• 3 coop society employees booked
• Seven years' RI for raping niece
• Protest against police inaction
• One killed in road mishap

• Two run over by train

Sugar mills likely to crush lesser cane
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Nov 22 — Due to the non-availability of sugarcane in large quantities the Rohtak sugar mill is likely to crush lesser cane than the previous year.

The mill crushed 20.45 lakh quintals of cane last year while it fixed the target of crushing cane at 20 lakh quintals in this session. The crushing session was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Kumar, here yesterday.

The sugar mill has fixed a target of 2 lakh quintal of sugar in the current session while last year the production of sugar was 1.92 lakh quintal.

According to sources, the sugar mill is not paying bonus and providing sugar to the farmers for the past two years.

There was great resentment among cane growers for paying carriage charges for their cane up to the mill's gate.

Meanwhile, various organisations have criticised the support price for cane recently announced by the government. Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former minister, demanded that the cane price be fixed at Rs 150 per quintal.

Describing the announced support price as inadequate for the farmers, Ms Meena Chaudhary, president of the Meham Chaubisi Jana Sangathan, said untimely rains had already brought devastation for the farmers. Demanding the support price for cane at Rs 165 per quintal, she criticised the government for imposing carriage charges on farmers who bring the produce up to the mills gate.

She demanded the immediate repair of all roads leading to sugar mills.

The farmers of the Meham area demanded the removal of speed breakers on all roads leading to the Meham sugar mill.

Abductor, killer of 9-year-old girl held
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Nov 22 — The accused arrested in connection with the alleged abduction and attempted rape of a minor girl at Bahadurgarh town on Friday has reportedly 'confessed' his involvement in the alleged abduction, rape and murder of another minor girl in September last in the industrial area of the same town.

Claiming this the Deputy Commissioner of Jhajjar, Mr Arun Kumar told on telephone today, that the police had made a breakthrough in connection with the mystery behind the case of the alleged rape and murder of nine-year-old Arti on September 8 last which he said had been added in the list according to which 11 minor girls had already been abducted, raped and murdered by the unknown 'serial killer'. He said during interrogation the suspect identified as Satish (26) admitted that his first victim had been Arti whom he abducted during her sleep from her residence in the industrial area on the night of September 7. The accused had told the police that he took away the girl by putting his hand on her mouth so that she could not raise an alarm. It is learnt that the accused took the girl to a plot a furlong away and allegedly attempted rape and during the process he allegedly strangled the victim who died on the spot.

Mr Arun Kumar disclosed that the accused had been mentally disturbed especially in sexual matters. Unmarried, the accused is regular visitor to brothels. It is reported that he lives with his family in a rented house near Parnalapul and has been familiar with local topography and the lanes. The DC said that the accused had been "disowned" by his father due to his "bad habits".

It is learnt that the accused had been alone on the day of the last incident in which he had abducted his victim and tried to rape her in his house on Thursday night. His parents had reportedly gone out on that day. This time his victim escaped being killed as the accused was feeling insecure as some of his neighbours had noticed his activities previous night. So he decided to let the girl go in the morning by getting her dropped on a road so that she could not identify the location of his house.

The accused had been remanded in police custody for 10 days after, he was produced in the court yesterday. The district authorities claim that interrogation may lead to some important clues about the previous cases of the same nature.

Meanwhile in another similar case the police at Bahadurgarh has arrested a youth in connection with alleged abduction of a four-year-old minor girl at Nai Basti locality. It is reported that the accused identified as Kailash of the same area took a four-year-girl of his neighbourhood to his house with "bad intention". The girl has been recovered but the police has nabbed the accused after registering a case under Sections 363, 366-A, 342 and 354 of the IPC against him.

Slow building pace piques judges, lawyers
From Satish Seth

KAITHAL: Delay in the construction of judicial complex in the local HUDA Colony has caused widespread resentment among advocates, litigants and those coming from different parts of the district to courts.

The Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, laid the foundation stone of this building in June and according to original schedule, this building, costing about Rs 2.99 crore, was to be completed by January, 1999. The built-up area of this complex is likely to be 69,156 sq ft.

Poor monitoring by senior officials of the PWD (B&R), lack of funds and non-availability of blueprints of this building are reported to be the major causes for the delay in the execution of this project.

When completed this building will have a sessions court and 14 other courts. Till now the construction work has reached a little above the plinth level and, if the work continues at the present pace, it may take over two years to complete this building. Surprisingly enough, the authorities are yet to take a decision on where houses for judges are to be built.

According to sources, the department has not finalised the drawings and other preliminary formalities which may further delay the construction of houses. A huge central grant has been given to the state government for such projects.

On the other hand, the judges, advocates and litigants have to make do with the District Court premises at Pehowa Chowk here, which is not only located in a low-lying, congested area but also lacks parking space.

The judges' chamber is small and as such there is overcrowding of courtrooms on a number of occasions. There are neither retiring rooms nor spacious record rooms. The roofs of many courtrooms leak. During the monsoon, due to poor drainage system, court premises gets flooded and advocates and litigants have to wade through the water to reach the courtrooms. After a hue and cry was raised by the members of the Bar, the public health authorities installed a motor to pump out accumulated water. But all this has failed to provide desired relief due to irregular operation of this pump.

The courts of two Additional District and Sessions Judges are located opposite the main court premises and the advocates and litigants have to cross a road with heavy traffic at a risk to their lives. On the other hand, judges are forced to live at scattered places in different locations of the town, due to non-availability of official accommodation. Out of the three Additional District and Sessions Judges posted here, only one has been given government accommodation, which is small, old and not according to his status.

Similarly only two residential units are available for other judges, thus forcing others to live in colonies putting them to a lot of inconvenience.

The woes of the advocates are many. They seek justice for others, but have become victims of the state's apathy. In the absence of pucca chambers they sit under an ironsheet shed and face heavy rains, scorching heat and chilly winds. Some have put up wooden khokhas (kiosks) at their own cost but still face many problems. They have to sit in a very small library. The bathrooms are in bad shape and stink. Similarly hundreds of litigants visiting the courts daily have no place to sit forcing them to squat in verandahs adjoining the courtroom. There is no drinking water facility or separate toilets for them.

Lack of a parking place on the court premises has aggravated the situation further and most advocates and litigants are forced to park their vehicles on the road outside the court premises, which at times obstruct the flow of traffic. Many a time vehicles are stolen.

On a number of occasions, members of District Bar Association have demanded that construction work of the judicial complex be expedited, but to no avail.

Mr Om Parkash Nouch, president of District Bar Association, Mr Swai Ram, a former president, and Mr Maninder Singh, vice-president, while expressing disgust over the slow pace of construction said they would call on the Chief Minister and the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court soon to bring their plight to their notice. They have demanded that besides completing the judicial complex at the earliest, construction of residential accommodation should be immediately started so that the judges and advocates can work in a conducive and peaceful atmosphere.

Sops sought for jobless youth
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Nov 22 — The Yuva Jagriti Manch, Haryana, has demanded several concessions for the unemployed youth of the state.

Talking to media persons here today, the manch president, Mr Rajesh Bharat, said here today that lakhs of educated unemployed youth were registered with various employment exchanges in Haryana, many of them for several years. Many of them had now become overage for government service.

He demanded that the government must consider them for service by deducting the time during which they had been registered with state employment exchanges. The government must also allow the unemployed youth to travel free of cost in roadways buses on the basis of their registration card and given free medical facilities.

The government demanded application fee from all applicants whenever there were vacancies. This, he said, was totally unjustified and the unemployed youth must be exempted from this fee, he demanded.

Three held for bid to kill
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 22 — The police has arrested three persons in a case of assault on Mr Suresh Chand Aggarwal, a city shopkeeper who was attacked on February 11 last.

Superintendent of Police, K. Selvraj said here today that the arrested persons have been identified as Surinder alias Bachi of Panchi Gujran village (Sonepat), Virender alias Binder of Narwana and Dharamvir of Durana (at present a resident of Sector 15, Sonepat).

Mr Gopi Ram, of Nandnaur village had alleged that the culprits came on a motor cycle when he was purchasing a saree there. Two of them, armed with pistols, entered the shop and fired shots at Mr Suresh Chand Aggarwal and fled after injuring him. Mr Aggarwal was hospitalised and declared out of danger after treatment. The SP stated that Rakesh and Mukesh, both brothers, had a saree shop in the Mandi area where Mr Suresh Chand Aggarwal has also the same business with same name of the shop. This was objected by both brothers and they conspired with Mr Dharamvir Kundu a partner in the business of sand dunes, to kill Mr Suresh Chand Aggarwal.

He added that Mr Kundu had got help from one Narinder Rathi who, it is alleged, had agreed to kill Mr Aggarwal after getting Rs 5 lakh for this purpose. Thereafter, Narinder Rathi, along with the culprits Surinder and Virender got Rs 33,000 in advance from two brothers through Kundu to kill Mr Aggarwal.

Recruitment to armed forces from Dec 7
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Nov 22 — Recruitment of youths to the armed forces from Fatehabad, Hisar, Sirsa, Jind and Kaithal districts will be held in Ambala cantonment from December 7 to 10.

According to a Press release issued here today by the Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad, Mr V. Rajashekhar, the recruitment of sons of armed forces personnel and of ex-servicemen will be held on December 7. Youths from Sirsa and Hisar district will be recruited on December 8, those from Jind district on December 9 and from Kaithal and Fatehabad on December 10.

Inter-college contests conclude
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Nov 22 — The two-day inter-college contests concluded yesterday at M.D.S.D. Girls College here.

The Sudarshan Kumar Bansal Memorial Inter-College Declamation Contest was organised on Friday. Mr Vinod Bansal, a social worker, presided over the function. Dr Kiran Aangra, Principal, stressed the importance of such competitions for the all-round development of students. Arya Girls College, Ambala Cantt bagged the running trophy.

The Deepak Gupta Memorial Inter-College Poetical Recitation Contest was organised on Saturday. Mr Ramesh Chander, a social worker, presided over the function. G.G.D.S.D. College, Chandigarh, won the running trophy.

Protest against police inaction
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Nov 22 — Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed at Pataudi yesterday in protest against the police failure to arrest one who raped a four-year-old girl.

The railway track was blocked by the agitators. Vehicular traffic was also affected. Residents allege that the police had identified the culprit but failed to arrest him due to political pressure.

Two run over by train
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Nov 22 — Two persons were run over by New Delhi-bound Bhiwani Express at the railway junction here this morning.

According to police sources, the victims are Ram Avtar (34) of Bhiwani and Shiv of the local Janata colony.

Eyewitnesses said one of the deceased was trying to alight from and the other was trying to board the train at the same time when they collided and fell on the rail track.

Their bodies have been sent for a post-mortem examination.

3 coop society employees booked
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Nov 22 — A case has been registered against three employees of the Bilaspur Cooperative Society, Bilaspur, on a charge of selling DAP fertiliser on the black market.

According to a complaint, a truck laden with 200 bags of fertiliser reached the society office. The employees allegedly sold 76 bags to farmers during unloading.

Farmers assembled and informed the district administration. Mr R.C. Powaria, Subdivisional Magistrate, reached the office and found 76 bags missing. Mr Powaria called the police and ordered to seal the godown.

Seven years' RI for raping niece

JIND, Nov 22 (UNI) — District and Sessions Judge Kiran Anand Lal sentenced Ved Pal of Nirjan village of this district to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 500 in a rape and kidnapping case, yesterday.
According to the prosecution, Ved Pal abducted his niece from fields and took her away to Narwana, Jakhal and Lehra Gaga and raped for a week.

On a complaint, the Sadar police had registered a case under Sections 366 and 376 of the IPC against the accused and arrested him. The incident occurred on October 14 last year.

The Judge found Ved Pal guilty and awarded him sentenced and fine. He was also sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment under Section 366 of the IPC for kidnapping. Both sentences would run concurrently.

One killed in road mishap
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Nov 22 — One person was killed and another injured in an accident between an oil tanker and a canter in the cantonment here last night.

The canter, loaded with lime, was on its way from Nohar in Rajasthan to Delhi. The victim has been identified as Prithvi Singh, driver of the canter. Satvir, conductor of the canter, was admitted to the hospital.