Sirsa, July 21
Three days after the Dera-Sikh clash in Dabwali, the police today suspended a sub-inspector and sent another police official to the Police Lines on charges of dereliction of duty and “carelessness” towards a verbal complaint of Sikhs.

According to Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa, president, Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha, Haryana, activists of the sabha had intimated police officials in Dabwali to stop followers of Dera Sacha Sauda from organising a “naam charcha” at their residence. However, the officials took the complaint lightly and did not take the required precautionary measures.

For dereliction of duty and careless approach to the complaint, the police today suspended sub-inspector Dalip Singh and sent SHO Daljit Singh to the Police Lines.

Meanwhile, Baljeet Singh Dadu, convener, Sant Samaj, visited the local Civil Hospital and enquired about the health of the injured, Jasbir Singh (13) and Darshan Singh (60), both residents of Ghukanwali village.

They reportedly got injured during a clash between dera men and Sikhs in Ghukanwali on the night of July 18.

He said both injured were operated upon today and bullets of a .32-bore pistol were taken out from their bodies.

Dadu alleged that dera men were trying to create a wedge between Hindus and Sikhs by terming “naam charcha” as “Ram charcha”. He appealed to all religions to support their cause.

Fatehabad, July 21
Followers of Dera Sacha Sauda from all over the district today organised a demonstration here against their alleged persecution at the hands of some Sikh organisations.

They also voiced their protest against the authorities, accusing them of failing to safeguard their legitimate right to profess the religion of their choice.

The dera followers, including a large number of women, started converging on the “sangat ghar” of the dera on the Hisar road since morning.

They marched towards the town in procession, raising slogans against some Sikh leaders and the authorities.

The procession culminated under the sheds of the grain market.

Deputy commissioner O.P. Sheoran reached there to accept their memorandum.

The memorandum, addressed to the President of India, said dera followers were being attacked by some “anti-social elements” for performing “naam charcha”, a religious ritual they had been practising since 1947.

The memorandum alleged that the authorities remained mute spectators even as dera followers were being targeted every day.

It said shops and residences of dera followers were attacked and torched in Dabwali after a Sikh, Harmandar Singh, who had come to “attack dera followers” died accidentally of a fall.

The memorandum also said an old dera situated at Dhukianwali, which was built by Shah Mastana, founder of Dera Sacha Sauda, was also torched by some anti-social elements, but the authorities did nothing to nab the culprits.

The dera followers demanded the immediate release of Sunder Lal Mehta and another person booked for the murder of Harmandar Singh and also demanded the arrest of Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa and Baljit Singh Dadu for allegedly attacking dera followers.

PANIPAT: A large number of dera supporters on Monday held a procession, demanding action against those who had attacked dera followers in Dabwali. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the district administration to check any untoward incident.

The protesters later gave a memorandum to the additional deputy commissioner regarding their demands. The dera followers alleged that the authorities were deliberately not taking any action against those who had attacked dera followers.

Panipat, July 21
Dyers in the city who had been at loggerheads with the district administration over the shifting of their units to new industrial Sector 29 part II have alleged that they were being subjected to harassment by pollution control board (PCB) employees.

Speaking to mediapersons here, president of the dyers association Yashpal Malik said the PCB officials were unnecessarily troubling the unit owners over the installation of water treatment plants. He claimed that recently the board officials issued notices to several law-abiding units, while those, which had been running illegally in the city, were spared by the PCB.

He alleged that these notices were being issued as a measure to mount pressure on the units so that they shift their base to the new industrial sector.

He stated that though the industrialists were ready to shift their base, there was absence of basic infrastructure due to which the owners were unable to set up their units there. He said the administration instead of providing them with infrastructure like drinking water, sewage and electricity, were using pressure tactics to ensure that they shift to the industrial sector.

On the other hand, the district administration had been maintaining that the required facilities like water, roads, power and sewerage had been made available at the industrial sector. Besides, an effluent treatment plant had also been installed at the industrial area to treat polluted discharge from the units, the administration claimed.

Malik claimed that the administration was under tremendous pressure from the state government to shift the dyeing units and the recent issuance of notices by the PCB was an outcome of the same.

He said the matter was already in the high court and since the administration was not in a position to issue direct orders to the industrialist, it was using other means to ‘force’ them to shift their base.

Jind, July 21
A teenaged girl of Gadwali village in the district committed suicide in her house today after a “controversy” over an alleged molestation bid on her by two youths of the same village.

The girl and her kin were upset after the youths had passed some vulgar comments on her a couple of days ago and tried to molest her.

The police has registered a case against the youths, who are yet to be arrested.

The victim, Rekha (16), had reported the matter to her parents after the youths - Kala and Bhal Singh - tried to molest her while on her way home recently.

The issue was taken with the village elders, who called a panchayat to discuss the matter.

“While two rounds of meetings were held yesterday and today, the panchayat was unable to provide “justice” to the girl, who got more upset with the issue getting a “negative publicity”,

said a relative, who told the police that the girl took the extreme step due to tension and mental pressure.

It is reported that the family was asked not to go to the police by some elders, who called a panchayat to sort out the matter. The girl consumed poison and ended her life.

The police took the body for a post-mortem examination and registered a case against the youths in this connection.

Yamunanagar, July 21
Deputy commissioner N.K. Yadav, using his powers under Section 144 of the CrPC, has directed all cyber café owners of the district to install CCTV cameras, maintain records of addresses of users and check their identity cards.

The step has been taken in view of cyber cafés being used by criminals for anti-national activities in Delhi and other parts of the country, the district’s proximity with neighbouring districts of Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur and Muzzafarnagar, which are known for criminal and anti-social activities, and to prevent the use of cyber cafes to send objectionable messages and photographs.

The decision in this regard was taken because various cyber café owners in the district had not been maintaining proper records of their users.

The DC said it had become imperative that cyber cafe owners should maintain proper records of all users, including foreign nationals, and check any concrete or authentic residential proof and photograph. Every user must be identified with the help of a valid identify proof like passport, driving licence, voter ID card, ration card, identity card of a school or college or identity card issued by employee.

Besides, the cyber café owners must install CCTV cameras in their cafés in order to keep photographic record of all visitors.

The DSPs and SHOs of areas concerned had been asked to check the records of all cyber cafes. If any person was found guilty of violation of the order, he would be liable for punishment under Section 188 of the IPC, he added.

Rewari, July 21
Rainwater in large quantities from the surrounding areas of Alwar district of Rajasthan reportedly entered the peripheral areas of Mundi, Nangal and Bas Batodi villages of the Rewari region early this morning.

The flood-like situation was caused owing to heavy rains, which the surrounding hilly areas experienced last night.

While the rainwater inundated numerous fields, knee-deep water standing on the Mundi-Pranpura road and other approachable roads also caused disruption of traffic.

DC Chander Prakash said there was no cause for anxiety and concerned officials were engaged in tackling the situation to the ease and comfort of the villagers.

Jhajjar, July 21
The Bahadurgarh Sadar police today registered a rape case against a Delhi policeman on a complaint lodged by a girl of his village in this regard. The policeman and the girl belong to Luksar village in the district.

The police has launched a manhunt to nab the accused, Mohan, who is said to be at large.

In her complaint lodged with the police, the girl alleged that she was alone at her house in the village yesterday morning when Mohan, a constable with the Delhi police, allegedly entered her house and raped her.

She alleged that after raping her, Mohan threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the incident. Thereafter, she tried to commit suicide by consuming poison. However, her life was saved as a little later, her parents came home and took her to a private hospital.

The girl’s parents then informed the police about the incident. The police went to the hospital and recorded the girl’s statement.

A case has been registered under sections 376, 452 and 506 of the IPC in this regard.

“A medical examination of the girl has been conducted and samples sent to the forensic science laboratory at Madhuban for examination. Further investigations are on and raids are being conducted at various places to nab the accused,” said Mahabir Singh, SHO of the Bahadurgarh Sadar police station.

Meanwhile, in another case, the Jhajjar police has registered a case of assault on a police official against two persons. In his complaint, the policeman, Vijay Pal, said he was going to Charkhi Dadri by bus when Sumer and Wazir Singh of Bhagi village in Bhiwani district misbehaved with him and assaulted him. Thereafter, he informed the police about the incident. A police team rushed to the bus stand and rounded up the accused. 

Kaithal, July 21
The CIA branch of the district police has solved the murder case of photographer Sanjay at Kalayat on May 21, which evoked strong public protest leading to blockage of National Highway No. 65.

The police has arrested two persons and their third accomplice was absconding and efforts were on to arrest him. Those arrested were produced in the court of JMIC Rajnish Sharma who remanded them in five-day police custody.

Giving details of this case SSP Anil Kumar Rao while addressing a press conference here today said according to FIR registered on the complaint of Subhash Chand, brother of Sanjay, two motorcycle-borne youths came to the shop of his brother and asked him to accompany them to cover a function at Kolekhan village. However, Sanjay was shot dead after some time and his body was left on the roadside. Inquiries revealed that there was no function in Kolelhan village.

Initially the police was clueless, however, following intensive investigation the CIA team under the supervision of inspector Jagat Singh and investigation officer Shakti Singh arrested two youths, Babloo and Sunny, both of Samain village in Fatehabad district. During preliminary interrogation they alleged the involvement of Mohinder Singh of Samain village.

Throwing light on the motive for this murder Rao said Babloo was running a modelling shop in Samain and he needed a digital camera to promote his business. He conspired with his friends Sunny and Mohinder to loot a camera from some photographer. Sunny and Babloo convinced Sanjay to accompany them on motorcycle and on the way Mohinder joined them. When the trio tried to snatch a camera from Sanjay, he resisted and was shot dead.

The SSP said efforts would be made to arrest Mohinder, recover the pistol, the looted camera and a cellphone.

Rewari, July 21
A report, which appeared on July 18 in a national Hindi daily (published from Delhi), regarding the alleged corrupt practices and poor performance of certain ministers of the Hooda Cabinet has triggered off protest demonstrations here by opposition parties and voluntary organisations seeking immediate dismissal of the ‘corrupt’ ministers in the public interest.

Activists of the youth wing of the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) led by Sajjan Pahalwan took out a protest procession on the main roads of the town here today shouting slogans against the ‘corrupt’ ministers. Seeking a CBI enquiry into the alleged corrupt practices of the ‘discredited’ ministers, he urged the state Governor to dismiss such ministers immediately by using his constitutional powers in the public interest.

After the procession reached the district secretariat the demonstrators burnt an effigy of the ‘corrupt’ ministers.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to DC Chander Prakash, which was addressed to the Governor of Haryana.

Ambala, July 21
The Northern Railways Contractors Association has alleged that the engineering section of the Northern Railway of Ambala division has been following wrong policies while allotting tenders.

President of the association Balbir Singh said many a time no contractor quoted rates and the railways had to re-tender the same, due to which projects got delayed.

He alleged that this was so because the estimated rates of tenders were not prepared on the latest market rates.

“The booklet of the schedule of rates (SOR) of the railways has not been updated since 1996. Other departments like the CPWD and the MES have done so and fixed item-wise premiums over the rates in their booklets. Their officers can find out if the overall cost of tender is higher than the total on basic rates plus premium,” said Singh.

He further said not only the schedule of rates of the railways was wrong, but the book also does not contain the latest designed modern items. He said no premium had been fixed over SOR rates.

The association has now written a letter to railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and requested him to look into the problems of contractors of civil work.

“It is a loss for both the railways and the contractor. It seriously needs to be looked into,” he added. The association has 250 members.

Chandigarh, July 21
Congress rebel MP from Bhiwani and patron of the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) Kuldeep Bishnoi has alleged that former Chief Minister and INLD president Om Prakash Chautala has reached an understanding with Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries on the special economic zone(SEZ) to be developed by the latter in Gurgaon district.

Talking to The Tribune on the phone, Bishnoi said when he had first opposed the acquisition of farmers’ land for a pittance for the SEZ to be promoted by the big industrialist, Chautala had announced that if the the government or Ambani tried to take possession, he would oppose it tooth and nail.

Bishnoi claimed that Chautala had asserted that if the government forcibly tried to take possession of the land, he himself would face the first police bullet.

The HJC leader said now when the government was taking possession of the land in Gurgaon district, Chautala had gone abroad, asking his party men to offer only token resistance. On the other hand, Bishnoi said, he and his supporters had faced a brutal lathi charge at the hands of the police.

Bishnoi said he had written a letter to all three major opposition parties in the state, the INLD, the BJP and the BSP, to join hands with him to oppose the “looting” of farmers by big business and the government. He had made an offer to these parties to come on a joint platform to oppose the Reliance SEZ and for this purpose had offered that a meeting could be held in Chandigarh on July 13 or July 14. But no reply was received from these parties.

Bishnoi said the lack of any response to his suggestion by Chautala only proved his contention that the INLD leader had reached an understanding with Ambani. However, he said he could not say what was the consideration behind this understanding.

Chandigarh, July 21
The Haryana Congress today reacted sharply to the claim made by party rebel MP Kuldeep Bishnoi that he was offered Rs 100 crore to vote in favour of the confidence motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Lok Sabha.

Party spokesman Ved Parkash Vidrohi said here today that only a person like Bishnoi could level such false allegations. Bishnoi was earlier claiming that he had resigned from the membership of the House. Why was Bishnoi going to cast his vote if he had resigned from the Lok Sabha?

Vidrohi said it had been proved now that Bishnoi was only enacting a drama of resignation. Earlier, Bishnoi had claimed that he was offered the chief ministership of Haryana and Rs 100 crore. Now he was claiming that he was offered a ministerial berth in the Union Cabinet. Bishnoi should first decide what he was offered.

The Congress leader alleged that by making these claims Bishnoi only wanted to convey that he was ready to sell his vote and he had fixed a price for his vote. He said the Congress did not give the top post in the state to Bishnoi’s father Bhajan Lal, then how could it offer the same to Bishnoi, an inexperienced hand in politics.

Vidrohi said Bishnoi was earlier in favour of Mayawati becoming Prime Minister. Now he was talking of Advani. The people of the state now understood that Bishnoi was power hungry and “ideology less” leader whose only objective in politics was personal gain.

He also expressed the hope that Arvind Sharma, MP from Karnal, would vote in favour of the UPA government. He said the Left parties and the NDA were trying to destabilise the UPA government for their personal gains. 

New Delhi, July 21
Haryana’s demand to hand over its property worth crores of rupees situated in the national capital has put the Delhi government, which is hankering for land for various projects, in a tight spot with the former mulling to move court over the issue.

In a high-level meeting held recently, Haryana officials asked their counterparts in Delhi to either hand over around 500 acres of property owned by them in the city or give alternate land or pay the market rate.

“The Delhi government is neither handing over our property nor giving us alternate land. It is also not ready to pay us the market rate. They are just dragging the matter which reflects its intentions,” M.K. Lamba, superintendent engineer, flood and irrigation department, Haryana government, said.

“If it further delays, we will have no option but to take the Delhi government to the court, though we would like to settle the matter through negotiations,” he added.

Giving details of some of the property that belonged to Haryana, the official said, “Around 142 acres of land in Shalimar Bagh and Azad Market is being utilised by the DDA, the MCD and the home ministry, while 30 acres of land which is currently abandoned exists in Mundaka village.”

Also, he said of the 58.40 acres land in Bawana, DSIDC and flood and irrigation department were using at least 47 acres of land without any authoirsation.

In total, land around 500 acres belongs to Haryana, the official said.

Lamba said the property initially belonged to the Union Territory of Chandigarh and was later transferred to Haryana through a notification in 1966 when the state was created.

Most of the property is situated along the canal owned by the neighbouring state.

The neighbouring state has also demanded change in land use of its property in Bawana (13.25 acres) and Shalimar Bagh (95 acres) near Pitampura and Khera Khurd (38.69 acres) and at some other places.

“We have also asked the Delhi government to change the land use to commercial and residential purposes depending on the surrounding land which it is not agreeing for unknown reasons,” he said.

The demand from Haryana, however, has not gone down well with the Delhi government which itself is facing acute land shortage for its projects, especially those lined up for housing and 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“How can we give them alternate land when we are already short of it. We have agreed to pay them the rate that was prevalent when the case was first taken up. However, they are not ready to accept our proposal," Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta said. — PTI