The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Scene shifts from Balasar farm
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Balasar (Sirsa), November 11
The palatial farmhouse of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal spread over hundreds of acres and dotted with sprawling lawns and a swimming pool, which remained the hub of Akali politics for weeks together, today wore a deserted look.

All SGPC members staying there, left for Amritsar in the wee hours today after performing “ardas” for victory at the annual SGPC elections.

The members were taken to Delhi in buses owned by the kin of Mr Badal. The buses were piloted and escorted by confidants of former Union Minister Sukhbir Badal, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, MLA, and personnel of the Haryana Police.

Most SGPC members who enjoyed the hospitality extended by Mr Badal and his family members were a little sad at their departure. It was for the first time that they had found time for interaction. Some confessed that it was the first time that they had interacted with Mr Badal, President, SAD, from close quarters.

“Had there been no farmhouse owned by Mr Badal, we would have been in police custody,” pointed out former SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who managed to reach here after dodging the police. Mr Zora Singh Mann, MP and member of the SGPC, said all members felt secured in the farmhouse and it was heaven for them.

The members were provided with the telephone facility so that they could keep contact with their near and dear ones. A religious “diwan” and “shabad kirtan” was organised everyday. A group of women was specially deployed in the farmhouse for women members of the SGPC.

A team of doctors from nearby towns of Rania and Sirsa visited them daily for medical care.

Four scribes hurt in accident
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, November 11
Four journalists of the print and electronic media, who were returning after meeting SGPC members at Balasar in Sirsa district, were injured when the Toyota Qualis vehicle in which they were travelling collided with a truck near Daryapur village in this district.

The driver of the vehicle also received injuries. All scribes are stated to be out of danger, but received fracture injuries.

The injured have been identified as Ravish Kumar and Nitish Malik, of NDTV, Tejinder Singh of Punjab Today and Major Singh of daily Ajeet.

According to Dr Anil Bhatia who attended on the injured scribes, Ravish Kumar received a head injury, Nitish had a dislocated hip joint while Tejinder and Major Singh had fractured their leg and arm, respectively.

Middle exam pass percentage 66.46
Shiv Sharma

Bhiwani, November 11
The overall pass percentage of the Middle Supplementary Examination, conducted in September by the Board of School Education Haryana has turned out to be 66.46. The result of this examination will be declared tomorrow.

Announcing this, the Board Chairman, Mr Rambir Singh, MLA, said here today that 37,715 candidates appeared in the examination out of which 25,656 candidates were successful and 12,638 candidates were placed in the compartment. He informed that 21,559 boys appeared for the examination and 14,450 were able to get through at least 71,01 boys got compartment giving a pass percentage of 67.03. On the other hand 16,156 girls appeared for the examination out of which 10,616 girls passed and 5537 girls got compartment showing a pass percentage of 65.71.

The Board Secretary, Mr M.S. Mor, said elaborate arrangements had been made to make the result available to candidates. He said that the result was being published in four Hindi dailies and could be downloaded from the Internet website http://haryana.nic.in. It would also be available at the offices of district education officers.

The Secretary said the fail/compartment/re-appear cards of private candidates and those candidates who sent their forms through institutions would be sent at the addresses filled in by them on their forms with in a week of the declaration of the result. The pass certificates of both these categories of candidates would be sent with in 15 days.

The Secretary said the candidates who got compartment/re-appear in this examination and want to appear for clearing it in annual examination, March-2003 could send their forms with a prescribed examination fee of Rs 210 without any late fee up to November 27. After this date a late of Rs 500 would be payable up to December 12. A late fee of Rs 1000 and would be payable if forms were deposited 14 days before the commencement of examinations.

Tubewell connections within a month
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has envisaged a plan to give tubewell connections to consumers within one month of the receipt of test report.

While stating this today, the Managing Director of the Nigam, Mr V. Umashankar, said DHBVN would release tubewell connections to all those by December end who had deposited the requisite charges.

He said that the pendency of applications for tubewell connections had reduced considerably. Last year, the Nigam had released over 1000 tubewell connections in Fatehabad, which were more than that released during the past 10 years.

He said that to strengthen power transmission and distribution system, a Rs 55-crore power development plan was being executed by the DHBVN and Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) in Fatehabad district.

This included construction of a 220-KV sub-station at Fatehabad, a 132-KV sub-station at Ahrawan and three sub-stations of 33-KV sub-station at Ahrawan and three sub-stations of 33-KV level at Dariyapur, Karandi and Sadhanwas. Besides this, capacity of 33-KV sub-stations at Fatehabad, Bhattu, Behbalpur, Gularwala, Ayalki, Teliwara and Haroli was also being augmented.

	Bhaniarawala case adjourned Our Correspondent Ambala, November 11 The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ms Sarita Gupta adjourned the hearing in the Baba Bhaniarawala case for November 23. One of the accused in the case Ashok Kumar surrendered in the court today. He was later remanded to judicial custody. The Patiala district court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Ashok Kumar. A bail application of Ashok Kumar was also filed in the court. The CJM fixed November 21 for the arguments on this application. One of the accused in this case Karnail Singh was also produced in the court whose statement has to be recorded. Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarawala and other 14 accused listed in the case No. 161 were present in the court. The advocate Jaspal Singh and Gurvinder Kaur appeared on behalf of the Baba while the public prosecutor P.S. Rathi represented the state. Talking to mediapersons outside the court premises the Baba alleged that he and his disciples were falsely implicated in the case. He said it was unfortunate that even after the Independence people in the country were treated like slaves. He said he could never even think of disrespect Guru Granth Sahib as alleged by some of the Akali leaders. He said he had regards for all religions and sects. A large number of his disciples were also present in the court premise. Two Gypsies of the Punjab police were escorting him.
	TRIBUNE IMPACT Bluebull calf finds home at last Bipin Bhardwaj Panchkula, November 11 The Haryana Wildlife Department authorities finally woke up to its responsibilities after the plight of a bluebull calf, being reared by three migrant labourers in Saketri village, was highlighted by Chandigarh Tribune in these columns. The story had mentioned — how three migrant labourers were feeding a one-and-a-half-month-old bluebull calf for the past month at farmhouse in Saketri village, with the wildlife authorities turning a blind eye towards the rehabilitation of the mute animal. A team of the Haryana Wildlife Department recently visited the farmhouse and caged the animal in a net. The calf was later transported to Deer Park in Pipli. After proper medical examination, it was released into a temporary rescue house adjacent to the deer enclosure. According to the wildlife authorities, the male bluebull calf has been released into the temporary rescue house so that a two-year-old female bluebull calf and some other deer may mix with the guest without harming it. The animal would be released into the enclosure soon. The calf was found in a deep ditch in the forest area of Saketri hills by a forest guard deployed with the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI), located in Mansa Devi Complex on October 2. The mute animal was either abandoned or got lost by its herd. The guard had later brought the animal to a nearby farmhouse and asked two workers — Mr Ram Pyare Yadav and Mr Sushankar Pandey — to take care of it. Since then, the workers were feeding the mute animal by cutting down on their own ration. With the arrival of the male bluebull calf, the Deer Park is now having a pair of bluebull, which it was lacking for long. Presently, the park is having nine black bucks, eight spotted deer, eight hog deer, and a chiknara.
	CME concludes at MH Tribune News Service Ambala, November 11 The Continuing medical education programme being held at Military Hospital, Ambala Cantonment concluded yesterday. Chief guest, Major-Gen R.P. Singh inaugurated the scientific exhibition and released the brochure of CME-2002. Major-General R.P. Singh delivered the keynote address where he emphasised on the importance of medical fraternity being up to date in emergency medical care in various specialities in view of the present challenges being faced by the country. Major Gen B Sadananda, Commandant Command Hospital, Western Command, Chandi Mandir, attended the CME. Dr Arvind Kaul spoke on cardiac emergencies and advances in interventional cardiology. Medical emergencies in asthma, heart and children diseases were discussed at length and recent advances in these fields were apprised to the army doctors. The present emergency medicare status and future developments were highlighted. There was special emphasis on disaster management during railway accident and the subject of bio-terrorism was also discussed. The valedictory address was delivered by Col (Mrs) H.K. Kheterpal.
	Haryana holidays Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 11 The Haryana government has notified the following public holidays in its offices during the calendar year 2003. All Saturdays and Sundays will be closed days. Other holidays are Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday (Jan. 9), Basant Panchmi and Sir Chhotu Ram Jayanti (Feb. 6), Id-ul Juha (Feb. 12), Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti (Feb. 26), Holi (Mar. 19), Ram Naumi (April 11), Baisakhi and Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s Jayanti (April 14), Mahavir Jayanti (Apr. 15), Maharana Partap Jayanti (June 3), Teej (Aug. 1), Independence Day (Aug. 15), Janamashtmi (Aug. 19), Haryana’s Heroes Martyrdom Day (Sept. 23), Maharaja Aggarsain Jayanti (Sep. 26), Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday (Oct. 2), Mahrishi Balmiki’s birthday (Oct. 10), Id-ul-Fitr (Nov. 26), Christmas (Dec. 25), Saheed Udham Singh’s birthday (Dec. 26) and Guru Gobind Singh birthday (Dec. 29). The festivals and occasions which fall on closed days have been excluded from the list.

Protest against rape continues
Our Correspondent

Jind, November 11
The agitation by several social organisations of Narwana town in Jind district in protest against the rape of a four-year-old continued for the second day today. Shopkeepers in several markets pulled down their shutters while agitators took out a procession, demanding strict action against the guilty.

Yesterday, the agitators had staged a dharna in front of the police station at Narwana and had blocked traffic at Appolo Chowk.

Some youths abducted the four-year-old while she was playing at Morpatti Mohalla of Narwana on November 8. The youths took her to a deserted place and allegedly raped her. The victim was recovered by her parents in an unconscious state.

The police has registered a case under Sections 366A, 376 and 307 of the IPC. It has arrested two youths, Manjeet and Dharmender, both residents of Narwana town in this connection.

According to a report, the agitators damaged a Haryana Roadways bus today at Narwana. The situation in the town has become tense and a large number of policemen have been deployed.

Programme for entrepreneurs
Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 11
A three-month “Growth programme for existing entrepreneurs in the scientific instruments cluster of Ambala”, to be conducted by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad, is going to begin here soon.

The president of the Ambala Scientific Instruments Manufacturers Association (ASIMA), Dr Anil Jain, today said that an awareness programme was held here recently to sensitise entrepreneurs regarding the programme, which is being sponsored by the Small Industries Development Bank of India.

Dr Jain said that the programme is based on the philosophy that any business venture could grow by virtue of market forces without deliberate intervention on part of the entrepreneur. “However, systematic and sustainable growth is a result of planned efforts on part of the entrepreneur. Training and counselling the entrepreneurs could hasten the pace of growth process,” he said.

He emphasised the need for management upgradation and cost-consciousness for the enterprises, especially if the cluster wants to crave a niche for itself in the competitive global market. He stated that there is a need for enhancing the image of the cluster as a supplier of quality scientific instruments, which is a responsibility of the enterprises of the cluster.

Train engine derails
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, November 11
The engine of a passenger train derailed between Lahli and Kalanaur stations on the Rohtak-Bhiwani section of the Northern Railway this morning, disrupting traffic on the section.

There were, however, no reports of casualty. Some trains were diverted. According to railway sources, the engine of the 2RKB passenger train derailed at about 8.30 a.m. The cause of the derailment was yet to be ascertained.

Senior railway officials rushed to the spot on receiving information about the derailment.

The Bhiwani bound 3483 Farakka Express from Malda town was diverted from Delhi via Rewari.

Scribes’ meeting on November 16
Our Correspondent

Sirsa, November 11
The patarkar mahapanchayat scheduled to be held on November 16 will discuss the threat to the freedom of Press in the light of increasing incidents of suppressive and murderous attacks on scribes.”

This was stated by R.K. Bhardwaj, convener of the newly constituted Patarkar Sangharsh Samiti.

The samiti was constituted after a murderous attack on a local scribe by the followers of Dera Sachcha Sauda.

Bhardwaj has appealed to the scribes of North India to participate in the “Mahapanchayat”.

IT official’s bail plea adjourned
Our Correspondent

Ambala, November 11
The Special Judge for CBI cases, Mr M.M. Sharma, adjourned the bail application of the Panchkula Income Tax Inspector Mr J.P. Verma, for November 16 here today. The CBI had arrested Mr Verma on November 1 for allegedly accepting bribe from a Chandigarh-based businessman.

The counsel of Mr Verma, Mr Faquir Chand Aggarwal, in the bail application alleged that the petitioner was involved falsely. He never demanded any money from Reema or her husband.

Chander Mohan Sehgal appeared on behalf of the CBI. The court has already sent Mr Verma and one other Income Tax official to judicial custody till November 16.

Bhajan decries attack on Mullana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11
The Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhajan Lal, today condemned the murderous attack on the former Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, allegedly by a supporter of the Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, at Ismailabad yesterday when Mr Mullana was on his way to Pundri to participate in a Congress rally.

In a statement issued here today Mr Bhajan Lal said the incident showed that lawlessness was rampant in the state.