• Seva Dal camp at Rohtak
• Staff stages dharna
• 3 arrested in murder case
• MDU hikes exam fee
  

HUDA, public schools lock horns
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Sept 2 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and the public schools of Faridabad have locked horns over the alleged violation of conditions for allotment of land. It has been alleged that the public schools are not following the guidelines contained in the no-objection certificates (NOCs).

The estate officer of HUDA has also invoked Section 17 of the HUDA Act, cancelling the allotment of land to 18 public schools in the city. The Act also empowers HUDA to take over the schools.

On the other hand, the managements of the public schools have gone in appeal against the estate officer's order, which would be heard by the administrator of HUDA, who has been authorised by the organisation's chief administrator to take a decision.

A spokesman for HUDA said the action against the schools had been taken after show-cause notices were issued to them for 'violating' the conditions and rules for affiliation with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

The conditions were that these schools would have a reasonable fee structure, not charge any capitation fee and building fund. The schools had also agreed to reserve seats for students belonging to weaker sections of society. However, the schools have become 'business houses' and some are allegedly even charging donations of Rs 1 lakh in addition to a tuition fee of Rs 1,000 per month. Although the schools have been allotted land at throwaway rates, they are charging exorbitant fees.

The HUDA spokesman said if the schools wanted to run like commercial establishments, they should be ready to pay commercial rates, licence fee and house tax, as admissible to profit-making organisations.

The municipal corporation has already passed a resolution levying house tax on the schools at commercial rates, enhancing extension of building plan fee 10 times, etc.

The school managements, however, maintain that the orders cancelling allotment of land were served on them without waiting for their reply. HUDA had also 'discriminated' against some schools, which were not served notice at all.

Moreover, the school authorities alleged, HUDA had added conditions which were not in the original agreement. This had been done without taking them into confidence. None of these conditions applied to them because they were affiliated with the CBSE and could not be subjected to control by state government, they added.

Seven minor girls recovered
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — The Faridabad police has achieved a major breakthrough in busting a gang of criminals responsible for kidnapping and selling minor girls.

Stating this here today, the Director-General of Haryana Police, Mr S.K. Sethi, said the gang comprised both female and male members, including Geeta and Chandni.

Based in Delhi, Geeta is the daughter of Hari Dass, the alleged kingpin of the gang. She originally belongs to Agra district of Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Sethi said Geeta used to identify her victims, in the age group of six to 10 years, near religious places and crowded markets in North Delhi. Identified victims were used to be enticed away by Geeta to her den in Basai mohalla in Agra city.

Chandni used to purchase minor girls from Geeta for Rs 2000 to Rs 5000 each. She used to further sell the girls to criminals involved in the flesh trade. These girls were taught dancing by their purchasers in order to prepare them for their future role as dancing girls and prostitutes. Basai mohalla is infamous as the red light area of Agra.

Mr Sethi said on receiving secret information the Faridabad police arrested Geeta from near Hodel when she was trying to escape with two kidnapped minor girls. On interrogation Geeta revealed the details of her activities, leading to the recovery of five more minor girls from her hideouts. All the seven girls were kidnapped from different areas of Delhi. The parents of the girls were being contacted.

While Geeta and Chandni have been arrested, search was on for other suspects and victims.

'Aryans were natives of India'
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Sept 2 — The excavations at Kunal in Fatehabad district are reinforcing the belief among archaeologists that the Aryans, who until now were presumed to have come form Central Asia, were natives. The findings of various antiques from the site have established that the settlement flourished either in the pre-Harappan period or simultaneously with the Harappan civilisation.

Kunal archaeological site was discovered in 1982 by two officials of the state Archaeological Department, Mr Dhoop Singh Datterwal and Mr Chanderpal Singh, during the routine village survey of ancient places of archaeological significance. The village is about 60 km from here.

According to Mr Dhatterwal and his colleague, Mr Ranvir Shastri, both of whom have worked at the site, the excavations at Kunal have established the fact that a pre-Harappan culture existed there about 5000 years ago.

Although traces of the Mahabharata period were also found around the site, no settlement remain there. According to Mr Shastri, remains of any settlement of this period are said to have been washed away by the Sarswati river. That is why no systematic settlement of the Mahabharata period has been found at the site. The 'painted grave ware' found from the site leads to the assumption that both the civilisations existed simultaneously.

The excavations have brought into focus gradual but systematic evolution of the housing pattern. Three-stage development from pit dwellings to circular and rectangular and square unbaked brick houses have been noticed at Kunal.

The site has assumed significance after the discovery of some unique and rare items of regalia. It is being said that it is the first discovery of its kind in the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Iran.

Apart from a large number of antiques discovered from the site, steatite seals of pre-Harappan period have also been found here for the first time in India. Two silver crowns and 12,000 beads of semi-precious stones were discovered from here in 1993.

While a number of pits have been discovered at the site, there are four circular structures and about 20 rectangular structures used for the dwelling purposes.

The seals found from the site also lend credibility to the fact that the settlement evolved over a period of time. While some seals bear geometrical marks and graphic designs, which relate it to the pre-Harappan period, some steatite seals bear the marks of animal figures, leaves, nets and fish, a typical feature of the Harappan civilisation.

The age of these antiquities by the process of carbon dating has been established somewhere between 3200 BC and 2700 BC. The archaeologists argue that if these people were invaders, they would obviously have come much later than this period. This leads credibility to the conclusions that the civilisation started evolving from pre-Harappan period and continued through the period of the Harappan civilisation.

The Kunal archaeological site is state protected. The excavations are done during the winter months only. During the summer and monsoon, the excavation work is stopped. The excavations are done after the Archaeological Survey of India issues a licence for the purpose. The site is spread on four acres of land. The archaeologists believe that it might have been spread over to a larger area. But due to the levelling of the land for farming purposes, most of it may have got damaged.

CM reviews progress of farm complex
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sep 2 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today directed the State Agricultural Marketing Board to speed up the setting up of a modern horticultural marketing and processing complex at Rai in Sonepat district.

The Chief Minister, who reviewed the progress of the complex at a meeting here, said the expertise of the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing in this sphere should be utilised in developing this complex, which would be the first of its kind in the country and spread over an area of over 559 acres. He said the complex should be fully air-conditioned, have a captive power plant and computerised auction hall. He also said that the process of selection of a consultant should be completed expeditiously.

The Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture, Mr Naseem Ahmad, said as there was no such marketing complex so far in the country, its concept would be based on the existing horticultural marketing and processing complexes in the Western countries so as to provide modern marketing and processing facilities to the farmers of the region. The complex would not only reduce congestion in the markets of neighbouring Delhi, but also provide much needed marketing facility to the vegetable and fruit growers in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Those present at the meeting included the Minister of State for Horticulture and Marketing, Mr. Jagbir Singh Malik; the Chairman of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Mr. Ved Pal; the Chief Secretary, Mr. Ram S. Verma and the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr L.M. Jain.

7 cases of dropsy in Gurgaon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — Seven cases of suspected dropsy have been identified in Gurgaon district besides two cases of mild dropsy. No other district of Haryana has reported any dropsy case so far.

While stating this here today, the Haryana Health Minister, Mr Om Parkash Mahajan, said that in all 42 samples of mustard oil were taken in Gurgaon district recently out of which only two were found positive for argemone.

He said "Dhara" brand of mustard oil used by the affected persons had been seized and on conducting tests on the spot it was found positive for argemone. The samples had also been taken from where the affected persons had purchased "Dhara" mustard oil.

While enumerating various steps to cope with the situation, he said all the Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Civil Surgeons had been asked to take preventive measures. Six teams had been constituted for conducting tests on the spot. The teams were testing mustard oil for argemone adulteration, especially in the areas adjoining Delhi. The Civil Surgeons had been instructed to seize samples of mustard oil.

Mr Mahajan said for the monitoring and supervision of mustard oil adulteration, two cells had been constituted at the State and district levels. The state food laboratories had been geared up to test all samples of mustard oil. Owners of hotels, restaurants and dhabas had been advised not to use loose mustard oil. Vigil was being maintained on borders of the State so that contaminated mustard oil might not infiltrate into the State. Private doctors had been requested to acquaint the Civil Surgeons about dropsy cases so that quick remedial measures could be taken.

The Civil Surgeons of Gurgaon and Sonepat had been asked to send samples to the Central Food Laboratory, Pune, also for cross checking the report of the state food laboratories.

Gang of robbers busted
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Sept 2 — With the arrest of four armed persons, the Rai police today claimed to have smashed an inter-state gang of highway robbers and dacoits operating in Haryana and Delhi for the past few months.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr K. Selvraj, told mediapersons here today that the arrested persons, making an attempt to loot pedestrians on the G.T. Road, near Kundli village, had been identified as Rajesh and Naresh of Khewra village, Devinder of Dhingana village (Jind) and Ajay of Ashok Vihar (Sonepat). The police had recovered a country-made pistol, a revolver, three cartridges and one "khukhri" from their possession. A Maruti car bearing a fake registration number, was also taken in possession by the police. The car was allegedly stolen from the Janakpuri area of Delhi two months ago by the culprits.

He said the culprits told the police that they had allegedly looted the inmates of the house belonging to Mr Rajinder, a member of the Sonepat Zila Parishad, about seven months ago. The culprits had inflicted knife injuries to the wife of Mr Rajinder before they escaped with the booty worth several thousands of rupees.

According to the SP, the culprits had stolen four Maruti cars from Model Town area of Delhi and another car from Panchkula.

Hooda to convene all-party meeting
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Sept 2 — An all-party meeting will be convened by the end of this month to "safeguard" the interests of Haryana, Haryana Pradesh Congress chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda said at a press conference here today.

Mr Hooda said with a view to chalking out a "common action plan" to find a solution to the long-pending disputes, a high-level meeting of presidents of various political parties and prominent leaders would be held here. Chief Minister Bansi Lal, Opposition leader Om Prakash Chautala and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, CPM and Janata Dal would be invited.

He said the interim report of the Eradi panel should be implemented and the final accord be announced soon. He termed the statement of the Punjab Chief Minister to scrap the panel as "ridiculous".

He also demanded a white paper on the dismantling of the Haryana State Electricity Board.

Rapist arrested
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Sept 2 — The police claim to have solved cases of rape of minor girls in the city with the arrest of the accused.

Mr K.K. Sandhu, Superintendent of Police, addressing a press conference here today, told mediapersons that following a manhunt, the police overpowered the rapist yesterday when the latter was awaiting yet another victim near Bhim Stadium. The accused Rafi, alias Ashok, of the local Jagrati Colony on the BTM road admitted having raped two minor girls, Mr Sandhu said.

The rise in cases of rape had shook the local residents and the police had launched a major hunt by deputing constables in plainclothes at certain sites. A house-to-house search was also undertaken.

Mr Sandhu ordered a ban on the plying of four-wheelers on Circular Road. He said since schools, clinics and parks were situated on the road, heavy vehicles posed a major threat to the lives of inhabitants.

Seva Dal camp at Rohtak
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — A three-day national-level camp of the Congress Seva Dal will be held at Rohtak from September 9.

Stating this here today the Organising Secretary of the Haryana Congress Seva Dal, Mr Surender Singh Hooda, said delegates from Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir would participate in the camp which would also be attended by the Chairman of the All-India Congress Seva Dal, Mr Suresh Pachori, M.P.

Staff stages dharna
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Sept 2 — Members of the Haryana Mahakaramchari Sangh led by Mr Amrik Singh staged a dharna in front of the mini-secretariat in city today. They raised slogans in favour of their demand.

3 arrested in murder case
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Sept 2 — The cantonment police has arrested three persons in the Amrik Singh murder case.

The three, Mrs Parkash Kaur (mother of the main suspect, Rakesh), Ritu (sister of the suspect) and Parvesh Sharma, were rounded up yesterday in connection with the murder. Police parties have been sent to various destinations to nab Rakesh.

MDU hikes exam fee
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Sept 2 — Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) has made a considerable hike in the examination fee for the current academic session.

As per the revised rates, a student will now have to pay Rs 500 in place of Rs 100 for the change of examination centre. The examination fee within a month after the due date has been raised from Rs 105 to Rs 200 while the fee for submitting the examination from 40 days before the commencement of examination has been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 500. Students seeking provisional degrees, confidential results and correction in admission forms will have to pay Rs 100 for each in place of Rs 20. A sum of Rs 50 will have to be paid for default in payment of fees in place of Rs 5. The fee for rechecking an answer sheet has been revised from Rs 15 to Rs 50. Besides, the university administration has revised the fee for various postgraduate courses and professional courses.