M A I N   N E W S

Albright begins talks with Chinese leaders

BEIJING, June 22 (PTI, AFP) — The US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, began talks with top Chinese leaders here today to discuss developments in Korea and contentious issues, including Taiwan and Tibet. The two sides are also expected to review regional and global issues of mutual concern.

Mr Albright arrived here this morning to kick off her two-day visit to the country at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan.

Earlier, foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said China sincerely hopes that the USA will strictly observe the three Sino-US joint communiqués and relevant commitments it has made, and take practical measures to promote a healthy and steady growth of bilateral ties.

Ms Albright is scheduled to visit Seoul after her talks in Beijing.

On Monday she called the summit in Pyongyang between North Korean leader Kim Jong-II and South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung “totally fascinating” and said she was eager to hear from officials in Seoul how they envisioned the rapprochement with the north proceedings.

No deal to end Fiji crisis

SUVA, June 22 (AFP) — Talks aimed at ending Fiji’s political crisis ended here today without a deal to free the country’s Prime Minister and other hostages held in Parliament, a spokesman for the military said.

Military chiefs, who have been running the country since declaring martial law on May 29, had been optimistic of wrapping up an agreement with coup leader George Speight on an interim civilian government.

But spokesman Col Filipo Tarakinikini said differences over the composition of the new administration had prevented a deal.

There were also differences over how long a term the interim government should serve, he said.

Pregnant woman stripped
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

JAUNAWAS (Rewari), June 22 — Little did 22-year-old Mrs Kamla Devi know that she would have to lose her honour and her foetus for her husband’s bold step to take up the cudgels against the liquor mafia at the village, about 8 km from Rewari on the Rewari-Delhi road. According to the general perception, the role of the police in the entire case was not above board.

The victim has been hospitalised at the Civil Hospital in Rewari. The doctors have recommended an ultrasound following her complaint of severe abdominal pain.

Mr Birender Singh Yadav, husband of Kamla Devi, alias Kamlesh, a driver with the Haryana Roadways at Gurgaon depot, had alleged to the police on Wednesday that his neighbour Yadhvir Singh Yadav and his family were running an illicit liquor business in the village. A Dharuhera police team led by the SHO, Mr Ram Singh Yadav, raided the house of the accused and claimed to have seized 30 bottles of country-made liquor. Yadhvir Singh was booked under the Excise Act.

The ordeal for the family of Mr Birender Singh began immediately after the police raid. Yadhvir Singh allegedly threatened the family of dire consequences. Yesterday, before reporting for duties, Mr Birender Singh submitted an application to the police that his family was in danger and requested for protection. Immediately after he left the police station for Gurgaon his wife was allegedly attacked by Yadhvir Singh along with his sister-in-law Vienna Yadav.

Kamla told newspersons at the hospital that while her husband was away for his duties, Yadhvir Singh and his sister-in-law waylaid her after she came out of the house in connection with household chores. Yadhvir first tried to tear her blouse and later stripped her naked. His sister-in-law allegedly assisted him. She further said that while she was resisting the accused, he hit her on her stomach.

A retired Assistant Sub Inspector of the Delhi police, Mr Raghvir Singh Yadav (80), a neigbour, was allegedly thrashed by the duo when he dared to come to the rescue of the victim after she took refuge in a house in the neigbourhood.

The police has registered an FIR under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault on woman with the intention of outraging her modesty), 356 (snatching of a gold chain) and 34 (criminal conspiracy) against the accused. Yadhvir Singh has been arrested but the villagers say that he had surrendered.

The police role is being suspected in the cases as there appears to be ample reason for it. When Mr Birender Singh, Kamla Devi and Mr Raghvir Singh went to report the incident to the district police chief in Rewari, the staff kept them waiting for two hours. They were not allowed to meet the Superintendent of Police on the ground that the public could meet him only after 1 p.m. Finally when the police chief met them he told them to report the matter to the Dharuhera police station. The victims gave in writing the details of the incident to the police chief. Many feel that considering the nature of the incident the FIR could have been registered even in Rewari. When the harassed three went to the Dharuhera police station, the SHO did not register the case on the ground that he would do it only after visiting the village. The case was finally registered late in the evening after public pressure.

Significantly, the SHO visited the village and alleged gave a dressing down to the victims for exaggerating the incident. Even though the case was of a sensitive nature, he proposed to the victims to compromise through his mediation. The FIR was registered only when the victims and their family rooted for it. Also, the FIR was registered only after Mr Birender Singh made a fresh complaint to the police.

The police has ignored the presence of the foetus, which was allegedly subjected to assault which could put the accused in the dock.

The DSP (Headquarters), Rewari, has been deputed for verification.

Till the time of this report, Vienna Yadav has not been arrested.

The general feeling is that the accused are influential persons and the police was apparently playing a partisan role in their favour. The liquor mafia has allegedly opened six liquor vends in the village to carry out the illicit trade. The villagers have complained to the authorities a number of times about it but still the trade thrives under the very nose of the police.