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Friday,
May 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Central team to arrive today Hooda, Chautala to woo Jat voters People’s movement to dislodge govt:
Hooda Haryana to seal border with
UP DISTRICT
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Jugal murder: Cong
seeks CBI probe HIGH COURT Double murder: villagers protest to
SP Haryana to upgrade
high schools Harassment of Dalit: NHRC help
sought Panipat bandh evokes mixed
response Power consumers given more time
Govt plan to develop Morni Selection boards to recruit cops 3 youths run over by truck, die Justice Chahal hurt in accident
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Central team to arrive today Rohtak, May 17 Besides Rohtak, the team is expected to visit Sonepat, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar and Gurgaon districts to assess the damage. The team members are likely to meet the state Chief Secretary, Mr L.M. Goyal, on May 19 before returning to Delhi. Extensive damage was caused to standing wheat crop in nearly 15 villages due to the hailstorm that lashed the district on March 28 and the rain that followed it. The loss to the crop was almost total in Ladhout, Bhaiyapur, Polangi, Mungan, Kiloi-Dopana, Kiloi-Khas and Roorki villages. A survey conducted by the district administration had revealed that crop sown over 17,000 acres, out of a total of 36,250 acres, had been damaged. Wheat crop on 3,634 acres had been damaged completely while the crop on 5,259 acres had suffered damage between 51 and 75 per cent. According to official estimates, farmers have suffered a loss to the tune of approximately Rs 75 lakh. The state government has, however, decided to compensate the farmers for the loss suffered by them due to natural calamities. The compensation ranges from Rs 1,000 per acre for loss between 25 and 50 per cent, Rs 1,500 per acre for 50 to 75 per cent and Rs 2,000 per acre for 75 per cent and above. Miseries of the farmers of Kiloi and its surrounding villages, however, do not end here. Former minister Krishan Murti Hooda has alleged that the wheat brought for sale by the farmers of these villages has been further damaged by the rain on Wednesday night and today. After visiting the Kiloi grain market, Mr Hooda said in statement here today that government procurement agencies had declined to purchase the wheat. He said no wheat had been purchased by any agency for the past three days because of the shortage of gunny bags. No facility was being provided to the farmers who come to the Kiloi grain market for marketing the produce. Even the drinking water facility was absent, he said. |
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Hooda, Chautala to woo Jat voters Chandigarh, May 17 While Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), will address a rally at Panipat on Sunday, thereby challenging Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, and the INLD supremo, in his hometurf, the latter will be addressing a rally at Kosikala in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh on that day. Mr Hooda, who is trying to wean away the INLD supporters to the Congress in Haryana, issued a statement here today stating that the rally would highlight corruption involving high ups in the BJP and the NDA government as exposed in Tehelka tapes. He also claimed that about two million people of Haryana had signed a memorandum which would be presented to the President of India by the Congress drawing his attention to the danger posed by the policies and functioning of the BJP-led NDA government and demanding its dismissal. The statement added that Mr Hooda toured all over the state to make the rally a “historic” one. The tour began on May 5 from Rewari with Mr Hooda attending a state-level Mahila Congress conference. Subsequently, the HPCC chief addressed workers meetings in over a dozen districts to mobilise people for the rally. The last meeting in this series was held at Ambala city last evening, the statement said. Meanwhile, Mr Chautala, in view of the coming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, is making frequent trips to the state to woo the Jat voters. In the recent times he had adressed at least two meetings in Uttar Pradesh including one at Meerut where he had advocated “creation of separate state for the people of western Uttar Pradesh”.
Ambala, May 17 Talking to mediapersons here tonight after addressing a workers’, meeting in Ambala city, Mr Hooda said preparations were on for the ‘lalkar rally’. “People are enthusiastic and it is going to be a historic rally. A new direction will be given to the state politics in the ‘lalkar rally’ with the stress being on the slogan ‘BJP hatao-Chautala bhagao,’ he said. Among others, district Congress president, Mr Balwant Gupta, Haryana Youth Congress president, Mr Satwinder Singh Sandhu, and former MLA, Mr Nirmal Singh, were present. Mr Hooda, who visited, among other places, Ladwa, Radour and Sadhaura today, said the verdict was clear from the results of the elections of the five states. “People are unhappy with the NDA government and they have reposed faith in the Congress under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi,” he said. Criticising the INLD government in Haryana, Mr Hooda said: “The state government has failed at all fronts and the masses, including the backward classes, farmers, workers and students, are unhappy over the state of affair. No promises have been kept by the Chautala government. Mr Hooda said that an “anti-people” government could not last long. “There has been no welfare measures for people and there are major problems regarding power, water and lack of law and order. Even there have been hollow claims regarding wheat procurement. In every mandi, which we have visited, complaints have poured in,” he said. Besides the state Congress leaders, Mohsina Kidwai and Mukul Wasnik are also expected to attend the ‘lalkar rally.’ |
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Haryana to seal border with
UP Yamunanagar, May 17 He said in order to regulate the smooth flow of traffic on roads, specially the national highway passing through the state, SPs had been asked to deal with traffic offences strictly. Police patrolling should be regular on the national highways. He said special patrols should be sent in the mandis during procurement to check anti-social elements. He directed the IG, Ambala Range, Mr H.S. Ahlawat, to clear all pending inquiries expeditiously to reduce redundant force. The welfare of police personnel should be on priority on the agenda of the officers. Mr Malik said in order to keep the police force fit directions had been issued for holding weekly parade in the Police Lines. Every police person should play a game regularly. The DGP said that to honour the announcements made by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Haryana Chief Minister, during the sarkar aapke dwar programme all projects should be completed on priority basis and projects above Rs 40 lakh should invariably be inaugurated by the Chief Minister himself. The crime situation in Haryana was well within control as there was remarkable decline in attempt to murder, rioting and rape cases in the state. He said 129 cases of attempt to murder were registered till April-end during the current year as compared to 157 in the corresponding period last year. He said the police had registered 248 cases of rioting against 276 last year and 115 rape cases till April-end against 133 in the corresponding period last year. He further said 1,046 cases of burglary, 128 cases of robbery 2,057 of theft and 31 cases of dacoity were registered during the current year till April-end against 1,213 of burglary, 137 of robbery, 2,059 of theft and 44 cases of dacoity during the corresponding period last year. He said SPs had been directed to exercise transparency in the ongoing police recruitments of constables in their respective districts. They had been asked to keep the recruitment records. The IG (Ambala Range) had been asked to supervise the recruitment procedure himself. Any appeal should be dealt by him expeditiously. The DGP directed the SPs to exercise restraint in expenditure, especially in the use of telephones and official vehicles. He said they had also been asked to direct the constabulary to give respect to the public representatives and senior citizens. They should also be polite with the public. Indiscipline in the force would not be tolerated. |
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DISTRICT
DIARY Sonepat The condition of roads in the urban and rural areas is poor. Most roads except those in areas where influential persons live are full of
potholes. Some roads were washed away during the monsoon last year and have not yet been rebuilt. Residents in various localities also complain about long and unscheduled power cuts. It was earlier stated that with the commissioning of a 220 KV substation, a regular supply of power would be maintained. A 100 MVA transformer was recently installed at the substation, but the situation remains grim. The erratic power supply has resulted in protests at substations in the past. The power supply problem has also figured at meetings of the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee. * * * Owing to the shortage of accommodation and the high charges at private guest houses in Sonepat city, the state government had constructed a 13-suite rest house for government officers visiting this district on official work. As per the rules, no officer can occupy a room for more than four days. Two of the 13 suites have been reserved for VVIPs and are under the control of the Deputy Commissioner. These are reserved for the Chief Minister and the Governor. But on several occasions the rooms have been occupied by politicians and bureaucrats. An Executive Engineer of the PWD (B&R) occupied an airconditioned suite when he assumed charge in this city in November last year. Though he has been allotted a house in the colony of the department, he prefers to stay in the suite. Similarly, another officer has been occupying a suite for the past few months, allegedly without making the necessary entry in the register kept with the chowkidar. The Haryana Government has been suffering a financial loss on account of the misuse of telephones at the rest house. The Sonepat Citizens Forum has urged the state government to ensure that the rules are complied with and also allow private parties to avail themselves of the rest house facility on payment. It has also demanded the recovery of charges from officers who occupy suites beyond four days. * * * The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has been suffering a huge loss of revenue on account of power theft by many owners of dhabas, hotels and restaurants on the GT Road between Murthal and Ganaur. The authorities have failed to check the theft of power in spite of repeated complaints made to them in this regard. Residents of a number of villages, including sarpanches and panches and members of the block samitis, have urged the nigam to order a high-level probe into the matter and punish the erring officials. |
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Jugal murder: Cong
seeks CBI probe Karnal, May 17 Both Capt Ajay Singh and Mr Tejinder Pal Mann, two ministers in the Bhajan Lal Cabinet, alleged the arrest of the three accused yesterday after the confessional statement made by one of the accused, Satnam Azad, was “a cover-up” to save the real culprits. Mr Mann denied that Satnam Azad had any connection with the Congress at present. Capt Ajay Singh in a telephonic talk with this correspondent demanded that in order to find the truth an inquiry by the CBI was a must. This was more so as the brothers of the deceased had named the district president of the INLD in the FIR. The leaders further alleged the arrest of Satnam Azad and his two co-accused was a stage-managed show by the police. They further questioned that if the role of the police was impartial, why did it not act against the INLD leader when the members of the family of the deceased had repeatedly brought to the notice of the authorities that the family apprehended danger from the INLD leader. Mr Mann categorically denied he had any role to play in naming the INLD leader in the FIR as alleged by the latter. Meanwhile, Mr Vijay Kumar while talking to The Tribune alleged the police had hatched a conspiracy under political pressure to ultimately hush up the case. That was why within hours a person was presented before the press who smilingly confessed his crime. Satnam Azad had also expressed his thanks to the Chief Minister for providing quick justice to the aggrieved family and that had raised certain doubts. Meanwhile, the district police chief, Mr
P.K. Aggarwal, told this reporter the murder mystery had been solved. |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, May 17 Delivering the verdict, the Judge also directed the Ambala Sessions Judge to ensure the continuation of security to the petitioner as ordered by the Apex Court. In his detailed order, Mr Justice Nijjar observed: “After hearing counsel for the parties at length, this court was of the opinion that the petition ought to be decided without going into the merits. Consequently, Haryana AG was required to seek instructions if the cases could be clubbed together for being tried at Ambala. The AG today stated that the State Government had no objection if all the cases were clubbed together at Ambala”. The Judge concluded that FIR number 3 of 2000, FIR number 14 of 2000 and FIR number 7 of 2000 would be tried by the Special Judge while FIR number 275 of 1998 and FIR number 65 of 2000 would be tried by the CJM. In his petition, Dangi had earlier sought directions for holding the trial of cases registered against him by the Sessions Judge at Chandigarh or Rohtak. His counsel had stated that the courts at Chandigarh were competent to hear the cases against him as the offences were alleged to have been committed by him in the city in his official capacity of Haryana’s Revenue Minister. |
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Double murder: villagers protest to
SP Panipat, May 17 According to information, around 400 persons, including more than 100 women, reached the SP’s office in New Anaj Mandi to stage a protest against indifferent attitude of the police in arresting the remaining three alleged accused, including an INLD leader Salwant Singh the murder of one Ram Kishan and his son Satish of Rakashera village on April 11. On seeing the crowd, the main gate of SP’s office was closed by the police men on duty in the office. Irritated over this police action, the mob became violent, raised slogans against the police and broke the main gate. In this melee, a DSP-rank officer was also manhandled by the mob. Sensing the mood of the people, SP Prabhat Ranjan Dev invited a delegation of the people for discussion to hear their grievances. A delegation led by HVP leader Krishna Hooda told the SP that due to political pressure, the alleged accused and an INLD leader and his two sons, who have been named in the murder case were not being arrested by the police. The SP reportedly has assured immediate action in the case and also informed the delegation that the inquiry and investigation of the case would be handed over to a DSP-rank officer. Later the protesters also handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.R. Anand demanding arrest of the alleged accused. It is recalled 10 persons were named in this murder case and out of them seven alleged accused have already been arrested. |
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Haryana to upgrade
high schools Chandigarh, May 17 This decision was taken at a meeting of the Education Department, chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. Mr Chautala asked the Education Department to take steps to upgrade the high schools to senior secondary level so that these classes could be shifted from the colleges as per the government policy. He also directed the Education Department to ensure that at all other places the colleges which were still running these classes should be asked to shift the students to the senior secondary schools. It was decided to introduce job-oriented courses in the government colleges and impose a complete ban on the transfer of teachers. The Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Education, Mr M.K. Miglani, told the Chief Minister that these classes were being run in about 50 colleges whereas senior secondary schools were offering the same facility, thus causing duplicity. |
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Harassment of Dalit: NHRC help
sought Faridabad, May 17 The federation has expressed concern over the action taken so far on intervention of the commission earlier into the case. It says the police report sent by district police was suspected to be distorted as no inquiry was held by the police about the incident of October 18 and November 6, last year. The victim had complained of assault and threats after he claimed to have informed the Vigilance officials about the acts of corruption and irregularities by some officials in the department last year. Moreover, the victim who is reported to be 60 per cent handicapped was transferred to Aurangabad village, 60 km away from Faridabad. |
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Panipat bandh evokes mixed
response Panipat, May 17 Shops and Business establishments in different markets of old Panipat town remained closed for most of the day whereas the business activities continued as usual in shops and business premises located on different main roads, including NH-1, Gohana Road, Sanoli Road, Assandh Road in Jatal road. A large number of shopkeepers and businessmen assembled in the Palika Bazar and criticised the state government for implementing the new house tax policy and installing new electricity meters. The representatives of different market unions complained that the installed new electricity meters were very fast and their bills were totally unaffordable. They asked when the old meters were running correctly, what was the necessity to replace these. They said after the implementation of the new house tax policy, house and property owners would be heavily taxed. The samiti handed over a memorandum to the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) for onward transmission to the Governor of Haryana. On the other hand, in a press note, an INLD leader and former minister, Mr Kartar Singh Chhokar, and the Chairman of Panipat Improvement Trust, Mr Om Parkash Matta, criticised the bandh as politically motivated. They justified that the installation of new electricity meters was to curb the menace of power thefts. They said the implementation of the new house tax policy was a judicious decision and not against the house owners. They alleged that it was not being tolerated only by those who were possessing large accommodations and paying less house taxes. |
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Power consumers given more time Chandigarh, May 17 The scheme would also be applicable to those whose connections had been permanently disconnected as well as the horticulture consumers who would pay their entire principal amount in one
installment. |
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Govt plan to develop Morni Chandigarh, May 17 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting which was presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. A presentation on the draft development plan was made by the Commissioner, Ambala Division, Mr Maha Singh. Mr Chautala stressed the need for exploring the possibility of developing Morni as a place of tourist attraction, besides constructing a reservoir to utilise water for hydel power generation and irrigation purposes. He also stressed that Morni should be well connected by road with Pinjore and the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh so as to reduce the travel time for tourists. He said this project would cost about Rs 25 crore and he would urge the Union Tourism Minister, Mr Ananth Kumar, visiting Panchkula on May 23, to see for himself the area of Morni so that the ministry might assist the state government in the project. Mr Maha Singh and the Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Mrs Jyoti Arora, had conducted a random survey to ascertain public opinion about the attractions required at a place like Morni. Based on the findings of the survey, the draft plan suggested package deals and attractions like huts, lake, water sports, adventure games, fun ride,
agri-tourism, the best of cuisines and a tiger or leopard safari, besides a golf course, youth hostel and a wax museum depicting Haryana’s history at Morni. Establishing of an educational institute and starting of adventure sports in Morni were the other possible areas of consideration. |
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Selection boards to recruit cops Chandigarh, May 17 The candidates who have applied in response to the earlier advertisements issued for the same recruitment need not apply again, but they must report to the Selection Board concerned on the given date. Therefore, the candidates need not report on May 21 as required earlier. |
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3 youths run over by truck, die Hisar, May 17 They were identified as Amrit Pal (28), Skulia (26), both residents of Agroha, and Rajesh Kumar (30) of Adampur. According to the police, they were going towards the bus stand of the village on a scooter when a truck coming from the opposite direction ran over them. All of them died on the spot. The truck driver managed to escape. The Agroha police has registered a case against the truck driver and impounded the vehicles. |
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Justice Chahal hurt in accident Sonepat, May 17 According to a report, the car of Mr Chahal was on its way from Delhi to Chandigarh. On receipt of information, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Yadav, rushed to the site. According to another report, four persons were injured in a head-on-collision between a truck and a tanker on the G.T. Road near Raipur village, 15 km from here, yesterday.
The injured were hospitalised and they are stated to be out of danger. |
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