CM's son faces trial in firing case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — Mr Surinder Singh, son of the Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal, who is M.P. from Bhiwani, and Mr Joginder Singh Jog, a former minister, will have to face trial for an attempt to murder following the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today that the magistrate had the power to entertain a private complaint, even if the police filed the cancellation report against the F.I.R. registered by the Adampur police.

Both Mr Surinder Singh and Mr Jog were charged with firing on voters during the last parliamentary elections. In this firing incident Mr Sushil Kumar, a resident of Adampur, was seriously injured.

The Adampur police had filed the cancellation report of this case before the judicial magistrate. The magistrate had accepted the cancellation report but had told the complainant, Mr Om Parkash, that he was free to file a private complaint against the suspects.

Mr Om Parkash had filed a private complaint. The magistrate had ordered the summoning of both Mr Surinder Singh and Mr Jog. They had challenged this order before the Sessions Judge, who reversed the magistrate's order and dismissed the complaint filed by Mr Om Parkash.

Mr Om Parkash then filed a revision petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court contesting the order.

Mr Justice R.L. Anand, before whom the petition was listed for arguments, reversed the Sessions Court order holding that the private complaint was maintainable even after the police had filed the cancellation report of the F.I.R. and the magistrate had accepted it.

Two HSEB engineers sacked
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Haryana State Electricity Board removed two Executive Engineers from service about a week before the board was dismantled and bifurcated into two corporations on August 14, notwithstanding the fact that the officers had been exonerated in departmental inquiries.

The engineers, Mr R.L. Chhokar and Mr R.S. Bhatti, have been office-bearers of HSEB Engineers Association, which has not been favourably disposed towards what the government calls "reformation of the power sector" and its critics term as "privatisation of the board".

Interestingly, the enquiry officer, Mr Kirat Gopal, Chief Engineer, who exonerated the officers, was himself served a show-cause notice for not conducting the enquiry "fairly and judiciously" just before the day he was to retire on March 31, 1998. This has resulted in blockade of certain retirement benefits to Mr Gopal.

The charges against Mr Bhatti were issue of a press statement, instigating other employees to go on strike and to disobey orders of the competent authority and disrupting power supply.

Interestingly, the strike by the HSEB employees on February 12, 1997, to which these charges relate, was regularised (along with that on February 6 and 27) by the board on December 10, 1997, and no action was taken against any of the striking employees. Mr Bhatti had only stated in his fax message to the board, on the basis of which reports had appeared in a section of the press, that the Engineers Association was not opposed to the one-day strike by the employees to oppose the privatisation of the power sector. He further stated that the association did not approve the board's decision to depute project and field engineers to perform duties other than their normal duties. In such a situation the engineers would not be responsible for any mishappening.

However, the board took Mr Bhatti's contention as criticism of the board's policy.

The charges against Mr Chhokar, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Northern India Power Engineers Federation (NIPEF), included the formation of an unregistered and unrecognised organisation, Bijli Nijikaran Virodhi Manch, instigation to other employees, making of defamatory statements and addressing rallies and gate meetings of the employees.

After rejecting the enquiry reports, the board issued show-cause notices to the two engineers "in order to comply with the legal provisions and provisions of the HSEB (P&A) Regulations" as the Chairman, Mr Ranjit Issar, stated in the termination orders. The officers did reply to the notices but these were not found satisfactory by the Chairman.

The NIPEF has alleged that the termination of the two engineers was a "calculated and predetermined move to spread terror amongst HSEB engineers just before the trifurcation of board."

The Secretary-General of NIPEF, Mr Shaliender Dubey, has written to the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, to intervene in the matter and order withdrawal of termination orders. The Executive Committee of the NIPEF will meet on August 29 to discuss the issue.

The General Secretary of the All-India Power Engineers Federation, Mr Padamjit Singh, said various courts had described the punishment of removal from service as "economic death sentence" not only for an employee but for members of his family also. Since the law of the land was that death sentence should be awarded in the rarest of the rare cases, the board had inflicted the maximum punishment when it was not deserved. In fact, he said, the board and the Haryana Government had taken away the trade union rights of the employees which was unacceptable in a democratic set-up.

He said the termination of the services of the two officers on the eve of trifurcation of the board was akin to the abhorable practice indulged in by ancient kings to sacrifice human beings before undertaking major projects.

Mr Issar and Mr S.Y. Quraishi, Commissioner and Secretary for Power, were away to Delhi. The Haryana Minister of State for Power, Mr Attar Singh Saini, said the engineers had not brought the matter in his notice. The aggrieved officers could represent to the Government and he would see to it that no injustice was done to anyone.

Brahm Sarovar gets facelift
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA, Aug 21 — Final touches are being given to the temples, religious maths, tanks and other places in this historic city to receive the pilgrims who will congregate here for the solar eclipse tomorrow.

The Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has in a short period given a facelift to the pilgrim centres under it. Owing to the efforts of Mr Ashok Yadav, Chief Executive Officer of the KDB, a new look has been given to the sacred Brahm Sarovar — the main bathing tank. The Rs 6-lakh project, to provide a permanent lighting system on the banks of Brahm Sarovar, Sannihit Sarovar, Jyotisar and Sthaneshwar Temple is nearing completion.

Under the project, over 325 light points have been fitted all around these places. Economy tubes, which provide a soothing effect to the eyes both during the night and day, have been provided. The lighting system was selected by a committee of three experts, including the Chief Architect of Haryana.

The entire area around Brahm Sarovar has been rid of encroachments. The statue of Gulzari Lal Nanda, the main architect of Kurukshetra, has been embellished with red stone. In addition, all ghats at Brahm Sarovar, Jyotisar, Banganga, Ramganga and Narkatari have been cleaned. The water in the sacred tanks has been cleaned with alum to rid it of all insects and bacteria.

The KDB had to undertake special steps to clean the water of Sannihit Sarovar — known as the permanent abode of Lord Vishnu. Rain water had entered the Sarovar, raising its water level to 22 feet. The KDB took steps to clean the muddy rain water in the tank and remove the algae. A special type of fish which eats grass was put in the tank so that the water could be cleared of all bacteria, grass and algae. Fresh water from Brahm Sarovar is now being put in Sannihit Sarovar.

Lights have also been fitted in the resting places all around Brahm Sarovar for the benefit of sadhus, and devotees who halt there.

However, the monsoon has affected the development work which was to be undertaken by the district administration before the mela day. For instance the four-laning of the road from Gurdwara Chhewi Patshahi to the third gate of Kurukshetra University could not be undertaken because of the rains.

Had the project been completed in time, it would have been easier for the police to control traffic. The administration is facing another stupendous task to keep the surroundings of the city and the mela area clean because of the rains. The overcast sky is providing anxious moments to the administration. Round-the-clock work is going on to do patch work on roads, fitting of sodium lights and draining out the water from the roads leading to the mela areas.

Tents are being put up hurriedly to provide accommodation to various organisations involved in making arrangements. In such a situation there is every likelihood that over expenditure and half-hearted patch works would be done instead of durable works.

Very few shopkeepers have so far come to the city to put up their shops in the mela area but they are expected by tomorrow evening. More would join before the solar eclipse.

Hundreds of sadhus have descended on the city from all over the country. They have taken vantage points along the sacred tanks and the roads leading to them. They are expecting more alms as according to the mythology and tradition, alms given during the solar eclipse provide 100 times more "punya" to the donor than on an ordinary day. The police is taking steps to screen the sadhus and beggars so that anti-social elements might not enter its ranks.

The area would be under the watchful eyes of the security agencies through cameras and close TV circuits.

The railways are running special services between Narwana and Kurukshetra to cope with the rush of the pilgrims. Seven shuttle services would be provided between Narwana and Kurukshetra till August 30.

Despite the odds the Deputy Commissioner, Mr T.V.S.N. Prasad, and Mr Ashok Yadav, are optimistic that they would provide the best possible facilities to the pilgrims.

Attempts to divide teachers: MDUTA
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 21 — The Haryana Federation of the College and University Teachers Association, Haryana College Teachers Union and the MDU Teachers Association has criticised the attempts being made by some people to create a 'rift' between striking teachers and spread 'misinformation' among the public in this regard.

At a meeting held here today, representatives of these associations condemned the attempts from some quarters to divide the teaching community.

They alleged statements of the general secretary of AIFUCTO Prof Mrinmoy Bhattacharya, were being misquoted.

Meanwhile, teaching at MDU and other colleges remained paralysed for the 11th day today following a nationwide strike by the teachers, in support of their demands.

The Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (HFUCTO) has appealed to Ms A Desai, chairperson of the UGC to ask the government to put forward the pay package for the teachers.

Ms Desai has been mediating between the Union Government and the striking university and college teachers.

Mr Vajir Singh Nehra, convener of HFUCTO, said the federation would intensify the agitation if their demands were not accepted within a stipulated time.

Dr D.S. Dhaliwal, president, Haryana College Teachers Union, claimed that the strike was total in private colleges.

Dr Kulwant Singh, president, Government College Teachers Association, said the college teachers had started hunger strikes at various places in support of their demand.

Meanwhile, Prof Bhattacharya said the teachers would court arrest if the state government tried to "crush" their agitation.

DGP reviews security
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The Director-General of Haryana Police, Mr. S.K Sethi, today reviewed the security arrangements made for the pilgrims reaching Kurukshetra for a holy dip during solar eclipse tomorrow.

About 1.5 lakh pilgrims from different parts of the country have so far arrived at Kurukshetra for the holy dip. About 2200 police personnel, 800 volunteers of home guards, 750 scouts and girl guides and volunteers of other social organisations have been put on duty.

All India Radio, Rohtak and Kurukshetra, will broadcast commentary of the mela from 5.30 a.m to 6.20 a.m tomorrow.

The Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra, Mr T.V.S.N. Prasad, said here today that the entire mela area had been divided into 12 sectors and each sector would be manned by a sector magistrate. He said that intensive spray and fogging was being done daily to maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the mela vicinity.

The railway authorities have added additional coaches to the trains on the Ambala-Delhi and Narwana-Jind lines to carry the pilgrims. The transport authorities of Haryana have also made arrangements for special buses from every part of the state.

No takers for Irrigation Dept tenders
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Aug 21 — Contractors refused to submit tenders for the work on the construction wing of the Irrigation Department, Haryana, saying the department should first clear outstanding dues.

The contractors, who had come to office of the Executive Engineer, Mr B.R. Chaudhary here today for submitting tenders for the rehabilitation of Habri Canal Minor from RD-O to 104, insisted that the department first clear outstanding payments running into crores against work completed in different parts of the state.

According to information available here Mr Chaudhary waited for hours in his office for the contractors, refused to budge from their stand.

According to Mr Hari Singh, President of the Contractors Association, the World Bank had provided a loan of Rs 1267 crore to be spent on the improvement of the irrigation system of the state. The department has spent 40 per cent of these funds during the past three-and-a-half years but failed to clear the bills of contractors.

Mr Chaudhary said tenders would be called again. He gave no reasons for non-payment of earlier bills.

6 killed as jeep, van collide
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Aug 21 — Six persons were killed and seven injured, two of them seriously, when a Maruti van collided with a Commander jeep near Daryapur village on the Sirsa road here this morning.

According to reports, the van was on its way to Sirsa. Shanti a student and her father Mr Shivanand were going to Sirsa in the van.

Most of the deceased were travelling in the jeep which struck against a tree after the collision. Mr Jaswinder Singh a wireless operator of the Haryana police who was posted at the Daryapur police post, shifted the injured to the local general hospital.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.S. Yadav, visited the hospital along with the SDM, Mr Phateh Singh Dagar. He asked the hospital authorities to shift the seriously injured persons to the medical college Rohtak.

The deceased have been identified as Mr Jagdish of Gillankhera village, Mr Krishan of Chikanwas, Mr Balwant of Dhandher near Hisar and Surinder who was driving the Maruti van.

Six of the seven injured have been identified as Ms Pushpa (35) of Fatehabad, Mr Shivanand (45) and his daughter Shanti (16) of Faridabad, Anoop (20) of Bijnaur in Uttar Pradesh Pooran Chand (23) of Gillankhera village and Krishan (37) a local resident.

MP defends mixing religion, politics
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Aug 21 — Thousands of devotees of all communities participated in a large procession from Dera Santpura Yamunanagar.

The procession was led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.

Mr Tohra while addressing an impressive gathering at (Bhai) Kanhaiya Chowk enroute to Kapal Mochan said the celebrations will continue till April 13, 1999.

He lauded the role of Sant Karamjit Singh of Dera Santpura in organising the procession.

Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder MP addressing the congregation said that the Akali Dal was instrumental in establishing the present government at the Centre as the party believed that religion and politics go hand in hand.

Stir threat over slapping incident
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Aug 21 — There is resentment in the local branches of the State Bank of Patiala against the alleged manhandling of an employee of the Narwana branch by an officer of the bank. Mr Ajay Singla, the vice-president of the Haryana state unit of the State Bank of Patiala Employees Union, said here on Friday that the officer in question had slapped the employee in the office.

Mr Singla, in a statement, demanded action against the erring officer failing which the employees would go on an indefinite strike.

Lachhman Dass' plea fails
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 21 — The Sessions Judge, Mr A.S. Garg, today rejected the application of Mr Lachhman Dass, a former Director-General of Police, for providing him with security. Mr Dass is facing trial in a CBI case relating to of murder the Mr Jitender Pehal.

In another application by Inspector Nar Singh Bishnoi for a change in the charges against him in the case, Mr Garg fixed September 4 for next hearing.

Life term for three in murder case
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Aug 21 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr C.B. Jaglian, awarded life imprisonment to three accused — Shyam Singh, Sukhvinder Singh and Jagtar Singh — convicted of murdering Balraj Jit Singh, a resident of Shastri Colony here.

Delivering his 27-page judgement on Wednesday, the judge observed that under Section 302 of the IPC all three accused were sentenced for life and had to pay a fine of Rs 10000 each. In case of default of payment of fine, they would undergo rigorous imprisonment for another six months each. Out of the fine recovered, an amount of Rs 25000 would be given to the heirs of Balraj Jit Singh.

First-aid camp for teachers
From Our Correspondent

REWARI, Aug 21 — As many as 50 school teachers are attending a district-level first-aid training camp being organised by the District Red Cross Society at Government Senior Secondary School, Bhudpur, 6 km from here.

The camp was inaugurated yesterday by Mr Amit Malik, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Rewari, who said the increasing incidence of accidents had lent urgency to the imparting of first aid training to teachers and the students who could save many lives by promptly providing first aid to victims.

In Israel, he said, first aid training was a must for all schoolchildren.

Mr Anil Malik, ADC and Mr Banwari Lal, District Education Officer, also respectively announced grants of Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 50,000 for the construction of a hall in the school. Students presented a colourful music programme.

The camp will conclude on August 26.

12 theft cases solved
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Aug 21 — The district police has solved 12 cases of theft and four cases of burglary and recovered stolen goods worth over Rs 12 lakh during the past one month.

Mr K.K. Sharma, SP, said three working stills, 480 kg of lahan, 20 bottles of illicit liquor, 540 bottles of English wine, 24 bottles of beer and 25 pouches of wine were seized.

Under the Arms Act, 11 country-made pistols, 3 country-made revolvers, 20 cartridges and one knife were seized and 15 cases registered. As much as 2 kg of charas was seized under the NDPS Act.

TRANSCO chief injured
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — Mr Ranjit Issar, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Haryana Vidyut Prasar Nigam (TRANSCO) was injured seriously when his car was hit by a truck near Panipat today, according to information received here.

According to family sources, Mr Issar suffered multiple fractures in his shoulder blade.

Many leaders 'ready' to join Cong
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 21 — Senior Congress leader Birender Singh said here yesterday that leaders belonging to several parties in the state were ready to join the party.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Birender Singh said these included to BJP legislators. He said that in case there was any move by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, to join the Congress, only the party chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, could take a decision. In case the HVP-BJP government fell before the completion of its five-year-term, only a mid-term poll would be the alternative.

Mr Birender Singh claimed that the former Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, had no future in state politics. The Congress was united in its struggle against government policies. He flayed the privatisation of the HSEB.

He said that the president of the state Youth Congress would be nominated soon.

Granthi convicted
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 21 — Mr P.L. Ahuja, Additional Sessions Judge, yesterday convicted a granthi of a local gurdwara, Sher Singh, to five years' imprisonment on the charge of possessing 5 kg of RDX.

Sher Singh was arrested by the police after interrogation of an accused in the Matehri Sekhan case of January 1996 who revealed that the granthi was in possession of RDX. The police raided his residence on January 19,1996 and seized the explosive. A case under the Explosives Act and Section 212 of the IPC was registered against him.

Criminal gang busted

JIND, Aug 21 (UNI) — The Jind police today claimed to have busted a gang of highway robbers operating in the districts of Jind, Panipat, Hisar and Sirsa of Haryana and Bathinda in Punjab for more than a year.

Police superintendent Ranbir Sharma said here today that the police had arrested six members of this gang following a tip off that the culprits were hiding in a deserted Dharamsala near Ghaso village.

A police party headed by sub-inspector Jagat Singh, SHO at Uchana police station, conducted a raid on their hideout last evening and arrested six persons. Two others fled.

The team recovered three country-made 12-bore pistols, some live cartridges, a sword and a knife, and three motor cycles without number plate from their possession.

Holiday today in Kurukshetra courts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 21 — The judicial courts at Kurukshetra will remain closed tomorrow on account of solar eclipse.

An order to this effect was issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court today.