Hisar, December 2
Even as HJC supremo and Hisar MP Kuldeep Bishnoi raked up the political sensitive issue of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and a separate SGPC for Haryana in a bid to reach out to the farming community and the minority Sikhs, the ruling Congress termed his statements as political rhetoric devoid of ground reality.

Reacting to the announcements at the Vijay Rally, Sampat Singh, former minister and Congress MLA from Nalwa assembly segment, ridiculed Bishnoi for his alleged lack of knowledge about the long pending issue stating the matter has been pending in the Supreme Court referred to by a presidential reference.

"What can the state government do until the court gives its verdict? The then chief minister of Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh had enacted the termination of interstate Water Agreement Act in the Assembly in 2004. Moreover, while the Haryana part of the canal meant to bring its share of water has already been dug, the remaining portion of the canal lies in Punjab and Haryana could not forcibly complete the work”, Singh said.

Singh maintained that a major portion of the SYL in the Haryana region was completed during the tenures of the former ministers Bansi Lal and Devi Lal.

He also took potshots at Bishnoi regarding his promise to set up separate Haryana Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee stating that the Sikhs in Haryana had not yet forgotten the tenure of his father Bhajan Lal when they had been at the receiving end of the worst kind of atrocities on them.

The senior Congress leader described that the HJC rally as meaningless and directionless as the leaders failed to send out any massage and even the nomenclature of Vijay Rally was absurd.

“Will he tell us what he has conquered after which he organised rally named as vijay (victory) rally. The whole drama of carrying out the yatra and organising rally reflects the political immaturity in Bishnoi”, he stated.

“Though the primary aim of the rally was to showcase his political might to the ally BJP which seems to be trying to extract the maximum mileage out of the present political situation when besides the HJC, the INLD too is eager to have a truck with them. The senior BJP leader though fulfilled the HJC’s wishes of reiterating the commitment about the alliance, he avoided making any reference to the INLD leadership”, commented an expert.

A Sikh leader Didar Singh Nalvi, though welcomed assurance of formation of a separate committee for Haryana, maintained that the Sikhs want a solid public promise on this issue. “This time, the Sikhs are silent in Haryana as they had been feeling cheated due to similar assurances in past two assembly elections."

Chandigarh, December 2
Close on the heels of the November 13-14 strike, over three lakh government employees are on warpath again.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s attempt to mollify the government staff by announcing Rs 2,000 per month interim relief (Rs 7,000 for police personnel) at November 10 Gohana rally seems to have been rejected by employees’ unions with the another round of agitation in the offing.

While the employees would gherao the residences of the state ministers on December 7 and 8, a mega rally "halla bol" is planned at the CM’s home town Rohtak on December 22.

“Despite repeated representations and agitations by the employees unions, the Hooda Government seems to be dragging its feet on the genuine and long-pending demands of the employees,” alleged Subhash Lamba, general secretary of Sarv Karamchari Sangh (SKS).

The employees are up in arms against the government’s dilly-dallying tactics in not regularising the services of about one lakh temporary employees and the policy of outsourcing recruitment in various departments and giving permits to ply 3,519 private buses in the state.

Besides nearly three lakh government employees, including those of the Haryana Roadways, nearly 55,000 police personnel are at loggerheads with the government over ‘disparity’ in pay scales and other demands.

The police personnel, who were given Rs 5,000 special allowance besides the Rs 2,000 interim relief, want pay parity with the neighbouring Punjab. The state government, on the other hand, want pay package on the Central government pattern.

Chandigarh, December 2
The Haryana Government has notified the policy parameters for regularisation of plots in the Civic Amenities and Infrastructure Deficient Municipal Areas in the state.

Stating this here yesterday, a spokesman of the Urban Local Bodies Department said the Haryana Management of Civic Amenities and Infrastructure Deficient Municipal Areas (Special Provision) Act, 2013 has been notified and under section 3 of the Act ibid the areas situated within the municipal limits have been declared as Civic Amenities and infrastructure Deficient Municipal Areas.

He said as per section 4 of the Act, policy parameters have been approved. He said as per the policy, the extent and boundary of the declared area under the Act would be demarcated on the ground and correspondingly on the shazra plan. Only such plots or buildings, falling within the declared area, would be eligible for regularisation.

He said the vacant plots falling in the internal area of the declared areas would be considered as eligible for regularisation. The parts of the declared area which are situated within the restricted belt along national highways, state highways or scheduled roads would not be eligible for regularisation.

The spokesman said a regularisation fee for residential plots at the rate of Rs 250, Rs 200 and Rs 150 per square meter, for areas falling within the limits of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Municipal Committees, respectively, would be payable within six months of the notification of declared areas. For plots already constructed, water supply, electricity and sewerage connections would be released only after depositing the regularisation fee, development charges and any other fee or tax, as applicable, he added.

He said development charges would be collected at the rate of Rs 200, Rs 150 and Rs 75 per sq. yard for the areas falling within the limits of the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Municipal Committee respectively. The regularization would be primarily for residential purposes only.

However, small shops, up to 50 sq m plot area, situated within the declared area, would be considered for regularisation. Regularisation fee for such small commercial shops or establishments, located within the declared areas, would be five times of the regularisation fee prescribed for the corresponding residential plots. Integrated shopping complexes or malls and plotted markets would not be eligible for regularisation.

The spokesman said funds collected for regularisation and composition fee and charges would be invested for carrying out development works in the declared areas. All roads, streets, parks, open spaces meant for common use, green belts and existing public utilities of declared areas would vest in the concerned municipality as common areas for public use, immediately. The municipalities would take necessary steps to ensure that no building is sanctioned on the land designated as public use, in the declared area, he added.

He said that a No Dues Certificate would be issued, after receipt of regularisation fee, development charges and any other fee or tax applicable, by the Commissioners, Executive Officers, Secretary of Municipal Corporation or Council or Committee concerned. A copy of the certificate has to be submitted to the concerned authority before release of water supply, electricity and sewerage connection or execution of sale deeds, in the declared areas.

Chandigarh, December 2
Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Geeta Bhukkal said the state government would provide monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to physically challenged from January 2014.

In a message issued here today on World Disabled Day-2014, Bhukkal said that a provision of Rs 101.42 crore had been made under Pension Scheme for physically challenged persons during current financial year. She said that a sum of Rs 95.93 crore had been released as pension among more than 1.34 lakh disabled persons during last financial year.

Under various schemes being carried out for the welfare of physically challenged persons in the state, Bhukkal said a sum of over Rs 14.60 crore had been earmarked during current financial year. A residential schools up to class 12th is being run in Government Blind School, Panipat, where 100 students are getting free facilities.

Besides, schemes like scholarship for these students, unemployment allowance to educated students, grant-in-aid to voluntary organisations engaged in welfare of physically challenged and financial assistance to non school going disabled students are being run by the government.

Kaithal, December 2
The 23rd crushing season of the Kaithal Cooperative Sugar Mill began here today. ADC Arvind Malhan, who inaugurated the crushing session, put the sugarcane in the crushing machines in presence of Ranjeet Kaur, MD, Bhag Singh Khanouda, vice-chairman, directors, officials and farmers.

Speaking on the occasion, Malahan said a target to crush 32 lakh quintals of sugarcane had been fixed this season. The mill management had decided to enhance recovery to 9.10 per cent against 9.03 per cent last year. The mill is expected to produce 2. 91 lakh quintals sugar this season as against 2. 71 lakh quintals produced last year.

He said as per government policy, the farmers would be paid Rs 301 per quintal for advance variety of sugarcane, Rs 295 for medium and Rs 290 for the late variety.

He said interest-free loan would be provided to farmers who prepared sugarcane nursery by adopting foundation and tissue culture method besides a free bag of NPK as an incentive.

He assured timely payment to farmers through cooperative banks. The first five farmers who brought sugarcane to the mill were given cash awards by the ADC.

MD Ranjeet Kaur gave details of facilities provided to farmers by the mill management.

Chandigarh, December 2
The Haryana Govt has notified the new rates for affixation of High Security Registration Plates on vehicles.

A spokesman of the Transport Department said the rates were different for registration plates of different sizes. He said the price exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT) for the registration plate of the size of 500x120mm has been fixed at Rs 83.75. Similarly, Rs 89.75 has been fixed for the size of 340x200 mm, Rs 30 for 200x100 mm size and Rs 26 for 285x45mm size. In case of third registration plate sticker, Rs 10.80 would be charged inclusive of printing.

Yamunanagar, December 2
The BJP has opposed the condition of mutation for registration of plots for persons who want to sell their property.

A delegation of the BJP led by Pawan Bittu, a BJP leader and Senior Deputy Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Yamunanagar-Jagadhri, handed over a memorandum to Sub-Divisional Magistrate Aditya Dahiya today demanding that the necessity of mutation for the registration of property be abolished.

The BJP leader said the mutation had no legal importance and it did not establish the ownership of property.

He said it was just a formality of revenue record.

He said sale deed and documents of registration gave the right of ownership to a person of his or her property.

The BJP leader said possession of owner on his property was enough to sell the property.

The BJP leader said the condition of mutation for registration was not only causing a number of problems to those who wanted to sell their property but also helped in spreading corruption.

Those who were present on the occasion included Sangeeta Singhal, Preeti Jauhar, Neeraj Rana, Ghanshyam Das, Madan Chauhan and Rajesh Sapra. 

Rohtak, December 2
The Haryana state units of the CPM as well as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have expressed anguish over the alleged offending behaviour of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his staff during a meeting with a delegation of ASHA workers union in New Delhi on Sunday.

ASHA workers union president Roshni and general secretary Surekha have also decried Hooda’s “rough and haughty” behaviour.

“The Chief Minister rebuked a seven-member delegation of ASHA workers invited by his office through a written communication to discuss the demands of workers who remain deprived of even the minimum wages despite discharging multiple duties and responsibilities,” said CPM state secretary Inderjit in a statement issued here today.

He alleged that the Chief Minister instructed the policemen in his security to throw CITU state general secretary Comrade Satbir Singh out. “On his orders, the policemen and another aide of Hooda manhandled Comrade Satbir,” Inderjit alleged.

“Such gross behaviour by a person holding a high constitutional position is shocking and unacceptable,” the statement said. The CPM has demanded a public apology from the Chief Minister over the episode.

The party has urged all mass organisations, trade unions and democratic forces to raise a collective voice of protest against the alleged dictatorial and authoritarian attitude of the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, state president of CITU Surender Malik has also condemned the incident and called for a statewide agitation along with ASHA workers union on December 3.

The trade unions plan to burn Hooda’s effigies at all district headquarters during their protest demonstrations tomorrow. 

Chandigarh December 2
The Haryana Government has decided to hold auction to grant mining contracts for mining units of minor minerals in various parts of the state.

While stating this here today, a spokesman of Mines and Geology Department said that auction for Mining Units 1, 3 and 4 in district Panchkula having reserve price of Rs 16.50 crore, Rs 25.85 crore and Rs 7.15 crore per annum, respectively, would be held in the office of Mining Officer, Panchkula on December 23, 2013.

On the same day, auction for Mining Units 1, 2 and 3 in district Ambala having reserve price of Rs 4.40 crore, Rs 1.65 crore and Rs 4.95 crore per annum, respectively, and Mining Unit 1 in district Kurukshetra with reserve price of Rs 4.50 crore per annum would he held in the office of Mining Officer, Panchkula.

The spokesman said that auction for Mining Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in district Yamunanagar having reserve price of Rs 4.25 crore, Rs 14.80 crore, Rs 13.48 crore, Rs 11.56 crore, Rs 17.93 crore and Rs 15.10 crore per annum, respectively, would be held in the office of Assistant Mining Engineer, Yamunanagar on December 24 whereas, auction for Mining Units 1, 2, 3, 4 in district Karnal with reserve price of Rs 6.62 crore, Rs 5.39 crore, Rs 4.66 crore and Rs 5.32 crore per annum, respectively, would be held in the office of Assistant Mining Engineer, Panipat on December 26, 2013.

He said as per the programme, auction for Mining Units 1, 2 and 3 in district Panipat having reserve price of Rs 4.76 crore, Rs 16.40 crore and Rs 4.84 crore per annum, respectively, would also be held in the office Assistant Mining Engineer, Panipat on December 26, 2013.

On the same day, auction for Mining Units 1, 2 and 3 in district, Sonepat having reserve price of Rs 5.78 crore, Rs 15.12 crore and Rs 13.10 crore per annum, respectively, would be held in the office of Assistant Mining Engineer, Panipat, he added.

Similarly, auction for Mining Units 1 and 2 in district Faridabad (sand) having Rs 2.56 crore and Rs 2.93 crore per annum as reserve price would be held in the office of Mining Officer, Faridabad on December 27. On the same day, auction for Mining Units 1 and 2 in district Palwal (sand) having reserve price of Rs 1.50 crore and Rs 1.80 crore per annum respectively would also be held in the office of Mining Officer, Faridabad.

Auction for Mining Units 1, 2 and 3 in district Mahendergarh (sand) having reserve price of Rs. 0.14 crore, Rs. 2 crore and Rs. 1.16 crore per annum respectively would be held in the office of Mining Officer, Narnaul on December 28, 2013, he further added.

He said the period of contract would commence with effect from the date of grant of environmental clearance by the competent authority or on expiry of a period of 12 months from the date of acceptance of the highest bid and issue of Letter of Intent, whichever is earlier.

The copies of auction notices, containing the detailed terms and conditions of auctions could be downloaded from the State websitewww.haryana.gov.in or could also be obtained from the offices of concerned Assistant Mining Engineer or Mining Officers or from the office of Director, Mines and Geology, Haryana, Chandigarh on any working day, he added.

Ambala, December 2
Several councillors of the opposition and the ruling parties of the Ambala Municipal Corporation protested for not providing sufficient safai karamcharis and tubes for streetlights at a meeting held here today. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Ramesh Mal. Commissioner of the corporation MK Pandurang conducted the meeting.

While briefing the progress of the agenda of the last meeting, Pandurang said a comprehensive mobility plan for the corporation was almost finalised. Tender formalities would be completed soon in this regard. He said a Delhi- based consultant had already been hired for the construction of a modern slaughterhouse at Ambala City. A company of Chennai had been engaged for collecting waste materials from door to door. He said the corporation would launch a campaign against the stray cattle.

Councillors Himmat Singh, Daljit Singh Bhatia, Dilip Chawla Bittu and Harish Chander alleged the agendas resolved in the last meeting were not put into working so far. They demanded that sub-committees of the corporation should be constituted soon so that the works could be conducted in a democratic manner. Congress councillor Pawan Aggarwal and Sudhir Jaiswal also raised problems of their wards.

Some women councillors, including Chitra Sarwara, Rupam Guglani, Sonia Rani and Darshna Mehta also raised several issues. BJP councillors Laltia Prashad and Surinder Bindra, alleged that the condition of roads of Ambala Cantonment was in worst condition. Mayor said he was not authorised to allot any development work or take action against any official. He said he had written many times to the officers of the administration regarding public grievances but nobody responded him. 

"Working holiday" for Secretarial employees

Whether or not the Congress records an impressive performance in the five poll-bound states, including Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi, remains to be seen but the top party leaders from Haryana did add their "muscle" and "lung" power to the campaigns. While Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has been extensively touring three of the five election-bound states including Chhatisgarh, ministers Randeep Singh Surjewala, Kiran Choudhry and Aftab Ahmed, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dan Singh have been busy 'managing' Delhi and Rajasthan.

But while the political masters were away, there was an almost death-like quiet on many floors of the Haryana Secretariat. For many of them it was like a "working holiday". In the absence of the CM and other senior ministers, some new entrants into the Government were on the receiving end. The recently-appointed minister Aftab Ahmed was at his wits' end when confronted with two-day 'chakka jam" by the agitating Haryana Roadways employees.

The Secretariat employees have been taking it easy for many weeks now. Earlier, a major part of the Government was busy preparing for the Gohana rally, which had become a prestige issue for Chief Minister Hooda. Now that the elections to five states are over, the deserted corridors will be buzzing with activity. But that may not be for too long; Haryana will witness first the Lok Sabha polls and then the Vidhan Sabha polls in the coming year.

Criminals co-opted for Delhi polls?

In the run-up to the polls in Delhi, there has been a drop in the number of criminal activities in the Sonepat District. Many feel that this could be because usually criminals get co-opted with political parties which need "muscle power" during polls.

Even otherwise, Delhi assembly elections has brought great relief to the CID personnel in the district as most of the political activists of different parties particularly of Congress, INLD and BJP have been camping in Delhi for canvassing in favour of the party candidates. With these leaders away, the CID personnel don't have to keep their seniors informed of their activities. As Sonepat is adjoining Delhi and many of the political activists of the district had their relations in Delhi city and villages, there has been few, if any, political activities including meetings and demonstrations. But with two set of polls next year, the CID personnel sure will have much work to do in the coming months.

HJC on tenterhooks

With polls in Haryana a few months away, political rumour mills are having a field day. At the centre of most of these is whether the BJP would continue its alliance with Kuldeep Bishnoi's outfit, Haryana Janhit Congress or go with its erstwhile partner, INLD. BJP's then president Nitin Gadkari and Sushma Swaraj tried to lay these rumours to rest in Bishnoi's rally at Sirsa on December 2 last year, but change in leadership in the BJP first and then announcement of Gujarat CM Narender Modi's name as prime ministerial candidate revived those rumours. On December 1, although senior BJP leader, Arun Jaitley, has again tried to set to rest the reports by announcing that Bishnoi would be CM, if the alliance won, rumour mongers are still seeing something amiss. The fact that the BJP president Rajnath Singh and others did not attend Bishnoi's rally is what fans these rumours. The HJC leaders are of course trying to explain their absence due to polls in Delhi and some other states. Though HJC can draw comfort over the huge turnout at the Hisar rally, its leadership may have to remain on tenterhooks for some time - till the Saffron Party finally commits itself.

Heady cocktail of marriage and politics

Though political leaders are known to attend a lot of social and marriage functions in their respective constituencies, there has been a significant increase in the trend in recent days due to assembly elections in the neighbouring Delhi. Reason: leaders wanted to encash on the fact that several of the residents had their kin or relatives residing in Delhi and any obligation could influence the vote bank. Besides, the leaders were also generous with the 'shagan' (cash gift) at such functions. "It is a cocktail of marriage and politics," one of the guests was heard saying.

But with prominent leaders attending marriage functions, the chaos at the venues has been on the increase. While the "baraatis" take their sweet time dancing away on the roads, the convoy of vehicles of VIPs adds to the rush. In one such incident, the organizers and the police had a tough time in handling the movement of traffic in the Surajkund area, where the members and guests of a couple of Baraats (marriage parties) got stuck in the traffic mess for over an hour on Wednesday last. But since even at the traffic chaos political leaders get a lot of attention, they don't mind getting stuck in jams.

Persistence pays

Those who hold the view that "persistence does pay", can add another plume in their belief. The Punjab & Haryana High Court Chief Justice SK Kaul, who visited Gurgaon courtrooms here on the occasion of National Lok Adalat day, promptly accepted lawyers' plea to have a round of the district court complex. They wanted him to see the pitiable tin sheds they were using as chambers so that these could be replaced with portable cabins. They injected a touch of pathos to their pleas saying the structures were an eye-sore on the Gurgaon skyline. He, however, remained non-committal and cited procedural issues.

But, the lawyers, did not give up. They used persuasive skill in the Meeting Hall of the District Bar where he addressed them. When he reiterated his earlier stand, they sang paeans of his good nature in their speeches. They subtly praised his credentials as a lawyer before he became judge. To every one's surprise, Justice Kaul then announced from the dais his approval for the cabins." One of the lawyer's was heard commenting, "I wish similar persistence could pay dividends in his court too?"

Legality of women harassment

With rising incidents of rape in the country, instances of dowry harassment have taken a back seat - at least for now. But in Hisar, a police study has once again brought the issue to the fore. An analysis by the Hisar Range of the Haryana Police has kicked up a debate of sorts.

While analysing 3072 cases of dowry harassment reported from five districts, an official release of the IGP office mentioned that in 97 per cent cases the victims were harassed by the relatives of the groom. This obviously leads one to believe that in remaining 3 per cent cases (92 out of 3072 cases), people "other than relatives" were involved. This has led some social activists to ask how persons "other than relatives" of a women victims be accused in the cases of domestic violence and dowry harassment cases? Their argument is that if that be so, the charges would fall in the category of "crime against women" and not "dowry harassment". However, some have a different take on the issue. "The "other people", apart from relatives could be made co-accused if they were inhabiting or sharing the house with the victim," argued a local lawyer, Vikram Mittal. Perhaps the lesson is not to meddle in other people's affairs!

— Contributed by Geetanjali Gayatri, Pradeep Sharma, BS Malik, Sushil Manav, Bijendra Ahlawat, Ravi S Singh and Deepinder Deswal

Faridabad, December 2
The decision of the Haryana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) to hike the interest rate on the security deposit for low-tension (LT) and high-tension (HT) connections is likely to provide a major relief to thousands of domestic, industrial and bulk consumers in the district. The district has over 5.65 lakh power connections at present.

Revealing this, sources in the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) said the interest rate which was 6 per cent on the security deposit of such connections, had been revised to 9.5 per cent from the next financial period. This will provide a major relief to various types of consumers in their bills from April as the department has been directed to deduct the interest from total bills to be realised from consumers.

While the authorities concerned are still to calculate the total amount of relief set to reach LT and HT consumers in the district, it is believed that it can result in a drop of 5 to 15 per cent of the bill due in April-May next year on an average of such consumers. Various residents' and industries' associations had been seeking a revision in interest rate of the deposit for the past several months.

The Faridabad circle, which covers a majority of power consumers in the district, has 4.46 lakh domestic, 52,131 non-domestic and 16,836 agricultural connections in the LT category at present while over 2,200 connections, including 2,083 industrial and 61 bulk supply connections, fall in the HT category at present. The DHBVN issued a notification to all offices concerned to prepare bills of April-May next as per the decision and provide relief to consumers by deducting the hiked interest amount from the bills, said an official.

Describing it as a positive step, a spokesperson of the All Haryana Power Corporations Workers Union said the authorities were required to take several measures to improve the functioning and performance of the department. He added that the department was facing acute shortage of manpower and the quality of work had gone down due to the policy of outsourcing and hiring manpower on contract.

Chandigarh, December 2
A month after a petition was filed alleging Haryana MLA-cum-Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ramkrishan Fauji’s hand in a murder case in Bhiwani, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today discharged him.

The order by Justice Inderjeet Singh came after the counsel for the MLA, SK Garg Narwana, told the Bench that the MLA was being implicated in the case. Narwana also told the Bench that the MLA’s name was being dragged unnecessarily in the controversy because of “political” reasons.

In fact, his political opponents were behind the move. 

Jhajjar, December 2
Three unidentified motorcycle-borne youths reportedly looted cash of Rs 25,000 from salesman of a petrol pump at gun point on the Rohtak road near Birdhana village here today. The looters fled after the crime.

The police have started investigation after registering a case of looting against three unidentified youths on the complaint of the sales man Surender Singh. No clue has been found so far about the looters.

In his complaint lodged with the police, Surender said he was sitting in his cabin when the trio came to the petrol pump this afternoon. As he came out to put petrol in their vehicle, they looted Rs 25,000 from him at gun point and escaped with the booty. Jhajjar DSP Anuj Kumar along with other police officials rushed to the spot on getting information about the crime and took stock of the situation.

Sonepat, December 2
A 19-year-old girl of Garhwal village under the Baroda police station was found dead in the fields of the adjoining Kohla village today.

Amit (19) of the same village was found in serious condition after consuming some poisonous substance. He was admitted to the medical college at Khanpur Kalan.

On the complaint of the girl's brother, a case of murder was registered against Amit at the Baroda police station. The SHO, Vikas Kumar, confirmed that a case of murder was registered and an inquiry begun.

It was suspected to be a love affair case. The girl left the house for a morning walk, but did not return. Her family started searching for her and she was found lying in the fields.

She was rushed to the civil hospital at Gohana and doctors declared her brought dead. Amit was found in a serious condition and was taken to the civil hospital.

Doctors referred him to the medical college, where his condition was reported to be stable. The girl's body was handed over to her family members after post-mortem examination.

Ambala, December 2
Additional Sessions Judge RC Dimiri sentenced a man to 10-year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5,000 for raping a relative. The court acquitted the other accused because of lack of sufficient evidence.

The prosecution said the victim had told the police that she started living with her aunt at Naggal village after the death of her parents.

She reported that her uncle had raped her several times and she, being an orphan, had been bearing the ordeal. She levelled allegations against her cousin as well.

She said in the complaint that her uncle did not spare her even after her wedding. Her husband came to know about the matter.

In 2010, she reported the matter to the police. The police had registered a case of rape against her uncle Ram Nath and her cousin.

Hisar, December 2
A shopkeeper suffered burn injuries when his neighbour snapped a gas pipe of the LPG cylinder after a brawl in Azad Nagar locality here today.

According to information, the victim Sanny Singh, who has been admitted in a hospital said in his complaint that Rajesh and his accomplices Manjit, Surender and Amar Singh had attempted to kill him by setting him on fire.

The police have registered a case of attempt to murder against the four accused.

Kurukshetra, December 2
One person was killed in a road accident while five women were injured in another accident last evening. The police have registered two separate cases in this connection.

Kartar Singh of Tosham in Bhiwani district was killed on the spot when he was hit by an unidentified vehicle.

In another case, five women were injured when their three-wheeler was hit by a car. — OC

Karnal, December 2
A rape victim attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills at her house last night. She was admitted to Kalpana Chawla Medical College and Hospital, where her condition was stated to be critical.

In her suicide note, she accused the wife of Vishal Gupta, the main accused who owned a placement agency, and a forensic officer for harassing her and compelling her to take the extreme step.

In the note, the victim alleged that she was being pressurised by the family of the accused to withdraw the complaint and alleged that the forensic report had been tampered with.

The 22-year-old victim reported in her complaint, registered at the Civil Lines police station on September 20, that Gupta called her to his place in Sector 9 that morning on the pretext of giving her a job and sexually assaulted her.

When she resisted, she was beaten up and threatened that she would be killed in case she disclosed the matter to anyone, she said in her complaint. The police had booked Gupta under Sections 376, 323 and 506 of the IPC, arrested him and sent him to jail.