this week. A special team of the department conducted raids at various places on the highway and electronic goods worth Rs. 42, 000 were confiscated, which were being carried from outside the state with out any documents.

Warm reception for Tibetan activists
Dharamsala: The Tibetan activists, who had volunteered for the fast-unto- death by the Tibetan Youth Congress recently in Delhi, would be given a warm reception in Dharamsala by the Tibetan community. They are expected to reach the town tomorrow morning. The 11 activists, six of whom were forced to break their fast on the 49th day by the Indian government are coming to McLeod Ganj for the first time after their movement.

Man commits suicide
Dharamsala: One Ashok Kumar reportedly committee suicide by consuming poison in Jawalai area, last night. He consumed poison after he was thrashed by his in-laws. He had gone to their house to bring back his wife, who had reportedly left Ashok few days ago over some personal dispute.

Rs 1 lakh given to update press room
Dharamsala: Deputy Commissioner Sushil Negi today visited the press room here and gave Rs 1 lakh to Deputy Director Public Relation Rajendra Rajan to update the facilities. The DC initiated the move as a part of the recent commitment of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to improve conditions of Dharamsala press room.

Ban on transfers sought
SOLAN: The Himachal Pradesh Non Gazetted Officers Federation demanded complete ban over the transfers of employees in the state, till the finalisation of a transfer policy, to avoid the victimisation of employees on political grounds. Gopal Dass Verma, chairman of the Federation while talking to mediapersons demanded increase in the upper age limit of retirement on the pattern of the Union government.