Doctors resent police 'inaction'
BHIWANI, Aug 5 — Resentment prevails among medical practitioners here as the police has reportedly failed to arrest the assassins of Dr Raman Bhandari even after eight months of the incident.
Teachers oppose recruitment on contract
SONEPAT, Aug 5 — The Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh yesterday opposed the ongoing recruitment of school teachers on a contract system by the state government and demanded a ban on such recruitment.
Resentment over civic body's 'inaction'
BHIWANI, Aug 5 — Resentment prevails among the residents against the municipal council authorities for their alleged failure to provide cleanliness in the city.
Poll symbols reserved
CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — Symbols for use in an election or elections by the political parties in respect of the office of member panchayat samiti and zila parishad have been reserved for them by the State Election Commission.
Nurses to observe "black day"
ROHTAK, Aug 5 — Nurses of Pt. B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences will observe Independence Day as "black day" in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands.
Acute power crisis in Sonepat
SONEPAT, Aug 5 — The power crisis in urban and rural areas has worsened following the switching off of power supply to the Sonepat region by the Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking from the Narela feeder almost every day.

Stolen truck recovered

Municipal staff threaten stir

Mahila Cong worker held, freed

"Sangeet sandhya" at Ambala

Haryana revises allowances
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — The Haryana Government today revised the house rent allowance, city compensatory allowance, medical allowance and cycle allowance of its employees with effect from January 1, 1998. This will have an additional burden of Rs 30.95 crore on the state exchequer.

This was announced by the Haryana Finance Minister, Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, here.

He said that for the first time the government had decided to advance loan for purchase of computer. The government had also revised the house building advance (HBA) for construction, repair, extension and purchase of built-up house besides purchase of plots. It has also decided to raise the limit of loan for the purchase of motor car, scooter, motorcycle, moped and bicycle.

Now the employees would get house rent allowance (HRA) 25 per cent increased across the board on the rates as on February 1, 1996. They would also be entitled city compensatory allowance (CCA) at the rate of 3 per cent of basic pay subject to a minimum of Rs 100 and a maximum of Rs 200 for capital cities and 1.5 per cent of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 100 in cities with over one lakh population. The government had also revised the fixed medical allowance, effecting an increase of 25 per cent over what prevailed on February 1, 1996, that is Rs 125 per month. The cycle allowance for Class IV employees has also been revised to Rs 30 as against Rs 20 per month, he added.

Mr Shorewala said that the government had revised the HBA for construction of house and purchase of built-up house to 50 months’ basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 7.5 lakh recoverable in 150 monthly instalments. Earlier, the employees were getting 80 months’ basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 3.5 lakh recoverable in 150 monthly instalments. The HBA for repair of house has been revised from 12 months’ basic pay plus special pay recoverable in 96 equal monthly instalments to eight months’ basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh recoverable in 96 monthly instalments.

Doctors resent police 'inaction'
From Jatinder Sharma
Tribune News Service

BHIWANI, Aug 5 — Resentment prevails among medical practitioners here as the police has reportedly failed to arrest the assassins of Dr Raman Bhandari even after eight months of the incident.

Dr Bhandari, a renowned child specialist of the town, was shot dead near his residence on Eucalyptus Road on November 12, 1997, when he was returning home from his clinic.

The murder had sent shock waves and a strike was observed to mourn the death of the doctor and demand the arrest of those responsible for the crime.

The failure of the police in arresting the culprits has created fear among the private doctors. A very senior doctor said on conditions of anonymity that no doctor today felt safe. "We have restricted our movements and do not attend to patients during late hours", he said.

What is baffling is that neither the police nor the doctors know the cause of the murder. "None knows about the motives behind this ghastly murder," he said.

The doctors are getting frustrated over the "negative" attitude of the district authorities. When nearly 60 doctors went to meet the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Krishan Kumar, on July 27, he allegedly tried to avoid them.

Dr Laj Bhandari, wife of the deceased, alleged that the police had failed to investigate the murder in a fair manner. She said one of the assailants had approached the police to become a potential approver but the police did not record his statement.

She said the police had at first registered a case under Section 304-A, IPC, but after her persistent efforts and receipt of the post-mortem examination report, the FIR was converted into Section 302 murder of the IPC.

Later, she filed a writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 11, 1998. Mr Justice R.L. Anand, while disposing of the petition directed the SSP Bhiwani and the SHO (City) to complete the investigations within six months from the receipt of the copy of the order. The order, passed on February 13, was received by the police on March 13.

The SSP, Mr K.K. Sindhu, said the assassin had been identified but he was still at large. The accused had been declared a proclaimed offender by a local court.

Mr Sindhu said the alleged assassin was a dreaded criminal who had been operating in Delhi and its neighbouring areas. He was said to be a resident of Bamla village, near here, and had reportedly been kidnapping people for ransom. He was last seen in Jammu where he had escaped a naka laid on the Punjab-Jammu border by the Punjab police.

Mr Sindhu denied the charge that the police was not investigating the murder seriously.

Teachers oppose recruitment on contract
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 5 — The Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh yesterday opposed the ongoing recruitment of school teachers on a contract system by the state government and demanded a ban on such recruitment.

In a press note issued here, the sangh urged the state government to order the recruitment of teachers on a permanent basis and regularise the services of all ad hoc teachers.

It also urged the state government to issue a notification regarding the grant of a pay scale of Rs 5,500-9000 for vernacular teachers and implement recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission report, and grant 7.5 per cent as house rent.

It decided to complete the election process of all units by October 31. The following is the programme for electing office-bearers in various districts of the state: Panipat (September 6), Karnal (September 13), Sonepat (September 20) and Jind (September 27).

It will hold its annual convention on November 1 and 2 at Panipat.

Resentment over civic body's 'inaction'
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Aug 5 — Resentment prevails among the residents against the municipal council authorities for their alleged failure to provide cleanliness in the city.

Scattered heaps of garbage and swill are the major cause for the spread of gastroenteritis in the city and surrounding villages. A few days ago, the Deputy Commissioner visited the Asalwas Dubia and Asalwas Merhatta villages, where cases of vomiting and diarrhea were reported to be on the increase. Several cases of gastroenteritis were also reported from Dhana Ladanpur village.

Later, a free medical camp was organised at which 95 patients were treated. Now the Yuva Gram Sudhar Sangathan has requested the district authorities to again send a medical team to the village.

The administration and civic authorities have taken 'no measures' to ensure cleanliness in the city. There are mosquitoes and flies galore in every street and heaps of cowdung keep lying around, emitting a foul smell.

Recently, the secretary of the civic body had issued a press note, saying that the council should provide better amenities to the residents.

However, the residents allege that the press note was an eyewash and was released to save the skin of the chairman of the municipal council.

Poll symbols reserved
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — Symbols for use in an election or elections by the political parties in respect of the office of member panchayat samiti and zila parishad have been reserved for them by the State Election Commission.

Stating this here today, Mr J.K. Duggal, State Election Commissioner, Haryana, said that the symbol of "Lotus" is assigned to Bharatiya Janata Party, "ears of corn and sickle" to Communist Party of India, "hammer, sickle and star" to Communist Party of India (Marx), "hand" to Indian National Congress, "chakra within wheel (chakra-haldhar)" to Janata Dal, "flaming torch" to Samata Party, "elephant" to Bahujan Samaj Party, "boy and girl" to Haryana Vikas Party and "spectacles" to Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya) party.

He said that the Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers (Panchayat), Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Bhiwani, Hisar and Panchkula had been directed that the symbol "flaming torch" and "spectacles" notified earlier as free symbol for allotment to the contesting candidates for the office of member panchyat samiti and sarpanch, respectively, would not be allotted to any independent candidate on August 5 after the expiry of the time fixed for withdrawal of candidature.

Nurses to observe "black day"
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 5 — Nurses of Pt. B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences will observe Independence Day as "black day" in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands.

In a joint statement here yesterday Ms Durga Yadav and Ms Santosh Hooda, president and general secretary, respectively of the nurses' Association of PGIMS, said the government had assured them that their demands would be accepted shortly but nothing had been done. They threatened to launch an agitation if their demands were not conceded.

The nurses are demanding the pay scales parity with their counterparts in Delhi and nursing, dress, food, night duty, non-practising, risk and vehicle allowances.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Dr D.S. Dubey, Director of the PGIMS, has transferred nursing leader Kamla Singh to the primary health centre, Dighal, leading to widespread resentment among nurses.

HVP seeks fresh civic poll
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Aug 5 — A deputation of workers of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), led by this district president, Mr Attar Singh, and Mr Gulshan Bagga met the state Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, yesterday.

The workers allegedly that large-scale corruption prevailed in the Faridabad Municipal Corporation and no public grievances were removed unless the councillors or its officials were bribed. They demanded dismissal of the councillors and holding fresh civic elections.

A memorandum listing various other demands of the residents was also submitted to the Chief Minister by Mr Bagga.

Stolen truck recovered
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Aug 5 — The police has recovered a truck stolen from Tohana in the district and arrested two persons in this connection. The arrested men had been using the truck after changing its number plate.

According to the police, the truck bearing number PUP 9699 and belonging to Mr Darbara Singh and Mr Lal Singh, both residents of Tohana, was taken away by Bir Singh and Jogi Ram on December 24, 1997, after they allegedly told a lie to its driver that they had taken the permission of Lal Singh in this regard. The police registered a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC.

The police arrested Bir Singh on May 12, while Sharwan was arrested yesterday. The police recovered the stolen truck from his possession. The accused had changed the number plate of the truck to HRS-4300. The original registration copy of the truck has also been recovered from the arrested men.

Acute power crisis in Sonepat
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 5 — The power crisis in urban and rural areas has worsened following the switching off of power supply to the Sonepat region by the Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking (DESU) from the Narela feeder almost every day.

The situation has worsened following higher demand for power demand and the burning of a large number of transformers. The acute power crisis led to a series of protests by inhabitants of Sonepat city and villagers.

The power crisis also hits water supply as frequent trippings, breakdowns and low voltage make water plants and pumping stations stop functioning.

Meanwhile, Mr S.K. Honda, Superintending Engineer (Operations), HSEB, had made a series of attempts to get the full power quota from DESU but failed as a severe power crisis gripped the Capital too.

Mr S.K. Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief, HSEB, has been camping here for the past four days to monitor the situation. Sharma has been touring rural areas to assess the damage caused to transformers by overloading. Mr Sharma would submit his report to the board Chairman after his survey.

Woman beaten for bringing less dowry
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Aug 5 — The police yesterday arrested three persons of a family — Vijendra, Premwati and Charan Singh — on the charge of beating Shashibala. Shashibala is the wife of Vijendra.

According to a report lodged by Giasi Ram, father of Shashibala, with the police, Shashibala, who was married to Vijendra in 1994, had been facing harassment from her in-laws for bringing insufficient dowry. Shashibala fell unconscious after she was beaten up yesterday.

Mahila Cong worker held, freed on bail
From Our Correspondent

REWARI, Aug 5 — Mrs Anita Yadav, joint secretary of the All-India Mahila Congress was arrested by the police this morning from her residence at Kosli, 30 km from here.

She is facing criminal charges on account of having led a 'violent' demonstration in protest against the erratic power supply in a colony of Kosli on the night of July 31.

Later, around 2 p.m., she was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate here who ordered her to be released on bail immediately.

She later told newsmen that she had allegedly been implicated in the case at the instance of a local minister.

"Sangeet sandhya" at Ambala
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — A "sangeet sandhya" of famous classical singer Shubha Mudgal will be organised at Ambala Cantonment on August 6 at 6.30 p.m.

The programme will be organised by the Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Department, Haryana, in collaboration with the district administration to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations of India's independence.

Municipal staff threaten stir
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Aug 5 — The Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh has threatened the municipal authorities Chhachhrauli, that if the salary not disbursed to the employees by sixth of every month it will launch an agitation against the authorities.

The decision was taken yesterday at a special meeting convened by the president of the sangh, Chhachhrauli block, Mr Om Parkash.

District vice president, Chaman Lal said the class C employees of Municipal Committee, Chhachhrauli had not been paid salary for the past two months.