Chandigarh, August 11
One lakh officials and 40,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be pressed into service for October’s Assembly elections.

Though the poll dates are yet to be announced, the state has already sought 140 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre for the smooth conduct of elections. Nearly 2,800 booths have been identified as hypersensitive and as many have been declared sensitive in the state where 1.62 crore voters will decide the fate of candidates in 90 Assembly segments.

The state Chief Electoral Officer, Shrikant Walgad said that they were in the process of procuring EVMs from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka for 16,244 booths to be set up across the state.

“Ours are pre-2006 EVMs while these states have machines manufactured post 2006 with similar working but a better display system. These EVMs will arrive shortly after which the first company level checking will he held before they are readied for use, he said.

Meanwhile, we have rolled out our training programmes for officials involved with election duty. Training of master trainers is being organised from August 11 to 14 by the Election Commission of India for which 20 HCS officers have been short-listed. Once the machines come, the staff will be given hands-on training ,” he said. Stating that 3.82 lakh new voters have been registered in Haryana, Walgad said that constant updating of rolls is on and the process of registering will continue till 10 days before the last date of nominations. Voters wishing to check details of 
their polling booths can now send a sms “Votehry (space) Voter card number” 
to 09954699899.

In addition to the central forces, 50,000 Haryana police personnel would also be stationed across the state for poll duty, he said. “While 2,748 booths have been declared sensitive, another 2,792 are hyper-sensitive booths where we will deploy additional security. The 1.08 lakh poll personnel will also include 1080 personnel of the expenditure control and monetary teams and we will have 10,000 micro-observers keeping a watch on the run-up to the polling,” the CEO said.

Against 278 model polling stations in the recently conducted Lok Sabha elections, the Commission plans to have 500 model polling stations that will offer a help desk, ramps and wheelchairs for the physically challenged. NCC and NSS volunteers will be deputed to guide voters and seating arrangement will be made in the open.

Walgad said that they would shortly roll out the awareness campaign to encourage people to come out and cast their vote. “The various processes associated with elections have been set rolling and we are keeping pace with our plan. We are only awaiting the poll dates. Elections can be held at September end or mid-October,” he claimed.

Karnal, August 11
Even though the model code of conduct is yet to be imposed in the state, the Election Commission has already started its preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections.

In the first step for the preparation, 7,500 EVMs including 4,000 control units and 3,500 ballet units were brought from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh today in the presence of the election officials. The Karnal police are keeping an eye on the units at the Mini Secretariat.

Balraj Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, told The Tribune that these machines had been brought from Gorakhpur in UP, which would be sent to different districts soon.

The DC said, “We are ready for the Assembly elections and have increased the vigil along the Haryana-UP border as a caution and will keep an eye on all anti-social elements with the help of CCTV cameras installed at the border.” He added they had conducted a meeting with all political parties and informed them that no hoarding would be allowed at any public place without the permission of the concerned authority. — TNS

Jind, August 11
The BJP’s unprecedented rise in the recent General Elections and formation of new political outfits in Haryana by two Congress rebels have impacted state politics and this is visible in this Jat-dominated Assembly constituency.

Unlike the earlier triangular contests, Jind will witness multi-cornered contest in the forthcoming Assembly elections as all parties are in fray to leave a mark.

Of the 1.61 lakh voters in this constituency, around 42,000 are Jats while Saini, Brahamin, Baniya, Punjabis and other communities are in the range of 10,000-15,000. Before the recent general elections, this constituency was seen as a stronghold of INLD. But, BJP's Sonepat candidate Ramesh Kaushik got a lead of around 20,927 votes from this segment. INLD's Padam Singh Dahiya got 29,862 votes despite having a party MLA from Jind Assembly constituency while Congressman Jagbir Malik got 16,719 votes. In fact, Jind city constituency gave lead to BJP in the General Elections.

"BJP has the brightest chances of winning Jind city as there are 42,000 Jat voters. If we give the ticket to a Jat candidate from here we will win with a huge margin. The Lok Sabha election trends have shown that Jats are not the sole vote bank of the INLD anymore and we would prove it in the coming Assembly elections" said Jind BJP president and front-runner for party ticket, Dr OP Pehal.

Seen earlier as the B team of INLD, the BJP lead has come as a huge morale booster for local party leaders, who are now leaving no stone unturned to convince their high command to break their alliance with the HJC to contest elections from here on their own.

Political pundits strongly believe that though newly formed parties like Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) by Gopal Kanda and Jan Chetna Party (JCP) of Venod Sharma will not get much votes, but their impact cannot be ruled out totally as whatever little gain they corner, is bound to upset the poll calculations of big parties such as Congress, BJP and INLD in the intensely caste-driven politics of Haryana.

Though major parties are yet to announce their candidates but ticket aspirants of INLD, HJC, BJP, HLP, BSP and LSP have already started their activities and the constituency is likely to witness a multi-cornered contest. However, a majority of voters believe that the main battle would be between INLD-BJP-Congress.

In the recent General Elections, BJP candidate Ramesh Kaushik got a lead of 20,927 votes by securing 50,789 votes from Jind assembly constituency, INLD Padam Singh Dahiya stood second with 29,862 votes while Congress candidate Jagbir Malik came third with 16,719 votes.

The voters here agree that lack of canal water and electricity are common problems of the farmers in the area, who suffer huge losses each year as the government has not taken any step to provide these facilities despite their repeated requests.

This is a far cry from the days when all the major players like Devi Lal, Bansi Lal, Bhajan Lal, OP Chautala and even incumbent Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda believed any successful rally here sent the right message to the voters of the state and anyone who outdid his rivals in this context always formed the government in the state.

This is also evident in the decision of the BJP to hold start there election campaign from here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Party president Amit Shah is all set to preside over a rally here on August 16 to induct Congress rebel Birender Singh into the BJP fold.

Chandigarh, August 11
The Congress is putting together a “please-all” manifesto to beat anti-incumbency in the Assembly elections.

Manifesto committee chairman and former Rajya Sabha member Dr Ram Prakash today met Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with the rough draft to seek his suggestions before finalisation.

Sources said the achievements of the Hooda Government, which is facing strong anti-incumbency for its alleged acts of omission and commission, would be showcased in the manifesto. A view in the Congress is that the party’s achievements could not be communicated to the electorate in the recent Lok Sabha polls resulting in the party’s humiliating defeat.

Besides the Congress’ achievements, anti-incumbency against the BJP-led NDA government, which is likely to set in the weeks to come, would also be reflected in the manifesto.

Dr Ram Prakash confirmed that the Hooda Government’s achievements during the last five years would find a prominent place in the manifesto. In fact, the release of the manifesto by the main Opposition INLD recently made the Congress’ task all the more formidable as the former promised a slew of incentives to various sections of society. It would be virtually impossible for the faction-ridden Congress to match every sop announced by the INLD, some of which are considered impractical. 

New Delhi, August 11
The Congress today referred the matter involving the meeting between Haryana rebel leader Choudhry Birender Singh and BJP president Amit Shah to the party’s disciplinary committee headed by former Defence Minister AK Antony.

The committee has been authorised to take a final call on the future of the leader, who has of late been pushing his party of 40 years to the limit. “We have forwarded the entire matter to the AK Antony committee for a decision. The documents sent include the show-cause notice issued to Choudhry Birender for meeting the BJP president ahead of the polls, a photograph showing the two of them sharing space, Birender Singhs’s reply to the AICC and my own reading of the situation,” Shakeel Ahmed, Congress general secretary in-charge of Haryana, said.

Asked if a decision on Birender’s position in the Congress would be taken before his much-hyped August 16 Jind rally where he is expected to join the BJP, Ahmed said, “That is not ruled out.”

The Congress is in a Catch-22 situation insofar as the rebel leader from Banger area of Hisar is concerned. Sources indicated there was high possibility of the Antony committee ordering Birender’s suspension from the primary membership of the party.

The party would, however, not like to issue Birender’s expulsion from primary membership because under existing laws, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP gets to retain his seat in the Upper House if expelled by his party. Birender is a Congress RS member from Haryana.

“An RS member if expelled becomes an unattached member in the House. He is not bound by the whip of the party if expelled. He also continues to enjoy his membership,” said Congress sources.

Although Birender’s exit from Congress is now a foregone conclusion, the Congress would like him to make the first move. “If he joins the BJP without resigning from the Congress, he exposes himself to provisions of the anti-defection law and faces automatic expulsion and loss of RS seat. The issue pretty much is who blinks first,” said a Congress leader.

That the Congress is all set to suspend the former AICC general secretary and CWC member from the party also became evident day before yesterday when the leadership didn’t invite Birender for the meeting of the Haryana Pradesh Election Committee of which he is a member.

Birender was earlier issued a show-cause notice to explain his meeting with Shah. In his reply, he described the meeting as a routine political one. 

Ambala, August 11
Rebel Congress leader Birender Singh today once again took on Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda accusing him of weakening the Congress.

Speaking to party workers in Ambala, Birender Singh said he had taken up the matter with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, but the unwillingness to replace Hooda brought him on the verge of leaving the party.

Birender Singh said there was around Rs 6 crore in the account of the state Congress when Ashok Tanwar took over as HPCC chief about five months back. “The CM transferred the amount to a trust account to keep the HPCC chief dependent on him for running party affairs,” he said.

He said former HPCC chief Phool Chand Mullana might make more startling revelation against Hooda’s working once he retries from active politics. He said the Congress had become a party promoting property dealers and mafia under Hooda.

He claimed around 20,000 acres of farmers’ land was acquired by the state government and handed over to land mafia. He said the government took five acres of land from farmers in Gurgaon for Rs 8 lakh per acre and sold it for Rs 86 lakh per acre.

Later, speaking to the media, he said he had not yet made up his mind to join the BJP. He said that a final decision in this regard would be taken in the August 16 Jind rally. In reply to a query on banners put up in Gurgaon showing him with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, he said the Jind rally was being organised by a youth organisation and it was their prerogative.

Karnal, August 11
Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi today played the emotional card by talking of his father Choudhary Bhajan Lal’s association with Karnal.

Addressing a massive ‘Parivartan Rally’ organised by Veopar Cell state president Tejpal Garg at the new Grain Market here today, Bishnoi said his father had a close link with Karnal as he was elected to Parliament from here. “My father always wanted the overall development of Karnal. He wanted to do a lot for Karnal after coming to power,” he said.

On the alliance with the BJP, he said he would not accept less than 45 seats as per the conditions decided in 2011. “I want to continue the alliance and so do the people of the state. The party has made its election manifesto and is waiting for the BJP’s decision,” he said.

Kuldeep said he had suffered a lot for the people of the state and even faced lathis. “This time you have to decide carefully. After all, you have faced discrimination in jobs and development for a very long time under the Congress and INLD regimes,” he told supporters. He called upon them to question Congress leaders and make them elaborate upon the development done for the city.

Bishnoi was accompanied by ex-minister Jai Singh Rana, ex-MLA Nafe Singh, ex-MLA Rakesh Kamboj and Tejpal Garg. He promised that if voted to power, he will ensure equal and overall development of all 90 Assembly segments. 

New Delhi, August 11
A day after BJP president Amit Shah called upon his party cadres in poll-bound states, including Haryana, to strive towards the party forming a government on its own, Hayana Janhit Congress (HJC) chief Kuldip Bishnoi has written a letter to him, seeking clarity on the status of the HJC-BJP alliance in the state.

In the letter, a copy of which has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders, especially those on party’s parliamentary board, Bishnoi has urged Shah to meet him in case the latter has not taken “unilateral” decision against the alliance.

He alleged “deep-rooted conspiracy and vested interests at play”, especially by a section in the Haryana BJP, against the HJC-BJP alliance, forged in September 2011. He has made it clear that his party was not open to any suggestion for alteration in the terms of alliance which had been ratified by the BJP Parliamentary Board.

In the letter, he directly charged Haryana BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma to be working against the alliance.

Kosli (Rewari), August 11
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda laid the foundation stone of Regional Centre of Bhagat Phool Singh (BPS) Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat), at Lula Ahir village today. He also announced a financial aid of Rs 1crore for the construction of roads in the village.

Hooda lambasted the Modi Government for not checking the rising inflation during the past two months.

“The prices of diesel and sugar have increased and rail passenger fares have been hiked considerably. The farmers and the poor will be the worst sufferers in the near future due to the anti-poor policies being pursued by the Centre,” he said.

He maintained that the real face of BJP had been exposed and all sections of the society were feeling cheated. “After the Lok Sabha elections, I have addressed several public meetings in the state and got tremendous response from the people,” Hooda claimed.

Panipat, August 11
The INLD received a jolt today as three senior leaders quit the party. Israna MLA Krishan Lal Panwar, Balbir Saini and Rajiv Gupta alias Kaku, left the party protesting denial of ticket.

Krishan Lal Panwar faxed his resignation to INLD state president Ashok Arora. Political sources said he might join BJP as his talks with some BJP leaders were going on.

However, when asked about his plans, Panwar preferred to keep his cards close to his chest. He said he would declare his future plans on August 14.

In the first list of INLD candidates, the party declared Balwan Singh Balmiki as its candidate from Israna. Subsequently, Panwar held a meeting of his supporters and served a seven-day ultimatum to the party leadership to reconsider its decision. After the completion of the ultimatum, he faxed his resignation from primary membership and political affairs committee of the INLD.

Kurukshetra: Balbir Saini, who had contested Lok Sabha elections from Kurukshetra constituency, also quit the party today. He alleged that the party’s senior leaders had dictatorial attitude towards party workers.

Balbir said, “Since party chief Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala have gone to jail, there is no discipline left in the party. Recently, party tickets were announced but the senior leaders did not even bother asking for the party workers’ opinion.”

Saini was seeking party ticket from Pehowa constituency but it was given to Jaswinder Sandhu, who had contested Lok Sabha election on INLD ticket from Karnal constituency.

Yamunanagar: The third blow to INLD came in the form of Rajiv Gupta alias Kaku, who had contested the 2009 Assembly polls unsuccessfully from the Jagadhri segment. He announced his resignation as he was denied the party ticket this time and Radaur legislator Bisan Lal Saini was fielded instead.

Kaku is the second senior leader of Yamunanagar district to have left the INLD. Kaku said he would fight the elections from Jagadhri itself.

He said party supremo Om Parkash Chautala had promised him ticket from Jagadhri. However, MLA Bisan Lal Saini was fielded from here, even without consulting him. 

Kalka, August 11
Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) chief Gopal Kanda has hit out at the Haryana Government for putting the state on sale.

“After the shady DLF land deals, the government has now sold two prime properties in Mumbai at throwaway prices to private parties,” Kanda alleged before the media today. He was in Pinjore to address a gathering in favour of Vijay Bansal, chief of the Shivalik Vikas Manch.

Bansal, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Vidhan Sabha elections on the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket from Kalka, has shifted his loyalty to the HLP.

Kanda alleged that the Chautalas and the family of late Bhajan Lal ruined the state in the past 48 years. “Now, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is minting money through corruption and murky land deals,” the former minister in the Hooda Cabinet said. 

Chandigarh, August 11
Land acquisition proceedings in 16 Rewari villages continue to be on hold, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directing status quo till the next date of hearing on October 30. The land was to be acquired for setting up a model industrial logistic hub in the area.

The status quo was initially ordered on June 6. As the case came up for resumed hearing this morning, Acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu directed the continuation of interim orders, while giving time to the respondents to file reply.

The order came on a petition against the proceedings by the Bhoomi Adhigrahan Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti that represents 16 villages of Rewari district. Supreme Court advocate Dr Surat Singh and counsel Vikas Chaudhary had earlier argued that the Haryana Government initially issued the notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act on July 14, 2011, followed by another notification under Section 6 on July 11, 2012, to acquire 3,600 acres in 16 villages of Rewari district.

Acting on an earlier plea by some farmers, the High Court had on September 11, 2013, directed the Haryana Government to carry out a fresh survey before providing an opportunity of hearing to the affected parties. The state was then asked to pass a speaking order on the issue.

Dr Surat Singh argued neither the survey was completed on time, nor was an opportunity provided to the affected parties, let alone the passing of a speaking order. Dr Surat Singh also argued that the new land Act, ‘The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013’, in the meantime come into effect from January 1, 2014.

Despite the new Act, which provides safeguards to the affected parties, the Haryana Government issued a notification under Section 7 on April 11, 2014. The authorities were now threatening to dispossess the farmers of their only source of livelihood in an illegal and arbitrary manner, Dr Surat Singh said.

Faridabad, August 11
With all eyes on the state government to decide the fate of the civic staff on strike since the last 18 days, one of the Resident Welfare Association’s here threatened to initiate legal action against senior officials for their failure to provide basic amenities during the strike.

The employees on strike also took out a procession, semi-naked, to highlight their poor conditions and raise their demands. The 18-day strike appears to have surpassed the patience of the local residents as well.

The United Resident Welfare Association of Sector 21, has now served a two-day ultimatum to the authorities to either resume the cleanliness work by Wednesday morning or face legal action.

At a meeting held here last evening the office bearers and members of the RWA resolved to get a criminal complaint lodged against senior officials including the commissioner, MCF, deputy commissioner and the chief secretary of state government for failure to end the harassment of the local residents for the last few days.

Claiming while the residents were paying all kind of taxes to the authorities, Devender Singh, an office bearer of the Sector-21 RWA, said the officials concerned were duty bound to provide civic facilities to the tax payers and.

Suresh Gandhi, another member of the RWA, said they had earlier served a legal notice, but no came their way. He said the RWA would meet once again if the problem was not resolved by Tuesday evening. He claimed while there was hardly any locality where the complaint of choked sewers or garbage dumps had not surfaced, there was no official to attend to these complaints.

Meanwhile hundreds of striking male employees of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) took out a march in the city. They were semi-naked to highlight their grievances.

Panchkula, August 11
The plaques of development projects, laid by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at Red Bishop Complex in Sector 1 here were taken out of the foundation stones today to be installed at their respective places.

After The Tribune reported on August 11 that Hooda laid foundation stones at the same place on August 7 to avoid the imposition of the model code of conduct, the Chief Minister’s office directed the Panchkula administration to install the plaques at their respective places.

Kuruksehtra, August 11
Hundreds of outsourced employees of Kurukshetra University (KU) remained on an indefinite strike today. The employees, demanding salaries as per the rate fixed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC), have been on strike since Friday.

Subhash Jhangra, president, Kurukshetra University Outsourcing Employees Association, said “More than 1,400 outsourced KU employees have been on strike to press for their demands. The university’s administration does not follow the outsourcing policy and irregularities have prevailed in the university. We have asked Vice-Chancellor Dr DDS Sandhu to revise our salaries as per the DC rate several times but he has not taken any step in this regard.”

Earlier in the day, the employees gathered at Rose Garden and took out a protest march in the university.

KU Registrar Dr KC Rehlan said “They are not KU’s employees but were hired by the contractors. The University had floated a tender and it is the last date of applications for the tenders today and they will get matured within two-three days. The university had promised that it will give DC rate to outsourced employees and it is committed to fulfill its promise. Their demands have been accepted and the message has been conveyed but they are still on strike, which is not right.”

He added “Their salaries till June have been cleared and the salaries of July month are in process. Their contractors have also been informed about the proceedings.”

About the tenders floated in June, following which the outsourced employees had suspended their agitation then, he said “Due to some technical reason the tender was not matured and that is why we had to float fresh tenders.”

Jhangra said “We were given the same assurance in the past as well but nothing happened. Until the employees get their salaries of July as per the DC rate, the association will not call off its strike.”

Kurukshetra University Non-Teaching Employees Association and Sarva Karamchari Sangh have also extended their support to the outsourced employees.

Chandigarh, August 11
The Haryana Government has extended the period of prohibition on manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of gutkha and panmasala, containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, for one year with effect from August 15, 2014 and violation of these orders would be punishable.

While stating this, an official spokesman said an order to this effect had been issued.

He said the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, which is a Central Act, prohibits articles of food in which tobacco and nicotine are used as ingredients, as they are injurious to health.

He added that under the Act, any person who, whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale or stores or sells or distributes or imports any article of food for human consumption which is unsafe, shall be punishable where such failure or contravention does not result in injury, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and also with fine which may extend to ~1 lakh. Where such failure or contravention results in a grievous injury, it would be punishable with imprisonment for a term which might extend to six years and also with fine which might extend to ~5 lakh, the spokesman added.

He said where such failure or contravention results in death, it would be punishable with imprisonment for a term which would not be less than seven years, but which might extend to imprisonment for life and also the fine would not be less than ~10 lakh.

Chandigarh, August 11
Less than a year after the Haryana Government came out with a new transport policy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed its operation.

As the case come up for resume hearing, the High Court also asked the state of Haryana to file its response within a month. The case will now come up for further hearing on September 11.

Seeking directions for quashing the scheme notified on August 12 last year, petitioner Som Parkash of Sirsa had earlier contended that the policy gave blanket authority to government to increase or decrease the number of permits and trips on any route for private operations.

Going into the background of the controversy, he added there was no permission for fixing the number of route permits, except in cities with population of more than five lakh, but under the scheme, a new devise has been adopted for fixing the number of permits on each route, as well as the number of trips, the petitioner asserted.

Karnal, August 11
Unrest prevailed at the Municipal Corporation (MC) House meeting today when the councillors in the presence of Commissioner Balraj Singh alleged that MC officials neither pay heed to their demands nor involve them in implementation of project-related work.

Concerned about the cleanliness of the city, Mayor Renu Gupta, said, “There are very few sweepers and those on duty remain absent. The garbage lifting process is erratic due to which heaps of garbage lie scattered all across the city, which leads to deterioration of environment.”

Councillor Balwinder Singh pointed out that the quality of work was sub-standard, and the street lights were not working sing a long time.

The Commissioner took notice and directed the MC officials that this type of lackadaisical attitude would not be tolerated. “MC staff should make sure that work should be taken from the sweepers and anybody who does not follow the rules should be reprimanded.”

Chandigarh, August 11
The Voice of Martyrs Welfare Association today demanded a special relief package for the families of martyrs.

Vijay Kumar Sangwan, president of the association, urged state governments to announce compensation at a par with sportspersons for the families of the martyrs. Besides, state governments should announce a special financial package of Rs 1 crore to each family of martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for the country.

“The Central Government should reserve a fixed number of seats for martyrs’ families in the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and the local elected bodies,” Sangwan said.

Welcoming the decision of the Haryana Government to announce a quota for the next of kin of martyrs since 1962, Sangwan urged the other state government to come out with such a policy. — TNS

Jhajjar, August 11
A man reportedly committed suicide after hacking his wife to death at their house in Jahajgarh village in this district last night. The deceased have been identified as Satbir (36) and Mamta (34), of Khajurivaas village in Alwar district (Rajasthan). They had been residing in the village for the past several years.

Domestic feud is believed to be the reason behind the killing. Meanwhile, the Beri police have started investigations after registering a case of murder against Satbir, on the complaint of his father Bhagirath.

The incident came to light when the couple’s children, Aashish (13) and Tanisha (11), got up in the morning. They found their mother lying in a pool of blood and father hanging from a ceiling fan in their room. They called their neighbours who later informed the police.

Beri DSP Ajmer Singh and SHO Jasbir rushed to the village and sent the bodies to Civil Hospital, Jhajjar, for post-mortem examination. A team of forensic experts also visited the scene and lifted blood samples.

The police said Satbir was working as driver with a private company and had strained relations with Mamta.

“Since the room was found bolted from inside, it is a clear case of killing and suicide so we have booked Satbir under Section 302 of the IPC,” said Jhajjar SP Balbir Singh.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the couple used to often engage in verbal duel over some domestic issue, the SP added. 

Faridabad, August 11
The local police have arrested a youth for threatening and seeking ransom of ~30 lakh from a factory owner.

The police said the accused, identified as Vipin Jha, a resident of Rajiv Colony called up Keshav Juneja on his mobile and sought ransom of ~30 lakh. The call was followed by two SMSs in which Juneja was threatened of dire consequences if he failed to hand over the money at Ballabgarh Railway Station.

Jha (24) hails from Gopalpura locality of Agra district in UP and was employed in Juneja’s factory. He was remanded to one-day police custody today.

Police commissioner A S Chawla commended the immediate action of cops in nailing the accused. — TNS

Rewari, August 11
A youth, accused of several heinous crimes, was gunned down by three motorcycle-borne assailants in broad daylight in Gandhi Nagar today. The assailants fled the spot after perpetrating the crime.

The deceased has been identified as Ravi alias Aalu of Dhaaruhera Chungi here. Enmity is believed to be the reason behind the killing.

The assault was carried out this afternoon when Ravi was returning home from Gandhi Nagar. Three youths came on a motor-bike and started firing upon him from a close range, leaving him critically injured, said the police.

He was rushed to a private hospital by some passersby, before being referred to Gurgaon. Ravi succumbed to his injuries on way to Gurgaon.

“Sandeep Soni, Sunil and Aakash of Gandhi Nagar locality have been booked under Section 302 of the IPC and the Arms Act. No arrest has so far been made while a special police team has been carrying out raids at their possible hideouts to nab them,” said Rewari SP Hamid Akhtar.