• Small savings target fixed at 840 crore
• Auto dealer robbed of Rs 13 lakh
• Sikh organisations hail decision
• Haryana seeks 8 cr from KVIC

• Haryana posting

Kaithal blast

Police nearing breakthrough
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Nov 17 — Though the police here is yet to find any vital clue in connection with yesterday's bomb blast at the local Haryana Roadways bus stand, in which 25 persons were reported to have been injured, the police is optimistic about a breakthrough in the investigation of this case.

Mr John V. George, IG (Headquarters), Haryana, Mr Roshan Singh, DIG, Ambala range, and Mr Sudhir Chaudhary, SP, and certain other officials today minutely examined some of the articles recovered yesterday from the scene of the bomb blast, including the sandals of a woman, clothes and iron pieces. The case was examined from various angles.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr George refused to divulge any information claiming that any disclosure at this juncture would hamper further investigation. However, he disclosed that some articles recovered were being sent to the forensic laboratory at Madhuban. Only after receiving any report from there could some light be thrown on the type of device used in this explosion.

In the meantime, a team of police officials led by the SP (Detective), Patiala, Mr Kewal Kumar, also reached here to help in the investigation.

On the other hand, five more persons with injuries reported at the civil hospital here late last night, thus bringing the total number of injured to 29. Though initially only five seriously injured persons were admitted to the hospital, some others who were discharged earlier reportedly got themselves admitted to the hospital last night and this morning in the hope of claiming some ex gratia help from the government.

Another interesting fact came to light today. A woman, wife of Chitru of Mater village in Kalayat subtehsil of Kaithal district,who was admitted as injured yesterday, was today reported to have come from Satrana village of Patiala district.

It may be recalled that Zail Singh Satrana, a dreaded terrorist involved in the shoot-out at Kaithal about 10 years ago in which 25 persons were killed, also belonged to this village.

The police has, however, not found any evidence to connect this woman to yesterday's bomb blast. Meanwhile, the IG said police patrolling had been intensified and a strict vigil was being maintained on bus stands and railway stations.

TNS adds from Chandigarh: Preliminary investigations into Monday's Kaithal bomb blast indicate the use of deadly RDX, though in a small quantity. The explosive is believed to have been kept in a PVC bag normally used to pack chemical fertilisers and easily available in abundance in the countryside.

According to informed sources, besides the explosive the bag contained detergent cakes. Many of the injured sustained injuries caused by melted soap.

Sources say the seizure of explosives from near a religious place indicates the ISI wants to disturb communal peace in northern India on the eve of Assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where in certain constituencies. The Punjab settlers are a force to reckon with.

Controversial nuns leave village
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Nov 17 — The two nuns, who were allegedly abused and threatened at Kheri-Khummar village, near Jhajjar, on November 9, shifted their residence to a rented house in Jhajjar town today.

The nuns, Sister Litsy and Sister Daisy, are missionaries of St Paul's Provincial House and were engaged in activities aimed at empowering women in rural and semi-urban areas. They had shifted to Kheri-Khummar nearly two years ago and had set up a crafts centre and a mahila ashram.

However, the two Christian sisters became controversial over the leadership of the mahila mandal. They had alleged in a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, that over 30 youngmen entered their rented house, shouted at them and threatened them to leave the village. They alleged that at least four persons among them were activists of the VHP and the RSS.

The villagers, including the panchayat, had charged the two sisters with alluring the villagers to change religion and offered the young boys' marriage with Christian girls.

The situation in the village became tense following levelling of allegations and counter-allegations by the nuns and villagers. The administration provided security to the nuns and deputed an executive magistrate to watch the situation.

The situation got political overtones when a delegation of the CPM visited the village and demanded an inquiry in to the allegations levelled by the nuns and involvement of the RSS and VHP elements.

The administration today heaved a sigh of relief when the nuns finally left the village and shifted to a rented house at Talao Road in Jhajjar. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, said the police security had been withdrawn and the executive magistrate recalled. Normalcy had returned to Kheri-Khummar village.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the St Paul's Provincial House plans to purchase land at Jhajjar and construct a church so that its missionaries could carry out their social activities.

Differences in govt over Bhondsi
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

BHONDSI (Gurgaon), Nov 17 — The Haryana Government appears to have bitten more than it can chew in raking up the controversy over the use of about 400 acres of panchayat land by former Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar’s Bharat Yatra Trust in this village.

The apparent soft line adopted by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, towards Mr Chandra Shekhar, and the enthusiasm shown by his Cabinet colleagues to keep alive the controversy has exposed sharp differences in the higher echelons of the government.

The approach of the Cabinet ministers against the former Prime Minister, especially after Mr Bansi Lal gave a clean chit to him, has invited frowns from wide-ranging sections of the public from the surrounding villages, including Bhondsi. Mr Bansi Lal, a week after the Minister for Panchayat and Development, Mr Kanwal Singh, and the Minister for Revenue, Mr Suraj Pal, kicked up the controversy, had said during his visit in this district that Mr Chandra Shekhar was not at fault. The ministers had charged that Mr Chandra Shekhar had grabbed the land belonging to the panchayat of Bhondsi.

There are many who believe that the controversy had something to do with Mr Chandra Shekhar’s political statement against Mr Suraj Pal of the BJP in the latter’s native village, Ujjina, in the Taoru Assembly segment during the last Lok Sabha elections. Mr Chandra Shekhar had reportedly made the statement while campaigning for his party nominee, Mr Avtar Singh Bhadana, from the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency.

According to reports, the alleged conspiracy was hatched at a meeting in Delhi’s Haryana Bhavan. A member of the gram sabha, who happens to be a relative of Mr Suraj Pal, was one of the persons from the village and the surrounding areas present at the meeting.

Mr Suraj Pal and some of his supporters were said to be nursing a bruised ego since Mr Chandra Shekhar’s statement against the minister. Some, for obvious reasons, who do not wish to be quoted, said land sharks had also been feeling uncomfortable with Mr Chandra Shekhar and his trust’s pro-activism towards environment in the nearby Aravali hills. About a month ago, he had intervened to prevent a nearby hill being destroyed by land sharks.

The Aravalis at a number of places in Haryana, specially in Gurgaon and Faridabad districts, had been damaged by land mafia over the years. The hills provide stones and were being demolished to raise colonies illegally. The racket of causing damage to the Aravalis and the consequent deforestation had been taking place over the years despite the government’s ambitious European Union aided project was afoot to restore the greenery there.

The project, called the "Aravali project", started in about 1991 and the funds provided by the European Union were about Rs 110 crore.

Mr Chandra Shekhar said the land, which was deserted, was given to him by the gram sabha of Bhondsi for forestation. The agreement between him and the gram panchyat was that the money accruing from the trees planted by him would be given to it and the villagers would also avail of fodder from the land for the cattle. The ownership of the land continues to be of the panchayat. Immediately after the controversy had been raked up, the former Prime Minister had said that the land belonged to the panchayat and it was entitled to take it whenever it wanted. He had also said efforts should be taken to protect the plants and the trees.

The Ministers had alleged Mr Chandra Shekhar had got a permanent boundary wall erected on one side of the land. Mr Chandra Shekhar justified this, saying that it was done with a view to protect precious plants, including herbal plants and trees from cattle. However, there were a couple of unmanned doors at the boundary wall to facilitate passage to the villagers.

Functionaries of the trust told TNS the land was given by the panchayat vide a resolution. One of the members of the then panchayat, Mr Babu Singh Mahashey, who was one of the signatories to the resolution, corroborated this view and added that no deadline had been set for reclaiming the possession of the land by the panchayat. He asserted the former Prime Minister had rejuvenated the environment of the area and except for some odd persons in the village all residents of Bhondsi were fully satisfied with the environment work done by Mr Chandra Shekhar on the land.

Even the present Sarpanch, Mrs Anita Raghav, had said there was no objection to land given to Mr Chandra Shekhar. Immediately after the controversy was kicked up, senior members of the village met and expressed annoyance at the mudslinging against Mr Chandra Shekhar. The villagers wondered why the government was not very anxious to reclaim the panchayat land grabbed by others in the same village.

What has taken many by surprise is the raking up of the issue even after the statement of Mr Bansi Lal on it. The Minister for Panchayat and Development, made a statement on the issue, causing a fresh controversy. The Minister of State for Forests, Mr Jagdish Yadav, also joined the chorus, saying that it was his ministry which got the plantations done on the land.

The Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr Krishan Kumar, said a probe was on in the case.

Incidentally, the issue had also become a public debate in the past. It had cropped up during the last Congress government headed by Mr Bhajan Lal and the then Minister of State for Forests, Mr Dharam Pal, had expressed satisfaction over the plantation work done by Mr Chandra Shekhar.

It may be mentioned here the present controversy became serious as the issue had come up at a Cabinet meeting along with a number of cases of encroachment of panchayat lands in other parts of the state. Thereafter, a committee comprising Mr Kanwal Singh and Mr Suraj Pal had been constituted by the Cabinet to probe into the matter.

DAP being sold on black market
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Nov 17 — There is an acute shortage of DAP in the district. Incidents of DAP being blackmarketed have also come to light.

While local farmers are searching hard for this fertiliser, private dealers in collusion with government officials are blackmarketing it to neighbouring Rajasthan. Sources said the claim made by the Agriculture Department that there was no shortage of DAP had proved to be false.

While the marketing society at Haily Mandi is still waiting for the DAP supply, the dealers at Farrukh Nagar and Haily Mandi are charging high rates. "I required 100 bags but could get only five", says Jasveer of Jatauli village. The dealers on the other hand are even forcing the farmers to buy urea along with DAP.

While the private dealers have substantial stocks of DAP, the government outlets have been facing shortage due to a faulty distribution system.

Since Rajasthan happens to be the adjoining state many farmers from there purchase DAP from Gurgaon. As the supply here is comparatively better, Rajasthan farmers are even willing to buy DAP at exorbitant rates which has led to the practice of blackmarketing and hoarding.

Farmers of Gurgaon have also been affected by the unseasonal rains which have destroyed the bajra and paddy crop. The farmers have now taken to mustard and wheat cultivation. This rapidly increased DAP’s demand. The shortage of certain varieties of seeds has also affected the farmers. For instance, varieties such as UP-2338, TBW-343, WH-147 and 1553 were not available.

The government has now taken a firm stand to deal with blackmarketing of DAP. Two cases against the government and private dealers have already been registered. In the first case a shopkeeper at Pingwan, Dinesh Kumar, was booked for selling DAP at higher rates (Rs 500 instead of Rs 415) and mixing bajri in it. In the second case, three employees of a cooperative society, Mr Jaswant Singh, Mr Meer Singh and Mr Swaroop Singh, have been booked for blackmarketing DAP.

Vidrohi foresees fall of Bansi govt
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 17 — The president of the Haryana Pradesh Lok Dal, Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, has predicted the fall of the Bansi Lal government and new alignment of parties in the country after the assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram.

In a press statement issued here today, Mr Vidrohi said that the poor performance of the HVP-BJP alliance in Haryana would be the main cause for the fall of the Bansi Lal government. No section of society was satisfied with the performance of the government and the rigid attitude of the Chief Minister had caused widespread resentment among government employees.

He alleged that Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Om Prakash Chautala were playing a double role in politics. Mr Chautala, he further alleged, had hobnobbed with the BJP to secure some assembly seats in Rajasthan and Delhi, whereas, Mr Bansi Lal had struck a secret deal with the Congress and succeeded in getting the Congress ticket for his daughter-in-law from the Delhi Cantonment constituency.

Mr Vidrohi stated that both these leaders were working only to safeguard the interests of their families.

2 held for murder of Dr Raman
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Nov 17 — With the arrest of two alleged proclaimed criminals reported to be involved in crimes like murder, kidnapping and extortion, including the murder of Dr Raman, a well-known local physician and surgeon, the mystery of the much publicised murder case is claimed to have been solved.

Addressing a press conference here last evening, Mr S.S. Deswal, SSP, disclosed that information had been received from the Delhi police that the two wanted criminals, namely Basanta, son of Badlu Ram and Joginder Singh alias, Kaka, son of Sadhu Ram, both residents of Bamla village of Bhiwani district, had been arrested by the Kashmiri Gate police on November 15.

During preliminary interrogation by the Delhi police, the two alleged criminals are reported to have confessed their involvement in crimes committed in Sonepat, Rohtak and Bhiwani districts of Haryana. They confessed their involvement in the murder of Dr Raman in Bhiwani on November 12, this year.

Giving details of Dr Raman's murder, the district police chief told mediapersons on November 12, Basanta and Joginder reached Hindol village and met Yogesh Rajput, their friend and associate. The three conspired to take revenge as Dr Raman had refused to admit Yogesh in his hospital when he had a bullet injury after a kidnapping.

The three reached Dr Raman's hospital in the evening and laid in wait for Dr Raman to come out of the hospital. When Dr Raman came out and started walking towards his residence, they followed him. After following him for some time, they shot dead Dr Raman with one bullet.

After Dr Raman fell down, they escaped in their Tata Sumo and abandoned the vehicle after a while.

Order to DMs on newspapers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — The Haryana Government has asked the District Magistrates in the State to comply strictly with the rules for press and registration of books.

As official spokesman said it had been noticed that the declaration submitted by some of the newspapers, periodicals and magazines published in the State were being forwarded to the Government without adhering to the rules and guidelines meant for approval of titles of the newspapers issued by the Press Registrar of Newspapers, Government of India, New Delhi. Besides, some half-filled declarations were also being forwarded without removing the discrepancies.

The discrepancies found in most of cases were regarding dates of publication, name of printer, publisher, print line, periodicity of publication, signature and stamp of certifying authority etc. Under Section 11 A of Press Act, it was necessary to sent two copies of every newspaper, after publication, to the Superintendent, Press Branch, situated at fifth floor of Haryana Civil Secretariat.

Rohtak police alerted
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Nov 17 — The police here has been alerted following the explosion of a crude bomb at Kaithal in which 25 persons were injured yesterday.

The police and intelligence agencies suspect it to be a handiwork of Pakistan intelligence agency ISI. Similar explosions had taken place at Qila Road and Subzi Mandi here on January 22 and February 1, 1997.

The blasts at Bawa cinema theatre and a sweet shop at Sonepat on December 28, 1996, and the Delhi-bound 4 KDM passenger train at Panipat on March 31 are also believed to be the handiwork of ISI agents.

The crime branch of the Delhi police had early this year arrested five ISI agents who had reportedly confessed their involvement in the blasts at Rohtak and Sonepat.

Senior Superintendent of Police P.K. Aggarwal told TNS that checking of all buses at the local bus stand has been ordered.

He said a watch was also being kept on religious places so that these were not used as hideouts by miscreants. Hotels and dharamsalas had been advised to maintain a record of visitors.

Dilawar Singh chief of police association
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Nov 17 — Mr Dilawar Singh Phogat has been formally elected president of the Haryana Police Association for the next term.

However, no observer of the Director-General of Police was present when the elections were held here on Sunday. Mr Rajinder Singh Tomar, general secretary of the association, said the intimation of the elections as required under Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the association, was faxed to the DGP on November 2 by the acting president. The DGP was to appoint an observer of the rank of Superintendent of Police, he said.

He said four delegates from each district constituted the House that elected the new office-bearers of the association. Mr Dilawar Singh, he added, was empowered to nominate the remaining office-bearers of the association.

Mr Mahender Singh Sadhwa and Mr Rajinder Singh Tomar were nominated vice-president and general-secretary, respectively. The president has also nominated four joint secretaries, an organising secretary and a publicity secretary besides a treasurer.

Small savings target fixed at 840 crore
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — Haryana hopes to achieve the small savings target fixed at Rs 840 crore during the current year. A sum of Rs 502 crore has already been collected till October last under various small savings schemes as against Rs 316 crore during the corresponding period of the previous year.

An official spokesman said the State Government had already received a sum of Rs 469.92 crore as long-term loan on the basis of small savings collections till September from the Government of India against a target of Rs 580 crore for the current financial year. It may be recalled that last year the Government had received loan of Rs 484.03 crore against the budgeted amount of Rs 450 crore. These loans are recoverable from the State Government in 25 years with a moratorium of five years.

He said in order to encourage the investors to deposit in the small savings schemes, the Small Savings Department had launched "Golden Jubilee Savings Prizes Scheme of Haryana", an attractive incentive prize scheme from April 1 to December 31, 1998. The double-draw scheme provided 13,000 prizes. The expenditure on the scheme would be Rs 1.50 crore.

Sikh organisations hail decision
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — Various Sikh organisations of Haryana have welcomed the setting up of a high-level committee by the State Government under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, to celebrate the tercentenary of the Khalsa.

In a statement issued here today representatives of these organisations, including Mr Ranbir Singh Chhatwal, Mr Sant Singh Kandhari, Mr Amrik Singh Barnala, Mr Narinder Pal Singh Pali, Mr Pishora Singh, Mr Harcharan Singh Mehndiratta and Mr Mohinder Singh Gujral, have thanked the Chief Minister for nominating Mr Surjit Singh Niddar, an SGPC member, as a member of the high-level committee.

Haryana seeks 8 cr from KVIC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — The Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board (HKVIB) has demanded Rs 8.77 crore from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai, for disbursing funds to the beneficiaries.

The Chairman of the Board, Mr Jagir Singh Deswal, today said HKVIB was engaged in providing gainful employment to the rural masses. In October, a sum of Rs 2.18 crore was disbursed to 85 units. Out of these units 27 units were advanced loan for rural engineering industries, 10 for cane and bamboo, seven for lime, five for soap, three each for fibre, gurkhandsari, oil, four units each of PCPI, pottery, hand made paper, plastic, two each for electronics, leather, servicing and one unit each of agarbatti, ayurvedic, bee-keeping, fruit preservation and aluminium industries were given loans. He said that loans were advanced at the interest rate of four per cent per annum.

Auto dealer robbed of Rs 13 lakh
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Nov 17 — Four youngsters armed with weapons looted an automobile dealer’s shop, Pasco Automobiles of Rs 13 lakh and gold coins at Udyog Vihar here last evening.

According to the FIR registered at Udyog Vihar police station, the youths came to the company’s office at about 6.30 p.m. and asked about the Maruti Gypsy vehicle. Suddenly, they took out revolvers and pointed them towards employees. They then got the safe opened and took out Rs 13,32,208 in cash, eight gold coins worth Rs 56,000, demand drafts and cheques. The robbers also robbed a broker, Mr Rakehs Bhardwaj, of cash and mobile phone and left in a Maruti Esteem car DL-3C-1761.

A month ago a similar gang of youngsters had caused panic here by committing daylight robberies.

Haryana posting
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — The Haryana Government today ordered the shifting of Mr R.N. Prashar, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Haryana, as Commissioner and Secretary, Dairy Development, relieving Mr L.M. Goyal, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Fisheries, of the additional charge.

Mr Prashar's post has been left vacant for the time being.