H A R Y A N A

Haryana order on new passports
Chandigarh, June 19
From July 15 Haryana residents can submit applications for a passport in the office of Deputy Commissioner of the district. Haryana is the last to join the list of states in the region — Punjab and Himachal — with passport issuing facility at the district level.

Goods worth lakhs gutted

Ambala, June 19 A major fire broke out in a leading consumer goods and grocery shop located in the main Sadar Bazar here this morning. The fire broke out in the three-storeyed Panna Lal building at about 7.45 a.m.
Fire fighters tackle the blaze at a consumer goods shop in Ambala Sadar on Wednesday. — Photo Neeraj Chopra

6 killed in jeep-van collision
Kurukshetra, June 19
Six persons, including three women and a child, were killed and 14 injured in a collision between a jeep and a van near a village on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road in Haryana yesterday, police sources said. 

2 brothers killed over property dispute
Fatehabad, June 19
In a gory incident two brothers brutally killed their brothers and a son of another brother last night at Khabra Kalan village in this district. The assailants have been nabbed by the police from the scene of crime. Property dispute is said to be the reason behind the crime.

Red lights atop vehicles invalidated
Chandigarh, June 19
To stop misuse of red and blue lights and stickers on vehicles, the Haryana Transport Department has decided that all red and blue lights and stickers would cease to be valid from July 15.

Private buses, autos remain off road Ambala, June 19 The dispute between private bus operators and auto-rickshaw drivers over the picking up of passengers from various bus stops took a serious turn when a number of bus and auto-rickshaw drivers got engaged in a brawl near the Ambala City bus stand last evening. A private bus operator shows wounds which were allegedly inflicted on his bus driver by autorickshaw drivers in Ambala City. — NC

Patrolling unit to check traffic jams
Kalka, June 19
A special police patrolling on motor cycle has been introduced on national highway between Pinjore and Kalka. The aim of this patrolling unit is to maintain free flow of traffic on the highway and to rush immediately the accidents victims to a hospital.

Bankers review panel meeting
Ambala, June 19
Mr M. Ayub, General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, New Delhi, chaired the district-level review committee meeting of bankers and various development agencies here today.

51 pigs die in mysterious circumstances
Ambala, June 19
Mystery surrounds the death of 51 pigs in Naraingarh. The large number of deaths have caused concern to the piggery farm owners in the area. Such an incident is said to have taken place for the first time in Naraingarh. The pigs were found dead in a dumping pit which is a low-lying area.

• Phoolpati heads Welfare Advisory Board

• Slum raided, liquor pouches seized

Haryana order on new passports
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19
From July 15 Haryana residents can submit applications for a passport in the office of Deputy Commissioner of the district.

Haryana is the last to join the list of states in the region — Punjab and Himachal — with passport issuing facility at the district level.

Panchkula and Ambala will be the first districts in Haryana to have this facility, Regional Passport Officer, Arvind Kumar, told The Tribune here today.

These district passport centres will receive applications for new passports and renewal thereof.

With the district-level centres, an applicant will still have the option of applying with the Regional Passport Office here as well as use the Speed Post facility. But Rs 100 for the Speed Post will be chargeable on an application.

The Regional Passport Officer, however, asked the people to approached the Deputy Commissioner’s offices as this would reduce the processing period and an applicant would certainly get the document faster.

The Regional Passport Officer added that new computer-printed passport applications being printed by certain authorised printers and were acceptable apart from those downloaded from the website on a paper of certain thickness.

The Tribune received complaints that the down-loaded application forms were not being accepted by the Regional Passport Office as these did not have any application number.

Mr Kumar clarified such persons could meet him as the number on the application form did not have anything to do with the acceptance of the application but an application on a thin paper might be rejected.

Goods worth lakhs gutted
Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 19
A major fire broke out in a leading consumer goods and grocery shop located in the main Sadar Bazar here this morning.

Police personnel keep the crowd at bay at the fire site. — Photo Neeraj Chopra

The fire broke out in the three-storeyed Panna Lal building at about 7.45 a.m. It reportedly destroyed goods worth several lakhs of rupees. There were however, no casualties as nobody was inside the building when the fire broke out. The shop was on the ground floor and goods were reportedly stocked on the first and second floor.

Plumes of smoke could be spotted from a distance as the fire raged within the building. The firemen along with local people battled the flames for more than two hours before it could be brought under control. To assist the firemen from Ambala Cantonment and Ambala City, fire brigade vehicles arrived from Thanesar in Kurukshetra, Dera Bassi and the Indian Air Force station.

The firemen faced a major difficulty in controlling the fire, which was raging on the top floor. They broke open the windows, only to realise that entry within had been blocked by plywood. A heavy axe was used to break open the windows.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr D.D. Gautam, who was present at the spot, said that the exact cause of the blaze was not yet known. “We had called for fire-fighters from other areas to ensure that the blaze did not spread to neighbouring buildings.”

The Ambala Cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij, could be seen assisting the fire-fighters. Even the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr M.K. Ahuja, got onto a fire engine to assist the firemen in tackling the fire.

Among those who tackled the blaze included a private electrician, Arun Kumar, and Head Constable Jagdish, posted in the SP office. Despite being drenched in water, Arun Kumar kept on breaking open the windows so that water could be poured inside.

Meanwhile, District Congress Ambala Cantonment unit president Ashok Jain, while expressing sympathy towards the trader who had lost goods in the fire, said that all those people who had helped in the fire-fighting effort would be honoured.

The Ambala Cantonment Traders Federation president, Dr N.C. Jain, appealed to the traders and businessmen to provide fire-fighting facilities at their business establishments.

“Incidentally, before the partition, there were fire hydrants in the area, particularly on all main crossings. With the passage of time, they were closed. They should be reopened. In an emergency, fire hydrants can prove to be very handy,” he said .

He said that the Municipal Council had levied fire tax, so more fire-fighting vehicles need to be provided.

6 killed in jeep-van collision

Kurukshetra, June 19
Six persons, including three women and a child, were killed and 14 injured in a collision between a jeep and a van near a village on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road in Haryana yesterday, police sources said. While four persons, including the van’s driver Ashok Kumar, died on the spot, two died on way to hospital, they said.

Beside Ashok Kumar, the dead who have been identified so far include Bal Kisan, Jatti Devi and Pabo Devi.

The condition of some of the injured is serious, the sources said. PTI

2 brothers killed over property dispute
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, June 19
In a gory incident two brothers brutally killed their brothers and a son of another brother last night at Khabra Kalan village in this district. The assailants have been nabbed by the police from the scene of crime. Property dispute is said to be the reason behind the crime.

According to reports, the accused Devi Lal (32), Khushi Ram (42) and victim Balbir (38) and Inder Singh (45) and another Om Parkash (49) were five real brothers and were living at Khabra Kalan village in this district. They had 18 acres of ancestral property and had dispute over the distribution of that property. The dispute was settled after the intervention of the village panchayat a few months ago but the task of legal formalities was still pending.

According to eye witnesses, the trouble started when Inder Singh made a coughing noise outside the residence of Devi Lal. This infuriated Devi Lal who had an altercation with Inder Singh. The two cooled down at that time but in the evening Devi Lal and Khushi Ram attacked their brothers with wooden logs. They first hit Inder Singh on the head. As Balbir Singh came to his rescue, he was also hit on the head. The assailants then hit Hardyal, son of their eldest brother, Om Parkash.

Red lights atop vehicles invalidated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19
To stop misuse of red and blue lights and stickers on vehicles, the Haryana Transport Department has decided that all red and blue lights and stickers would cease to be valid from July 15.

A spokesman of the Transport Department stated this here today that it had come to the notice of the department that some people were putting red or blue lights unauthorisedly atop their vehicles.

The spokesman added all users of vehicles authorised by the government to use red or blue lights had been told to obtain new stickers along with a certificate from the department before July 15.

In a related development the Haryana police launched operation “Blunder” from today to check the misuse of red and blue lights atop vehicles. The operation would last till June 25, Mr R N Chahalia, IGP, said.

Private buses, autos remain off road
Our Correspondent

Ambala, June 19
The dispute between private bus operators and auto-rickshaw drivers over the picking up of passengers from various bus stops took a serious turn when a number of bus and auto-rickshaw drivers got engaged in a brawl near the Ambala City bus stand last evening.

Four drivers of three-wheelers and private buses sustained injuries in the fight. As a result, auto-rickshaw and private bus services remained suspended today.

Drivers of auto-rickshaws gathered near the Ambala City bus stand under the leadership of their president, Mr Ashok Kumar Boondi, here today to protest against the attitude of private bus operators. Drivers of private buses also reached the place, where the situation became tense.

On getting information, SDM Mukesh Ahuja and DSP Uday Shankar along with police force reached the site. The officials tried to pacify both parties but could not find any solution to the problem.

Mr Boondi alleged that the private bus drivers pick up passengers from stops not meant for them, which affects the business of three-wheelers. He alleged that the bus drivers had manhandled some of their drivers.

Meanwhile, owners of private buses alleged that some of the auto-rickshaw drivers had beaten an owner of a private bus last evening at his residence. The private bus operators alleged that the three-wheelers were permitted to take three passengers but they pick up 10 to 12 passengers at a time. They said that their bus services would remain suspended till the assailants were arrested. The police was trying for a compromise between the two parties till the filing of this report.

Patrolling unit to check traffic jams
Our Correspondent

Kalka, June 19
A special police patrolling on motor cycle has been introduced on national highway between Pinjore and Kalka. The aim of this patrolling unit is to maintain free flow of traffic on the highway and to rush immediately the accidents victims to a hospital.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Rajesh Duggal, said in order to give a distinct identity to the patrolling motor cycle, its colour has been kept while with yellow headlights and will have complete first-aid arrangement. A special siren and wireless set has also been fitted on this motor cycle.

Main bazars in Kalka and Pinjore, located on national highway, are so narrow that there is frequent incidents of traffic jams every day. This patrolling unit will keep on taking rounds beginning from Kali Mata Mandir, Kalka, to Pinjore Garden, and will keep strict watch on the vehicles parked on road sides, the main cause traffic jams.

Bankers review panel meeting
Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 19
Mr M. Ayub, General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, New Delhi, chaired the district-level review committee meeting of bankers and various development agencies here today. Among others, Mr Binoy Kumar, AGM, RBI, Mr V.J. Mattoo, Senior Regional Manager, Punjab National Bank, Mr B.R. Rathore, Chairman Ambala Kurukshetra Gramin Bank, Ambala, and Mr R.N. Acharya, AGM, NABARD, attended the meeting.

Mr M. Ayub wanted the bankers to uplift the poor in the district by achieving all the targets allocated under different sponsored programmes. He said that more SSI units should be established in the district. Mr V.J. Mattoo, in his keynote address, said that from April, 2001, to March 31, 2002, deposits in the district had registered a growth of 14 per cent, under advances, the district has registered a growth of 32 per cent and total advances of the district had increased to Rs 833 crore. Under the priority sector advances the district has shown a remarkable growth of 70 per cent against the national goal of 40 per cent. Similarly, the achievements under agricultural advances are 40 per cent against the national goal of 18 per cent, advances to the weaker sector advances are 11 per cent against the national goal of 10 per cent.

51 pigs die in mysterious circumstances
Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 19
Mystery surrounds the death of 51 pigs in Naraingarh. The large number of deaths have caused concern to the piggery farm owners in the area.

Such an incident is said to have taken place for the first time in Naraingarh. The pigs were found dead in a dumping pit which is a low-lying area. The pigs are normally found throughout the day and night in the area since garbage is dumped there.

At least half of the dead pigs belonged to a persons living in Valmiki Basti. The owner told the officials that when he went to see the pigs in the morning, he found them dead. The pig owners are unable to explain the cause of death of such a large number of pigs. They are not ruling out the possibility of some poisonous substance having being dumped in the area which could have led to the fatalities.

Veterinary experts were called to the spot to look into the matter and the Tehsildar has been asked to conduct an inquiry. The veterinary experts conducted postmortem and samples have been sent for testing. An official said that the exact cause of death would be known once the test reports of the samples sent for testing are received.

Farmers block highway
Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, June 19
Farmers and timber commission agents blocked the Yamunanagar-Saharanpur highway this morning for an hour in protest against the alleged misbehaviour of the Station House Officer of the local Sadar police station who impounded eight loaded trolleys of poplar wood. They alleged that the SHO used derogatory language against them.

Mr Ashok Kumar, DSP, Headquarters, reached the site and pacified the agitated crowd. The DSP said farmers and timber commission agents used to unload raw material on the roadside resulting in traffic bottlenecks.

He assured the agitators that the police would not interfere if the unloading was done at the proper place.

Phoolpati heads Welfare Advisory Board
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19
The Haryana Government has appointed Ms Phoolpati as Chairperson of the Haryana State Welfare Advisory Board. Ms Phoolpati a post-graduate in political science and a law graduate, remained the state President of the ruling INLD’s women’s wing for nine years.

She was also Chairperson of the Haryana State Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation, a member of the Consumer Forum, Ambala and an honorary general secretary of the Haryana State Council for Child Welfare.

Slum raided, liquor pouches seized
Our Correspondent

Ambala, June 19
The Excise and Taxation Department conducted a major raid at Dheha Basti here today in search of country liquor pouches. It is one of the slum areas of the city. The Excise officers along with police officials and women constables cordoned off the entire colony and searched each and every house.

Mr Jaswant Singh, Excise and Taxation Officer, who was leading the raiding party, said they had got the information that country liquor pouches smuggled from Punjab and Chandigarh were being sold by residents of the area. He said during the past three months hundreds of pouches had been recovered from this area. The Excise Department seized a number of pouches during the raid.