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| Wednesday,
April 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Haryana Govt to pay 75 pc of farmers’ power
bill Haryana to revive municipal bodies:
CM Govt apathy mars ESI
schemes Speaker sets up
committees BJP flag to be hoisted in
villages Centre ignoring farmers:
Hooda Sonepat BKU to boycott
rally |
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Raksha party seeks bonus for
farmers KU court for weightage to rural
students Cong rally to be ‘biggest’ in
Panipat Professional girls for showering petals MDU employees oppose 6-day
week schedule Free water service centre launched HBVNs extend VDS Power unit to start in 3 months 9 teams to assess damage to crops Mullana accident toll rises to 13
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Haryana Govt to pay 75 pc of farmers’ power
bill Hisar, April 3 Every unit of power costs the power utilities close to Rs 4 and the rates for urban consumers are way above the production cost. However, the peasantry is paying between 35 to 62 paise a unit for metered supply depending upon the depth of the well from which the water is pumped for irrigation. In the case of unmetered supply, the rates vary from Rs 45 to Rs 100 per BHP depending again upon the depth. Only the Irrigation department is paying Rs 4 a unit for augmentation tubewells and lift irrigation schemes. In this case, the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission rejected the contentions of both power utilities and the government, which wanted the rates to be much lower. Both had proposed rates ranging between 50 paise to Rs 2.20 a unit to this category too to benefit the farmers at the cost of the rest of the consumers. Had the contention been accepted the total subsidy would have risen further sharply. Even the figure of Rs 769.3 crore is much lower from what it would have been had the HERC not lowered the projection of electricity consumption by private pump sets and the Irrigation Department from 3,988 to 2,980 million units. The commission said the figure was unreasonable as it implied that pumps operated for six hours a day. It took into account only 1,452 hours working for pump sets in a year for both metered and unmetered supply and accepted a consumption of 2,804 million units agricultural pump sets. This means that farmers will consume power worth Rs 1125.65 crores and pay only Rs 204.33 for it. The rest will be paid by the Haryana Government. However, the government has provided for only Rs 613.08 crore as subsidy for the entire year leaving a shortfall of Rs 156.22 crores. This has now to be treated as deferred payment to be recovered during this and the subsequent years. The power utilities will even borrow to cover this shortfall. Another aspect of the much-hyped reform process is the number of employees per million units of power sold. This figure for Haryana is 4.86 compared to the all-India average of just 2.93 employees per MUs of power sold. |
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Haryana to revive municipal bodies:
CM Indri (Karnal), April 3 Addressing reporters at the residence of Mr Bhim Sen Mehta — an Independent MLA from Indri, Mr Chautala maintained that these Municipal Committees were abolished as in some cases, the population of the towns concerned was less than even 15,000. Two such committees i.e. Indri and Nilokheri were abolished in Karnal. The Chief Minister, also announced that improvement trusts in the State would be reconstituted. On the sick units in the private sector, Mr Chautala declared that such units would be closed. But no time limit could be fixed for the closure of sick units. The Chief Minister said that as a policy, the government would first make efforts to bring sick units into profit but if these could not be revived then these would be closed. About the Hansi Spinning Mills, Mr Chautala disclosed that the mill incurred a loss of Rs 1 lakh per day. It was therefore, closed and its employees given due compensation. Talking about the matching grant scheme, Mr Chautala said that more funds could be sanctioned for development works in the villages if needed. The government would continue with 50 per cent matching grant scheme to panchayats in the state. The Chief Minister declared that wheat in Haryana mandis would be brought at minimum support price of Rs 610 per quintal. He claimed that as there were better purchasing arrangements in the Haryana markets, wheat from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab was also likely to be sold in Haryana mandis. Mr Chautala said that Information and Technology would be promoted further in Haryana. He further claimed that there had been more sale of hardware and software in the state. He stated that more training centres were being opened to promote Information Technology. In a major decision, Mr Chautala announced that government aid for village development works would henceforth be deposited directly in the account of the recently constituted Gram Vikas Samitis. These bodies would be responsible for the development of the villages. Mr Chautala said that the Haryana government was likely to get an allocation of Rs 50 crore, this year out of the cess of Re 1 which was levied on diesel and petrol by the Union Government. |
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Govt apathy mars ESI
schemes Faridabad, April 3 In view of the allegedly pathetic functioning of ESI hospitals and dispensaries, the ESI authorities are contemplating to take over at least one of the hospitals in the near future. According to sources in the ESI Department, the ESI wing releases an amount of about Rs 24 crore per year for providing and maintaining health facilities in the state for industrial workers. Due to the non-existence of a separate fund, the amount goes as general fund to the state government. It is reported that the state government has not been able to use more than 70 to 80 per cent of this fund for ESI schemes. This fund is collected from the salaries of industrial workers whose wages are up to Rs 6,500 per month. The ESI contribution is about 6.5 per cent of the wages of a worker. There are about 4.12 lakh industrial workers covered under the ESI in the state at present. The ESI authorities last year released an amount of Rs 18 crore only against the limit of Rs 24 crore due to the “inability” of the authorities concerned to make proper use of the funds. The state government has reportedly failed to make the required expenditure of the pool for ESI schemes. The ESI Department is also not happy with the “incooperative” attitude of the state government for setting up a special “revolving fund” for providing better medical facilities. For this, the state government is required to contribute some funds for an amount of Rs 50 for each worker, but it is learnt that the government has not shown any interest towards this scheme so far, even though such a scheme has already been adopted by some of the neighbouring states. Under this scheme, the ESI Department tries to release financial aid as soon as possible to workers in case of emergency. The state government’s share in a “revolving fund” is only 12.5 per cent. The ESI Department is already providing facilities under various schemes, which include sickness benefit, temporary disability benefit, maternity benefit, treatment of diseases (long-term) and compensation in case of accidental death of workers. Under the sickness benefit, 50 per cent of the wages up to 91 days are paid by ESI to the claimant. The applicant is given 100 per cent wages under the maternity benefit to female workers. The department also extends medical benefit to the worker and his dependant from the day he or she is given a job by a factory. The ESI releases funds for the proper functioning of ESI hospitals and dispensaries. The department releases an amount of Rs 600 per worker towards the cost of maintenance and repair of the hospitals and dispensaries. It includes Rs 170 for the purchase of drugs and medicines. The ESI in Haryana released about Rs 1.09 crore last year as special grant for the purchase of medical equipment and machines for hospitals. There are five hospitals and 65 dispensaries in Haryana, which include two 200-bedded and one 100-bedded hospital in Faridabad and Gurgaon districts. Of the 65 dispensaries, 18 are located in Faridabad only. But ESI officials in Haryana are not happy with the functioning of ESI medical centres. The ESI authorities have written to the state government asking it to hand over one of the hospitals at Gurgaon to it so that it could run it on its own. According to the ESI authorities, this is being done to improve the functioning and medical facilities. The department is successfully running 14 hospitals in the country, including five in Delhi and one at Noida, according to ESI officials. |
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Speaker sets up
committees Chandigarh, April 3 The Deputy Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot, will be the ex-officio chairperson of the House Committee while Mrs Anita Yadav, Mr Uday Bhan, Mr Dharampal (Nilokheri) and Mr Hamid Hussain will be its members. The special invitees will be Mr Daryab Singh and Mr Ram Kuwar Saini. Vaid Kapoor Chand will be the chairperson of the eight-member Subordinate Legislation Committee. The other members of the committee are Mr Kanwar Pal, Rao Dharam Pal, Mr Bhim Sain Mehta, Mr Ranbir Singh Mandola, Mr Nishan Singh, Mr Bishan Lal Saini and the Advocate General, Haryana. Mr Bhagwan Sahai Rawat and Mr Dan Singh will be special invitees. Mr Balwant Singh Maini, will be the chairperson of the nine-member Public Undertakings Committee. The other members of the committee are Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, Mr Chander Mohan, Mr Rajinder Singh Bisla, Mr Krishan Lal Panwar, Mr Abhay Singh Chautala, Mr Balbir Pal Shah, Mr Dev Raj Dewan and Mr Puran Singh. The Government Assurance Committee will be headed by Mr Mange Ram Gupta. Other members of the committee are Mr Ramesh Kumar Khatak, Mr Shadi Lal Batra, Mr Tejvir Singh, Mr Jarnail Singh, Mr Lila Krishan, Dr Sita Ram, Mr Jasbir Singh Malore and Mr Lila Ram Gujjar. The special invitees to this committee will be Mr Zakir Hussain, Mr Rambir Singh and Mr Ram Phal Kundu. Mr Krishan Lal Panwar will be the chairperson of the nine-member Estimates Committee and its other members are Mrs Veena Chhibar, Mr Dharambir Singh, Rao Inderjeet Singh, Mr Moola Ram, Mr Balbir Singh, Mr Ram Kumar Katwal, Mr Padam Singh Dahiya and Mr Bhag Singh. The nine-member Public Accounts Committee will be headed by Mr Bhagi Ram. The other members are Mr Chander Bhatia, Mr Lachhman Dass Arora, Rao Narender Singh, Mr Anil Vij, Mr Suraj Mal, Mr Banta Ram, Mr Nafe Singh Rathee and Mr Ram Bhagat. The Library Committee will be headed by Mr Rajinder Singh Bisla. The other members of the committee include Mr Jai Parkash (Barwala), Mr Karan Singh Dalal, Dr Raghubir Singh Kadian, Mr Ramesh Rana and Mr Amar Singh. The special invitee will be Mr O.P. Jindal. The 10-member Committee of Privileges will be headed by Mr Bhagwan Sahai Rawat. The other members of the committee are Mr Dan Singh, Mr Zakir Hussain, Mrs Veena Chhibar, Mr Daryao Singh, Mr Nafe Singh Rathee, Mr Amar Singh Dhandhey, Mr Ramesh Kumar Khatak, Mr Ramesh Rana and Mr Rampal Kundu. The Speaker will be the ex-officio chairperson of the Rules Committee. The other members of the committee are Mr Bansi Lal, Dr Jai Parkash Sharma, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Mr Jai Parkash Gupta, Mr Sher Singh, Mr Shashi Ranjan Panwar and Mr Pawan Kumar Diwan. The nine-member Committee of the Welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes will be headed by Mr Nafe Singh Jundla. The other members of the committee are Mrs Sarita Narain, Capt Ajay Singh, Mr Jitender Singh, Mr Deena Ram, Mr Balwant Singh Sadhaura, Mr Ram Kishan, Mrs Vidya Devi Beniwal and Mr Jagjit Singh. |
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BJP flag to be hoisted in
villages Chandigarh, April 3 The president of the Haryana BJP, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, said here today that the flag hoisting would be followed by rallies to be addressed by party leaders and activists who would highlight how the Congress conspired to engineer the so-called tehelka expose, communal riots and other disruptive activities with an eye on the Assembly elections in five states. Mr Kataria alleged that the Congress, which had never allowed any non-Congress government at the Centre to last for more than two and a half years, was perturbed over the successful completion of three years by the Vajpayee government. The Congress leaders, he said, tried to mislead the farming community over the WTO, which was signed by them. But the Vajpayee government successfully watched the interests of the farming community by raising duties to make the import of agricultural commodities unremunerative. He said the Congress had been indulging in false propaganda that the Centre would reduce the minimum support price of wheat by Rs 60 a quintal. The Vajpayee government, to which, he claimed, the interests of the farmers were dear, had raised the support price by Rs 30 a quintal. To help the farmers, the Centre had also decided to export large quantities of wheat, rice and sugar. Mr Kataria, who himself would cover seven Assembly constituencies on April 6, said the government had planned a three-day debate in Parliament on the problems being faced by the farmers, which would have exposed the Congress misinformation campaign. But the Congress did not allow the debate by stalling the proceedings of Parliament on the pretext of the tehelka expose. |
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Centre ignoring farmers:
Hooda Sonepat, April 3 Talking to mediapersons, he said about 75 per cent of the people were directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture but due to the “anti-people” policies of the
Vajpayee government, a majority of them were feeling ignored. He said the costs of agriculture
inputs had increased to a great extent and it was difficult for farmers to recover the cost of production. He also said that during the past three years, the rates of diesel, fertilisers and insecticides had increased manifold but the government had failed to provide remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce. Mr Hooda announced that to protest against the “anti-people” policies of the Centre and the state government, the HPCC was holding a rally on April 8 at Panipat. The rally, named “Lalkar rally”, would be part of the national-level campaign of the party against the BJP-led NDA government, he said. Referring to the unruly incident at the Bhiwani rally, Mr Hooda said it was pre-planned and some persons with vested interests were perturbed over the unity efforts of Congress leaders in the state. He said he had asked the organiser of the rally, Mr Dharamvir, MLA, to identify those who created chaos at the rally and submit his report to him by April 10. Later, the Congress leader toured the villages of the district hit by the rain and hailstorm and expressed his sympathy with the affected farmers. He also demanded the immediate payment of compensation to the farmers. |
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Sonepat BKU to boycott
rally Sonepat, April 3 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the union
(Ghasi Ram group) here last evening. The meeting called Mr Sharad Joshi an “agent of the BJP” and said he had failed to safeguard the interests of the farmers in the country. It appealed to the farmers of the region to boycott the rally and express their solidarity with the
BKU. It was also decided at the meeting that a Mahapanchayat of farmers would be organised on April 6 at Bhatgaon village in the district to chalk out the future course of action on the issue of the state government’s alleged failure to grant compensation to the farmers hit by the recent rain and hailstorm. Mr Ghasi Ram, president of the state unit of the
BKU, will address the Mahapanchayat. The meeting adopted a resolution urging the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash
Chautala, to announce the quantum of relief to the affected farmers without any further delay. It alleged that the order of a special girdawari would cause delay in giving relief to the farmers. The meeting also alleged that patwaris were indulging in corrupt practices while assessing the damage to the rabi crop and minting money through objectionable means from the affected farmers. The meeting demanded that the compensation amount should be disbursed among persons who had sown the crops and not those who had sublet their fields. Mr Braham Singh
Dahiya, a BKU leader, submitted his report about the damage caused to the standing rabi crop in the villages hit by the recent rain and hailstorm. |
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Raksha party seeks bonus for
farmers Karnal, April 3 Addressing the first rally of the party in the grain market here yesterday, Mr Rajbir Singh Chauhan, president of the party, stated that the farmers had incurred an additional expenditure of Rs 150 per quintal because of the increased prices of fertilisers, diesel and power for the coming wheat crop. But the minimum support price was far less. He demanded that the state government should compensate the farmers for this. The party chief further demanded a fair compensation for the farmers of hail storm-hit areas in Sonepat, Rohtak, Panipat and other parts of the state. Mr Chauhan further demanded that the Chautala government should end discrimination of jobs, irrigation facilities and power in northern districts of Haryana. Speakers at the rally criticised the government for its new house tax policy in the cities and excessive rates of power which were becoming unbearable for the consumers. The state president also said the Chautala government was doing injustice with those old persons who had been asked to return their old age pension. Such steps hurt the feelings of the people. He announced that the Raksha party would hold constituency-level rallies from April 29 to expose the misdeeds of the government. |
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KU court for weightage to rural
students Kurukshetra, April 3 The court is the highest decision-making body of the university. But over the years, it has become a mere body for discussions where the budget of the university and the annual report is approved by members. Of late, the Governor of Haryana, Babu Parmanand, who is also the Chancellor of the university, has felt that the court should have more powers and it should not remain a mere “forum for discussion”. Following this, the Vice-Chancellor, Mr R.S. Chaudhry, allowed free discussion by teachers and other members about the university affairs. The members were given a chance to express their views on various problems before the university and the teachers. Some of the members desired that the speeches should be confined only to the agenda but the free discussion was welcomed by a number of members. Sources said while some of the members lauded the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor regarding the examination reforms, some others found flaws in the re-evaluation system. Some requested the Vice-Chancellor that pension and DA should be given to teachers of privately-managed colleges. These teachers only get pension. It was pointed out that after the abolition of plus one and plus two classes, some teachers had become sarplus. There was a demand to absorb them. Another demand was that state-level examinations for the recruitment of college teachers should be restarted. It was also pointed out that the teachers with a rural background were at a disadvantage with regard to the NET examination. Therefore, if a state-level examination for recruitment was started, it would help such teachers. It is reported that some members wanted the involvement of college teachers in the decision-making bodies of the university which dealt with the problems of colleges and college teachers. The members were happy that the university had abolished entrance tests for admission to various courses. The Vice-Chancellor announced that the convocation of the university would be held every year in October. Henceforth, it would become an annual feature. This year, the convocation was held after five years. The Vice-Chancellor announced that the meetings of the court would be held thrice in a year. Earlier, the court used to meet once a year. The court passed the annual budget of the university and approved its annual report prepared by the Public Relations Department of the university. |
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Cong rally to be ‘biggest’ in
Panipat Yamunanagar, April 3 Mr Hooda said he had asked for a report from a convener of the Bhiwani rally, Mr Dharamvir, by April 10. He said after the report suitable action would be taken. When a reporter asked him how he would manage the Panipat rally, he said no indiscipline at the rally would be tolerated. The state Congress President said invitations for the Panipat rally had been sent to all Congress MLAs, former MPs and ministers, members of the HPCC and other important functionaries of the party. He said he had also sent an invitation to Mr Bhajan Lal, former Chief Minister, Haryana. PANIPAT: The District Congress Committee (DCC) has claimed that lakhs of people from all over the state will participate in the Lalkaar rally here on April 8. It would be the biggest rally in the history of Panipat, Mr Suresh Gupta President of the DCC, said while talking to mediapersons here on Monday. Mr Gupta claimed that a former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, and local Congress MLA Balbir Pal Shah would also participate in the rally. He pointed out that after the Tehelka expose, the rally’s importance had increased as the people had turned against the BJP-led government at the Centre and the Chautala government in Haryana. |
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Professional girls for showering petals Gurgaon, April 3 Akin to it is a new practice gaining ground of hiring girls to serve food and beverages to the marriage parties. There are reports to suggest that these new practices have also caught the fancy of a section of the rich in other parts of Haryana. With the influence of the beauty pageants shown on the television on the rise, the practice among would-be brides of getting decked up in beauty parlours or through professionals for the grand occasion has already become an in thing, even in the remote and rural areas of the state. The hiring of girls to shower flowers on the newly-married couples and on the “baraatis” and for serving food in the marriage parties, though confined to the upper strata of society, especially where marriages are organised in farm houses, has evoked mixed response from the public. While many aver that these practices are a reflection of the changing times, there are many who are opposed to this “distortion” in culture and practices in society. A social organisation, Yadav Kalyan Parishad, has decided to organise a public function here on April 8 to initiate a movement against such “outlandish” practices filtering into marriage ceremonies. According to the general secretary of the parishad, Mr Ram Nand Yadav, one of the issues also relates to the hiring of girls for showering flowers and serving food and drinks. Leading personalities, social workers and representatives of gram panchayats and persons having clout among the Yadav community from Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan have been invited to attend the function. Incidentally, hiring of professional dancing girls for providing entertainment on social occasions — in case there are no arrangements for a discotheque — has also drawn the attention of the parishad. Voices have also been raised in several quarters for a complete ban on “Rasam Godbharai” which has now come to be associated with marriage rituals. Those against it argue that this ceremony happens at a time when the married girls conceive. But a distortion in the tradition in South Haryana, especially in the Yadav community, has taken place by associating it with the would-be brides. There is a dominant feeling in districts of South Haryana that the distortions in this tradition and other social practices were taking place due to the “baneful” influence of the practices in the neighbouring state of Delhi. The functionaries of the parishad have gone to the extent of citing the gospels and theories of writers and philosophers like Roscoe Pound (a sociological school of thought in jurisprudence) to bolster their argument that rules and laws should be beneficially related to society. Their argument is that the new fads, characterised by unhealthy social overtones, are against the popular sentiments and the state government must come out with measures to curb them. |
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MDU employees oppose 6-day
week schedule Rohtak, April 3 He said the system of five-day week was implemented after adding one hour daily to the working hours. Moreover, he claimed that the administrative block and the teaching departments had been functioning smoothly. He said the government should first implement it in the secretariat and other departments first. |
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Free water service centre launched Bhiwani, April 3 The committee said the service had been started with 14 tankers in the areas facing a shortage of potable water. Particular areas have been identified where tankers will be parked. These tankers have been provided with eight to 12 taps. A main tanker having a capacity of 50,000 litre will keep moving all over the city. Nearby villages will also be provided with adequate water supply. According to the committee, about 2 lakh litres of water will be supplied daily. |
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HBVNs extend VDS Hisar, April 3 The two utilities had launched the scheme last month for all agricultural, domestic, non-domestic and industrial consumers. It evoked a good response. Under this scheme, no penalty is levied on regularisation of unauthorised load. The consumers only pay the routine charges. The agricultural consumers do not even have to pay the charges for extension of load. A spokesman said on expiry of the extended deadline, raids would be conducted to detect unauthorised loads. |
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Power unit to start in 3 months Panipat, April 3 According to the Deputy Commissioner, Panipat Mr M.R. Anand, the unit was syncronised with the power grid at Sewah near Panipat on an oil-based trial on March 31. The Deputy Commissioner said the power generation with oil was a very costly affair and the unit was finally to run on coal for power generation. It would have another two to three months to start power generation using coal, he added. |
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9 teams to assess damage to crops Rohtak, April 3 The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Khullar, today said the survey teams led by the district officials were directed to start work with immediate effect and to submit report by April 8. Mr Khullar directed the members of the team to take along panches, sarpanch, nambardars or jamindars of the village concerned during the special ‘Girdawri’. |
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Mullana accident toll rises to 13 Ambala, April 3 A police official said an accident victim admitted at the PGI, Chandigarh, had breathed her last early in the morning. Sheela Devi, hailing from Chachrauli, had been seriously injured in the accident. The last body to be identified at the local Civil Hospital is that of Kishori Lal. The rest of the bodies have already been identified. The truck packed with about 50-55 persons was returning from a satsang in Beas and was headed towards Yamunanagar. The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr
D.D. Gautam, said some victims had been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. He said that the cost of the victims treatment would be borne by the district Red Cross, Ambala. |
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Woman commits suicide Fatehabad, April 3 According to the complaint lodged by the victim’s brother, Mr Prem Singh, his sister was married to Gurbax Singh of Rania in Sirsa district of Haryana. Geeta’s family came to know only after her marriage that Gurbax Singh was already married and his first wife stayed in Delhi. But her family ignored the fact. The complainant further said Geeta’s in-laws started harassing her for dowry soon after her marriage. The family received a call from Rania on April 1 informing them that Gita had received burn injuries. The police has registered a case. |
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Woman burnt for dowry,
in-laws booked Rohtak, April 3 Mr Bal Kishan, brother of the deceased, said in the FIR that Surekha of Delhi had been married to Radhey Shyam of Ajaib village nearly two years ago. He alleged her sister was often maltreated for dowry. She was set afire by her in-laws yesterday, he alleged. The police has registered a case under Section 304-B and 34 of the
IPC. |
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Constable caught drunk on duty Sonepat, April 3 |
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Two youths murdered Jind, April 3 The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the
IPC. |
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Undertrial escapes from custody Rohtak, April 3 According to police sources, Tejender, inmate of Sonepat jail, was admitted to the PGIMS yesterday. He reportedly dodged the policemen on duty and fled from the hospital at about 11 p.m. |
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