Gurgaon, July 17
The Department of Excise and Taxation is all set to cancel the licence of a Gurgaon-based pub, Buzz-inn, for serving hookah and liquor to around 100 school students at a party called ‘sex and smoke’.

The move comes after police commissioner Alok Mittal wrote to the Department of Excise and Taxation seeking permanent cancellation of pub’s licence.

“We have spoken to the department and have asked them to close such kind of pubs for repeated offence. The pub was not serving alcohol only to one or two but to hundred of students and thus should not be spared,” said Mittal.

The Gurgaon administration had yesterday constituted a special team of officers to conduct a thorough checking of pubs, bars and lounges to ensure that none of them was serving liquor to minors or hookah.

The pubs and bars will now have to ensure installation of CCTV cameras and the footage will be reviewed by the team on a regular basis to ensure that no liquor is being served to those below 25 years.

In a joint operation, the Gurgaon Police and the Excise and Taxation Department raided Buzz-inn at DLF City Centre Mall on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon road on Sunday after a tip off that alcohol and hookahs were illegally being served to teenagers attending a ‘sex, smoke and rock-n-roll’ themed party.

The party was hosted by the son of a senior government official in Gurgaon who studies in Class XI. The party was held in a Sector-15 school and attended mostly by students in the 14-18 age group. The students were detained on Sunday but allowed to go home after they attended a counselling session with their parents.

A chief judicial magistrate granted bail to the pub owner, Milan, and manager Anil Chahar after they furnished a surety of Rs 45,000 each.

This is the second time a pub was raided for serving liquor to minors. On December 25, 2010, a pub at Sahara Mall was raided when 80 students were at a similar party. The pub was sealed for a few days and the owner got away with a fine of Rs 80,000.

Gurgaon, July 17
Ban orders under Section 144, CrPC, notwithstanding, the dismissed Maruti workers plan to stage their demonstration at Devi Lal Park in IMT, Manesar, tomorrow.

"We will assemble at the open space near the Leisure Valley tomorrow and then march towards the IMT, Manesar, to hold demonstration," said a representative of the sacked workers.

Gurgaon Police Commissioner Alok Mittal said they were prepared to tackle the protesters and prevent any untoward incident.

A police contingent comprising nearly 600 personnel led by the Police Commissioner carried out a flag march in the Manesar area today. Another police team led by a DCP-level officer carried out a flag march in Gurgaon.

The police authorities asserted that 1,200 police personnel, including woman cops, had been deployed. Forces have been called from reserved battalions at the RTC, Bhondsi, and the HPA, Madhuban.

In order to avoid confrontation between villagers and agitating dismissed Maruti workers, Gurgaon District Magistrate Shekhar Vidyarthi yesterday imposed ban orders under Section 144, CrPC, in the entire area of the IMT, Manesar, Maruti plant at Manesar, Devi Lal Park at Manesar, National Highway No. 8 and Mini Secretariat, Gurgaon, banning any kind of procession and dharna at these places .

Residents and panchayat members of several villages in the Manesar belt have given memorandums to the Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner, maintaining that they would oppose any demonstration or dharna in the IMT Manesar area.

The DM has banned the gathering of five or more persons and carrying of weapons of offence in the above-mentioned areas.

These orders will remain in force on July 18.

The DM had earlier offered the workers to hold their demonstration at the open space near the Leisure Valley ground, which had been earmarked for the purpose.

Chandigarh, July 17
Bayer Crop Science India Ltd today defended the sale of “RAXIL 2DS” fungicide, saying it had the approval of IAS officer Ashok Khemka.

Former Managing Director of Haryana Seeds Development Corporation (HSDC), Khemka was transferred in April after he questioned the efficacy of the fungicide. The company also said it had no role in the decision-making process; and a high-level purchase committee of the state government had decided to purchase it.

Moreover, the fungicide was sold in 55 countries. The assertion came on a petition filed by Bhiwani Sudhar and Vikas Samiti. The PIL is seeking a probe by an independent investigating agency, CBI or a special investigation team into the alleged scam in the purchase of “RAXIL 2DS” fungicide, worth several crores, by the government for treatment of wheat seed.

The petition alleges that the fungicide was purchased at exaggerated market rates from the grants provided by the Central government by officials.

Directions were also sought to recover the embezzled public funds and cost of damages from the concerned authorities, company and persons who embezzled and involved in this foul play of baseless recommendations and purchase of fungicide.

According to the petitioner, on October 6, 2010, in a meeting under the chairmanship of the chief minister, the decision to use “RAXIL 2DS” was taken without supporting scientific data. The use of RAXIL 2DS was made compulsory for control of Loose Smut, Flag Smut and Karnal Bunt diseases in wheat seeds, before the seeds can be certified by the state seed certification agency.

Karnal, July 17
Once known for low female literacy with 2,200 women among 2,765 illiterates aged above 15 years, Munak village in Karnal has emerged as “model village” in literacy and women empowerment, thanks to the Sakshar Bharat Mission, which was launched in this village on an experimental basis in December 2010.

The success of the programme was phenomenal; it not only empowered the women folk but also changed the old mindset of people, and “learning” became a way of life for women of this sleepy village.

Munak village sarpanch Chanderkanta herself became the role model for spreading education and passed the Class XII exam 16 years after her matriculation. In due course of time, more than 100 women followed in her footsteps and the programme received a boost. Munak village today is a picture of contrast in a country where 30-crore people are still illiterate.

As the women learnt to read and write, a library was set up with 400 books in the village. To further motivate them, facility for computer training was also provided to the volunteers, who were keen to teach the village folk. At present there are 40 volunteers and the success story has also inspired neighbouring villages.

State Resource Centre director Pramod Gauri said delegates from SAARC countries who had come to attend a three-day international conference on best literacy practices in New Delhi visited Munak village today.

Under the mission, adult education centres have been opened in 2,900 gram panchayats in 10 districts so far and efforts are being made to achieve 100 per cent literacy by 2017. After six months course, the students are admitted to fourth standard and after that three years bridge course they can appear in VII standard examination, said Gauri.

Hisar, July 17
The Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC), Raj Kumar Verka, has summoned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hisar Range, and the Deputy Commissioner tomorrow to seek preliminary report in the death of three Dalit youths in Barwala town of the district. The youths were killed in a shootout over a land dispute on Monday.

Verka, who visited Barwala town and met the families of the victims, held a meeting with Superintendent of Police B Satish Balan here today. He said he had directed the police to file an action taken report in the case within seven days.

“I met the families of three youths who died in the shooting incident on Monday. I came to know that none of the deceased had any direct interest in the land dispute and two of them, Rinku and Vicky, were asked to accompany by the rival factions. While it has been alleged that the third youth, Neeraj, had died in the police firing,” Verka said.

He said further action would be taken after the receipt of the ATR.

Chandigarh, July 17
The Haryana Health Department will again launch its weekly iron folic acid supplementation (WIFS) programme on July 22 for children studying in classes VI to XII in government schools.

An official spokesman said these tablets help cure anaemia without any side-effects.These tablets would be distributed among students after their mid-day meals. The students of senior classes would be given these tablets after their recess. He said the guardians should send their children to schools only after properly feeding them as these tablets taken after meals prevent nausea.

He said earlier this programme was launched in May but discontinued after complaints of nausea in some children. After imparting essential information about the need and significance of these tablets and dispelling the misconceptionsabout these tablets, the programme would be re-launched. He said these tablets would be distributed on every Monday for 52 weeks. About 16 lakh school-going children would be covered under this scheme.This programme would not be discontinued until anaemia was eradicated among adolescents, he added.

He said two teachers in every school had been appointed as nodal officers under the programme who would keep a complete record about the stock and distribution of the tablets. In the initial phase, only government schools would be covered but the programme would later be extended to private schools and colleges as well.

Sirsa, July 17
For the first time in the state, victims of acid attack, rape, murder attempt, human trafficking and kidnapping, etc., will now get compensation for the injuries sustained during the crime.

Harish Gupta, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), said in his letter dated July 15, Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HSLSA) Secretary Deepak Gupta has directed all district and sessions judges and secretaries of the DLSAs to start entertaining applications under the Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme 2013.

Under the scheme, compensation to the tune of Rs 3 lakh in case of death of a person up to 40 years of age, Rs 2 lakh in case of the death of a person between the age of 40-60 years and in case of death of a person above 60 years of age, Rs 1 lakh will be awarded.

In the case of 80 per cent disabilities of a body part in the acid assault case, Rs 2 lakh (up to 40 years of age), Rs 1 lakh (40-60 years) and Rs 50,000 (person more than 60 years of age) will be awarded.

In the case of rape, compensation amounting to Rs 3 lakh will be awarded to the victim, said Gupta. In the case of death, an additional amount of Rs 2,000 as funeral expenses, Rs 15,000 as medical compensation could also be awarded, said Gupta.

The DLSA secretaries can also entertain application for award of compensation and interim relief to the victims on the recommendations of the courts, added Gupta.

For claiming compensation, the victim must have reported the crime to a police station in-charge, any senior officer, executive magistrate or judicial magistrate of the area within 48 hours of the crime. The family income should also not exceed Rs 4.5 lakh per annum; and the victim should not be an income tax payee.

The compensation will be paid by the government initially, but it will be recovered from the accused, if he or she gets convicted, However, in the case of acquittal, the victim will not asked to refund the relief to the government. 

Gurgaon, July 17
A district court has sentenced Ankur Gupta, director of a local non-government organisation Drone Foundation, to life imprisonment for raping two HIV-affected minor girl inmates of the NGO shelter home.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Vikram Aggarwal also imposed a fine of Rs 4.10 lakh on him yesterday.

Both rape victims will get Rs 1.75 lakh each. In the case of non-payment of fine, Gupta will undergo an extended jail term.

Ankur Gupta’s mother, Sunita Gupta, who heads the non-government organisation and was also an accused in the case, has been let off due to lack of evidence.

The non-government organisation, Drone Foundation, claimed to support HIV-affected orphan children and ran a shelter home at Maruti Kunj in Bhondsi, near here. The protection home housed 14 inmates, including adolescent boys and girls.

The matter was exposed by Bharti Sharma, a teacher at a government school in Bhondsi. She informed NGO Shakti Vahini, which brought the matter to the notice of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

A team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights raided the shelter home. Two girl inmates, aged 12 and 14 years, alleged that they were being sexually exploited by Ankur Gupta, who also threatened them with dire consequences in case they disclosed the matter.

One of the victims was HIV-positive herself while the other was staying at the protection home as her parents were HIV-infected.

The accused, Ankur Gutpa, is also HIV-positive.

As many as 14 HIV-affected children were rescued from the protection home during the raid.

An FIR was lodged in this regard.

The girls' medical examination confirmed sexual exploitation. The matter came to light in January, 2012. The statements of 26 persons were recorded in the case. 

Rohtak, July 17
The police has arrested two youths allegedly involved in the murder of a sub-inspector, who was posted as police post in-charge at Kharawar village in the district recently. A reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced by the police in this connection.

Addressing the mediapersons here today, the Inspector General of Police (Rohtak range) and the Senior Superintendent said the accused, identified as Amit of Mandothi village and Rahul of Bhaproda village, had been absconding since committing the crime on July 5.

They said the accused, who had a criminal background, had gunned down sub-inspector Balwan Sharma when he intervened in a case of a highway robbery near Kheri Sadh village, about 10 kilometres from here. When policemen tried to detain the accused for interrogation, they opened fire on Sharma and others. Sharma, who was unarmed, died on the spot, while his driver Harender got injured. The police recovered a .32 bore revolver and a pistol, along with nine live cartridges, from them. The accused would be produced in the court tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the policemen responsible for solving the case will not only be rewarded but a recommendation for their promotion would also be made, said Vivek Sharma the SSP. 

Fatehabad, July 17
An eight-year-old girl, whose body was recovered yesterday from a canal with that of his elder brother, is believed to have been raped and assaulted before she and her 10-year-old brother were thrown into a canal at Bhattu Kalan village in Fatehabad.

The doctor, who conducted postmortem on the bodies of the two children recovered from Pilimandori Minor of the Bhakhra canal system yesterday, has given the opinion that the girl could have been raped before she died. The postmortem also reveals injury marks on the body of the boy.

“There were injuries on the private parts of the little girl and signs of bleeding on other body part as well,” said Dr Narinder Sharma, a doctor in General Hospital, Fatehabad, who conducted postmortem examination on the girl. Dr Sharma said the boy had an injury mark on his forehead.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Shamsher Singh Dahiya said the police was yet to receive the postmortem report.

While the police maintained that they have not yet received postmortem reports of the two siblings, Dr Sharma said the report was ready with him and it was for the police to collect it.

The victims hailed from Balsamand village in Hisar and had come to Bhattu Kalan with their mother at her parental home.

The police had registered a case of murder and disappearance of evidence under sections 302 and 201 against unknown person on the complaint of the children’s father after the recovery of their dead bodies from the canal. 

Gurgaon, July 17
The wife of Gurgaon Chief Judicial Magistrate Ravneet Garg was found dead under mysterious circumstances in bushes near a park in the Police Lines area here Wednesday late evening.

According to police sources and eyewitnesses, two gunshot injuries were found on the upper portion of the body of body of Geetanjali near the neck. A country-made pistol was also found from the scene of crime.

The police has sent the body for a postmortem examination and further investigations were on till the time of filing of this report.

Sonepat, July 17
The body of a four-year-old boy of Rampur Kundal village, who went missing on Monday evening in suspicious circumstances, was found floating in the village pond this morning.

After preliminary investigation, the police sent the body to the civil hospital. However, the decomposed body was further referred to the PGIMS, Rohtak, for the postmortem examination.

The victim’s grandfather, Raghubir Singh, in his complaint to the police, said the child, Dushyant, was playing in a street on Monday evening and suddenly he went missing.

Suspecting the involvement of a local tantrik and his accomplice in the incident, the family members and other villagers allegedly beat them up and handed them over to the Saidpur police. Both the suspects were later shifted to Sonepat and were in police custody.

Meanwhile, superintendents of police Arun Singh and Ajit Singh have assured the victim’s family members of thorough investigation into the incident and a strict action against the guilty.

Jind, July 17
Five persons were killed and six injured in a collision between two Canters near Brahmanwas village on the Jind- Rohtak highway, about 25 km from here, this morning. The injured have been shifted to the Rohtak PGIMS.

Police sources said the accident took place around 6 am today when a truck carrying about 10 persons were on their way to Jind collided with a Canter carrying buffaloes towards Rohtak.

While Wazid (38), Murli (45), Wasin (22), Ayub (45) and Ramjani (44), travelling in the Canter, were killed on the spot, Sajid, Khurshid, Anis and Amin were among six injured in the accident. Three buffaloes were also killed in the mishap. Local residents helped in the shifting of injured persons to hospital. The victims were employed by a fisheries contractor. The deceased hailed from Delhi. A case has been registered.