4 cops suspended for misbehaviour
FATEHABAD, Oct 24 — The services of four officials of the city police station, including its Station House Officer, have been placed under suspension for dereliction of duty and misbehaviour with and manhandling of publicmen.

Panel to monitor construction works
BHIWANI, Oct 24 — In order to inspect and supervise the construction of roads and other maintenance works in the district a committee has been constituted.

Highway dhabas to close at 11 p.m.
ROHTAK, Oct 24 — The hotels and dhabas situated along the national and state highways in Jhajjar district will close at 11 p.m.

Plea to make use of Lok Adalats
NARNAUL, Oct 24 — The District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Madan has urged litigants to make use of Lok Adalats held in the district for speedy settlement of their cases.

Child crushed to death
FARIDABAD, Oct 24 — Four persons, including a six-year-old child, were killed and five injured in separate incidents in the district during the past 24 hours.

Jhuggis demolished
FARIDABAD, Oct 24 — The demolition squad of the district administration accompanied by a large police force today razed to the ground more than 400 pucca houses and jhuggis in the unauthorised Rahul Colony built on the land of B.K. Civil Hospital. Three was no resistance.

BJP govt move 'politically motivated'
PANCHKULA, Oct 24 — The Haryana unit of the National Students Union of India has described the proposed move of the BJP-led government at the Centre to amend the education policy as "politically motivated".

Two robbed of Rs 1 lakh
ROHTAK, Oct 24 — Two scooter-borne persons with knives snatched Rs 1 lakh from a girl and her brother in front of a branch of Punjab National Bank on the Delhi road here today. The victims were injured in the attack.

PM has ordered special girdawri: CM
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

NIGHDU (Karnal), Oct 24 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has ordered a special survey (girdawri) in Haryana to assess the losses to farmers caused by the recent unseasonal rain. This was disclosed by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, at a meeting here today.

He said the central team would visit the state from October 26 to 28 for this purpose.

Mr Bansi Lal said he had urged the Prime Minister to give relaxation to the farmers of the flood-affected areas as far as the purchase of paddy by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and millers was concerned. He requested the Prime Minister to direct the FCI to relax specifications for the procurement of paddy and not to force levy on the paddy purchased by the rice millers till October 30.

Meanwhile, Mr Bansi Lal said his government had ordered a special girdawri in the flood-affected areas to ascertain the exact losses. The state government had also deferred the recovery of the crop loan till the next crop.

Talking about the dewatering operations, the Chief Minister said water was being drained out daily from the fields and steps were being taken to ensure the sowing of rabi crops.

Talking about the long-term measures to end the flood menace, Mr Bansi Lal said a proposal worth Rs 111 crore had been send to NABARD for digging a drain from Hisar to the Ghaggar. The state government had already spent Rs 27 crore on the desilting and cleaning of drains. A sum of Rs 25 crore were spent on digging two drains in the Meham areas.

He said a committee had been constituted under his chairmanship to commemorate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa Panth. The committee would chalk out the details of the celebrations and would include Hindu and Sikh members.

The Chief Minister said four companies were being formed for the efficient management of power. While two of them had already been set up, two more would be formed for the proper distribution of power.

He announced the digging of a drain at Nighdu at a cost of Rs 2 crore and sanctioned the erection of a 33-KV sub-station and a shed in the grain market. He also announced the opening of a college for girls here and Taroori, provided villagers made provisions for staff quarters and the college building. A grant of Rs 2 lakh was announced for the construction of stadium at Jambha village in memory of 18 children who had drowned in the SYL canal about two years ago. The villagers had donated 5 acres for the purpose.

Earlier in the morning, the Chief Minister distributed dividends worth Rs 50.4 lakh among shareholders of a sugar mill.

Speaking on the occasion, Rao Narbir Singh, Minister for Cooperative, Haryana, said all 10 cooperative sugar mills had earned profit for the first time.

'Enhanced police presence can curb crime'
From Sameer Sabharwal

GURGAON: Mr P.V. Rathi, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Gurgaon Range, has underlined the need for modernisation and upgradation of the police force to meet the challenge of rising crime in Haryana, especially in areas bordering the National Capital Region (NCR).

In an exclusive interview to this correspondent, Mr Rathi emphasised that the police needed to increase its visibility and accessibility, especially near vulnerable areas. As part of this strategy, 30 police checkposts have been set up in Gurgaon district with modern communication systems and wireless sets operating on separate frequencies.

Mr Rathi stated that as an experimental step, increased police visibility and presence near a particular area had led to a significant decrease in crime and arrest of criminals within 25 minutes of reporting of the offence, provided the police was intimated within five minutes of the crime.

"With a large chunk of the population commuting and travelling in Gurgaon and Faridabad districts, it is important that the police presence be prominent and close at hand so that in the event of any casualty, the victim is able to easily and quickly locate the nearest police post", he pointed out. If this experiment being conducted in Gurgaon and Faridabad is found to be successful in curbing and solving crimes, the approach would be adopted across the entire NCR.

Mr Rathi asserted that the Union Capital could never be safe until peripheral areas of the NCR were safe. He regretted the lack of proper planning in growing residential areas without adequate attention being paid to security cover and emphasised that police presence and accessibility must be kept in mind while planning townships.

Mr Rathi observed that with rapid changes in lifestyle, the pattern of crime was undergoing a metamorphosis. Robberies and thefts, which were earlier restricted largely to evenings and nights, were now being committed in broad daylight, requiring the police to be on full alert round the clock. Commission of offences was getting sophisticated and daring, requiring investigators to have a proactive approach while dealing with criminals and to have a thorough knowledge of the forensic sciences, psychology, computers and other modern technology.

He asserted that three factors were of utmost importance in determining the effectiveness of the police force, namely mobility, communication and visible presence. A combination of all three was required to pre-empt criminal offences. A comprehensive survey need to be conducted to look into the effectiveness and jurisdiction of Raj-era police stations and their areas of responsibility be limited by setting up new police stations wherever required. He warned that any inertia in taking such bold and necessary steps could lead to the collapse of the present system.

Mr Rathi had also raised these issues at a recent meeting of senior state police officials where he had highlighted the need to change the concept of the police force and to streamline its functioning. He wanted the burden of VIP security should be handed over to a separate wing specialising in such duties because the present system was working at the cost of public security. In addition, the crime detection wing must also be separated from the regular police corps, which must carry out multifarious duties. There was an urgent need to examine all these issues.

Pleased that the state government had accepted his proposal of augmenting the police set-up in the districts of Gurgaon and Faridabad, Mr Rathi disclosed that two new police stations have been created out of the century old Gurgaon police station on the eve of Diwali. Similarly, the central police station of Faridabad district had been augmented by three additional police stations located at Sector 7, Saran and Chandhet.

Terming it as a first step in controlling crime, Mr Rathi noted that probably for the first time, the new police station at Chandhet, carved out from Sadar Palwal, has been provided with a police strength of 100 constables and 12 investigating officers. He explained that while Chandhet police station had been created to check the influx of criminals from across the U.P. border, the Saran police station was carved out of the N.I.T. police station, normally a criminal-infested area.

Two new police stations at DLF and Udyog Vihar have been carved out of the Gurgaon police station. The former would beef up security in the spurting private residential colonies while Udyog Vihar police station would man the industrial areas where migrant labour is difficult to track and verify.

As early as two years back, soon after taking charge as the DIG, Mr Rathi had submitted a plan to the state government proposing a revamp of the existing police force here and requesting the creation of 12 additional police stations — seven in Faridabad and five in Gurgaon. Giving consent to five additional police stations now, the state government would review the utility of the new police stations in December before granting approval to the remaining police stations.

Experts' team sought to assess crop damage
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — Office-bearers and executive committee members of the Haryana PCC, presidents of DCCs, MPs, MLAs, AICC members from Haryana, heads of frontal organisations and PCC cells at a meeting held here today expressed anguish over the massive loss of crops due to unseasonal rains, floods, hailstorm and drought in some parts of the state. The meeting flayed the state government for its failure in providing relief to the affected farmers.

The meeting demanded from the central government to depute a team of experts to assess the extent of damage suffered by the farmers and demanded a compensation of Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 per acre to be paid to the farmers who lost their one, two and three crops successively.

The meeting also asked of the government to remit electricity bills of the affected farmers and postponement, by at least one year, of the recovery of loans.

It demanded that in view of the loss of crops, the price of sugarcane be fixed at Rs 125 per quintal.

Govt apathy adds to villagers’ woes
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Oct 24 — Acute water logging has converted Gorakhpur, one of the largest villages of this district, into a virtual ‘‘island’’ while official apathy has added to the woes of villagers.

Though the village, which has a population of about 18,000, has been facing the problem for the past five years, the recent rain has inundated the whole of the village, resulting in various kinds of diseases.

According to the villagers, 4 to 5 feet of water is standing in the outer parts and hundreds of people have left their houses and taken shelter elsewhere. The veterinary hospital and the primary health centre have been submerged.

The villagers alleged that they had been drinking contaminated water as water pipes had leaked at several places. They said the two pumps that had been installed by the administration to drain out water from the village had been rendered useless after the rain, adding that, paddy and cotton crops worth crores of rupees had been destroyed.

The Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, had announced a Rs 87-lakh master plan to combat the problem within six months. Though the government had got a drain constructed, the villagers are still awaiting the pumps which were to be installed under the scheme.

The condition in some other villages like Kajal, Choubara, Mochi, Dharnia, Chabla Mori, Bighar, Baijalpur, Samain and Sahu is no better.

In Chamarkhera, Baijalpur, Samain and Sahu villages, falling under Tohana Sub-division of this district, thousands of acres of land has come under 1 to 2 feet of water. The villagers could be seen harvesting their crops on ‘‘charpois’’.

Double-murder case solved
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, Oct 24 — Following the arrest of Abdul Rahman, a resident of Gulgam under Kupwara police station in Jammu and Kashmir, the mystery surrounding the double-murder case in which the half-burnt bodies of two unidentified persons were found in the fields adjoining the G.T. Road, near Jirbari village, 5 km from here, on February 15, 1998, has been solved.

Stating this here yesterday, the district police chief, Mr Y.P. Singhal, said the police was informed on February 15 by village chowkidar Satpal that two half-burnt bodies were lying in the fields and these were defaced after burning in such a manner that their faces could not be recognised. A criminal case was registered and wireless messages as well as photographs of the deceased were sent to the neighbouring states. This led to the identification of one deceased as Khurshid Ahmad Singh, driver of a truck (JK-01A-1939) and the other as Shabir Ahmed, truck cleaner, by truck owner Gulam Rasool after he saw the clothes of the deceased at police station, Pipli, 5 km from here.

Mr Singhal said that during interrogation, Abdul Rahman told the police that he and his accomplice, Gulam Hassan, took lift in this truck near Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir on February 13. He said that on the way they made the truck driver and the cleaner drink, killed them and threw the bodies after burning them. They returned to Malerkotla in Punjab, sold the apples and went to Patiala and got the colour of the truck changed.They took the truck to Jammu and sold it at Rs 1.70 lakh.

4 cops suspended for misbehaviour
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Oct 24 — The services of four officials of the city police station, including its Station House Officer, have been placed under suspension for dereliction of duty and misbehaviour with and manhandling of publicmen. They have been sent to the Police Lines.

It may be recalled that after a scuffle between two groups on October 21, the police had registered a case under Sections 324, 323, 148, 149, 506 and 342, IPC, against Devender, alias Kala, of Muse Ahli, Gurdeep, alias Gola of Bhavdin, Kapil, Gurnam, Satish and Bitoo (all local residents) on the complaint of Avinash. The complainant had alleged that the accused had beaten him up.

It is alleged that SHO Punjab Singh, ASI Sadhu Ram Head Constable, Kailash Chander, UGC Ishwar Singh and two constables raided the houses of the accused. The policemen dragged Gurbachan Singh and Moti Ram, fathers of Gurnam and Satish, respectively, and beat them up. The police also challaned the two under Sections 107 and 151, Cr PC.

Superintendent of Police — Rajbir Deswal had ordered an inquiry into the whole episode. In his preliminary report, DSP (City) Sultan Singh found Punjab Singh, Sadhu Ram, Kailash Chander and Ishwar Singh guilty of misconduct. The DSP also found that the cases registered against Gurbachan Singh and Moti Ram were false.

Mr Deswal has asked the police to register cases against the two public men who got reinstated through the court.

Fateh Dhwaj, a newly set up police-public coordination forum has, meanwhile, initiated an inquiry into the whole episode. It would submit its report soon.

Panel to monitor construction works
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Oct 24 — In order to inspect and supervise the construction of roads and other maintenance works in the district a committee has been constituted.

It will submit its report at a meeting to be held every month and review the progress.

The Deputy Commissioner, who is chairman of the committee, told newspersons here today that a subcommittee had also been constituted as per instructions of the state government.

The committee would verify the progress of various development works on the basis of survey reports furnished by the subcommittee. The executive engineers concerned shall have to put up their reports before the district-level committee after examining the complete record of expenditure on the construction work, he said.

The subcommittee had been asked to keep a strict vigil on the quality of the material supplied besides collecting specimen of the used material. He said that the subcommittee would conduct raids on construction sites and godowns. The junior engineers and executive engineers had been asked to maintain proper records.

Highway dhabas to close at 11 p.m.
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Oct 24 — The hotels and dhabas situated along the national and state highways in Jhajjar district will close at 11 p.m.

The District Magistrate, Mr Arun Kumar, said the measure had been taken to curb criminal activities in the district bordering Delhi. Earlier he had ordered the removal of shrubs and bushes on unoccupied industrial and residential plots in Bahadurgarh.

Mr Arun Kumar said the police investigations had revealed that criminals indulging in snatching of vehicles and cases of kidnapping planned their activities at such dhabas.

Plea to make use of Lok Adalats
From Our Correspondent

NARNAUL, Oct 24 — The District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Madan has urged litigants to make use of Lok Adalats held in the district for speedy settlement of their cases. He was speaking after the inauguration of a Lok Adalat where 237 cases were settled of these 21 cases pertaining to motor accidents were settled in which Rs 13,15,000 were awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.

Mr Madan further said that four civil appeals were also decided.

Mr Madan urged insurance companies to authorise their representatives to settle their cases on the spot at lok adalats. The judge took serious view of the United India Insurance Company Limited, Alwar, at the Lok Adalat.

Mr Madan also disclosed that 37 civil cases were also decided by Mr M.L. Gulati, Civil Judge (Senior Division), and Mr A.K. Jain, Additional Judge (Senior Division), Narnaul.

Child crushed to death
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Oct 24 — Four persons, including a six-year-old child, were killed and five injured in separate incidents in the district during the past 24 hours.

According to information, a child was crushed to death by an oil tanker on the national highway near Khatela village.

A 24-year-old youth, Ajay Kumar, was stabbed to death near a canal in old Faridabad. Four persons have been arrested by the police in this connection.

In another accident, a farmer was run over and killed by a truck in Sarai Khawja today. The truck driver sped away after the incident.

In the fourth case, a youth, Aman Kumar, was run over and killed by a train near old Faridabad railway station.

Jhuggis demolished
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Oct 24 — The demolition squad of the district administration accompanied by a large police force today razed to the ground more than 400 pucca houses and jhuggis in the unauthorised Rahul Colony built on the land of B.K. Civil Hospital. Three was no resistance.

Leaders of the various political parties who had assured the residents that the colony would not be demolished were nowhere to be seen.

Mayor Subedar Suman criticised the government for demolishing the colony without making any alternative arrangement for rehabilitation of the residents. He demanded revival of the Bapu Vihar Yojna in Jhad Setli which had been put into cold storage.

BJP govt move 'politically motivated'
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Oct 24 — The Haryana unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) has described the proposed move of the BJP-led government at the Centre to amend the education policy as "politically motivated".

The issue came up for discussion at a meeting of the state unit held here today. The state president of the NSUI, Mr Mohinder Singh chaired the meeting.

A spokesman of the NSUI said the proposed educational policy, from which the objectionable annexures had been dropped after stiff opposition faced at a recently held conference of the state education ministers, exposed the "hidden agenda" of the BJP and could pose a threat to the secular fabric of the country.

Such moves of the BJP government could push the country towards fundamentalism, he said.

Two robbed of Rs 1 lakh
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Oct 24 — Two scooter-borne persons with knives snatched Rs 1 lakh from a girl and her brother in front of a branch of Punjab National Bank on the Delhi road here today. The victims were injured in the attack.

According to a complaint lodged with the police Neeru and her brother Puneet had gone to the bank to get a draft prepared for Rs 1 lakh. But when they could not get the draft, they decided to go to some other bank. As they came outside one of the two youths who was standing near a scooter pounced on the briefcase containing the money. When the victims resisted their attempt, the youth attacked them with a knife.