• Plea for desilting of canals
• Telecom Dept incurs loss

Manhunt launched to trace undertrials
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, Jan 10 — The Kurukshetra and Karnal police have jointly launched a manhunt to trace the nine undertrials who had escaped from police van on the January 8 night between Dhantori and Pipli villages while being brought to Karnal.

Investigation made by this reporter reveals that there were numerous security chinks when these undertrials were being brought to Karnal.

For one, there was no wireless set with the police personnel accompanying the van. For two, the police party was not fully armed. It was only the driver of the van who was carrying his service revolver. Why the police party did not carry arms is a question which is to be answered.

Mr Ajay Singhal, district police chief, Karnal, told TNS that there were very "clear instructions to this effect that such police parties should be properly armed."

The SSP also maintained that in normal course, the police party should also have carried a walky-talky set.

After this incident all vans which carry the prisoners are being provided with wireless sets. Another major security chink observed is that no "jama talashi" was done while the prisoners were allowed to go out of the jail.

It is reported that the prisoners even carried iron rods with which they had hit the policemen before escaping. Moreover, the possession of chilly powder with undertrials also shows a security lapse.

Mr Singhal said during the past two days, the Karnal police had raided hideouts of criminals in Panipat, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and some areas in Uttar Pradesh.

Over 12 cases have been registered against Sabira in Haryana. He was the leader of the gang. Similarly, Nakli Ram is facing trial in six cases, Prahlad in three and Vinod Kumar in five cases. Similarly, Ram Niwas is facing trial in seven cases, Pappu, alias Vikram in five and Ali Hussain in two cases. One of them Ramesh, alias Kali Ram is also facing trial in a murder case. All these criminals are reported to be involved in dacoities, murder, thefts and burglaries etc.

Phoola is facing trial in 27 cases. Earlier, he had twice escaped from police custody. He has escaped by breaking open jails in Panipat and Ambala.

Why such criminals were allowed to go without being chained? Police officials maintained that court permission has to be sought for chaining an undertrial. In this case, no such permission was sought by the police.

RLM support to Jindal’s party
Tribune News Service

NARNAUL, Jan 10 — The Haryana Sarvajatiya Morcha (HSM) headed by Mr O. P. Jindal, got a boost with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) extending support to it.

Mr Jindal, who was here yesterday to address a meeting of party workers, announced RLM chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s assurance of support.

The President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav had claimed to have told his party leaders of Haryana to extend support to the HSM. The RJD and the Samajwadi Party of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav had joined hands to constitute the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha to give a thrust to the anti-BJP campaign at a national level.

Mr Jindal said both Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mr Mulayam Singh had shown an inclination to attend the HSM’s proposed "Maha Panchayat" at Rewari on January 14. However, the HSM was yet to take a final decision on the issue of accepting their proposal.

Addressing the workers he urged the people of Haryana to reject all three Lals — Mr Bansi Lal, Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Devi Lal — and accept a new leader to take the reigns of the state.

The HSM, in its new move, gave the impression that it would soon increase its area of focus to other parts of the state. Since its formation, about a month ago, South Haryana was one of the focal points of the HSM. In fact, Mr Raghu Yadav, secretary-general of the party, said the organisation would set up committees in all 90 assembly constituencies.

Mr Raghu Yadav said the Punjabi community that had been marginalised in the state should be mobilised.

Haryana BJP to fight civic poll on party symbol
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Jan 10 — The Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to contest the Zila Parishad, Nagar Parishad, Nagar Palika and Panchayat election on the party symbol in future, Mr Om Parkash Grover, President of the state BJP, said here today.

He said the state executive had decided to send recommendations to the government regarding the voting list. The committee has demanded that the voting system in Panchayat and Zila Parishad should be changed.

The state executive has welcomed the cut in diesel prices.

BJP leaders criticised the functioning of Chief Minister Bansi Lal. Mr Ram Kumar Gautam, a member of the state executive, alleged that BJP workers were being ignored by the government. The vote graph of the party had been declining due to the indifferent attitude of the Bansi Lal Government towards BJP workers.

Several leaders, including Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, Mr Ganeshi Lal, Mr Shish Pal Mehta, all ministers, Mr Ram Chander Bainda, MP, Mr Fakir Chand Aggarwal, Deputy Speaker, were among those who attended the meeting.

Haryana doctors seek higher NPA
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Jan 10 — The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) has urged the state government to increase the non-practising allowance (NPA) to 25 per cent on the Central Government pattern.

The demand was made at the 24th annual convention of the association here today which was inaugurated by the Haryana Health Minister, Mr O.P. Mahajan. The president of the HCMSA, Dr Dharam Singh Dhankar, said it was regrettable that while the Central Government had already released the enhanced NPA from January, 1996, Haryana had yet to take such a step. He also sought an end to the disparity in the pay scales of doctors of Haryana vis-a-vis those at the Centre.

Dr Dhankar sought an increase in the rural health allowance from Rs 250 to Rs 1000, conveyance allowance from Rs 150 to Rs 800, revision of the specialist cadre, hike in the budget for health, 50 per cent reservation in seats for HCMS doctors at the PGIMER, Rohtak, and the ESI cadre as part of the parent health cadre. He said the government should defend doctors in consumer courts and should provide better facilities at primary and community health centres.

The Health Minister assured to look into the demands in a sympathetic manner. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Commissioner and Secretary, Health, Mrs Komal Anand, Director-General, Health Services, Dr P.C. Jindal, Civil Surgeon S.K. Gupta and Dr J.S. Pundir, vice-president of the association.

Teachers want pay anomalies sorted out
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 10 — Mr Dev Raj Nandal was re-elected president of the Haryana Government Teachers Welfare Union at the annual conference of teachers here today.

Mr Nandal said the fresh working committee would be announced by February 14.

He said the revised pay package had left several anomalies in their pay scales unsolved and appealed to Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, to negotiate with the teachers welfare unions to sort out their long-pending problems.

Another meeting of the Haryana Government Teachers Union affiliated with the Haryana Kramchari Maha Sangh, was held here today. Mr Satyavir, state president of the union, demanded HRA, medical allowance and travelling allowance on the central pattern and regularisation of the services of teachers working on an adhoc or contract basis.

Headmasters seek higher grade
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Jan 10 — The Government High School Headmasters and Block Education Officers' (Association) has urged the state government to give them a grade of Rs 7500-12000 lest they should be forced to launch an agitation.

Mr Yoginder Bhatnagar, state general secretary of the association, said here today that a delegation of headmasters met the high-powered committee recently for the removal of pay anomalies and pleaded for the grant of a pay scale of Rs 7500-12000 to headmasters.

Mr Bhatnagar stated that a Central Government notification and a circular issued by the Haryana Government in this regard were presented before the committee which assured the delegation that it would recommend their case to the government.

He stated it was unfortunate that masters (non-gazetted) and headmasters (gazetted) had been placed in the same grade of Rs 6500-10500.

Meeting on house tax on Jan 14
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Jan 10 — The Haryana government has convened a high-level meeting at Chandigarh on January 14 to find an amicable solution to the vexed issue of the Faridabad Municipal Corporation’s proposal to increase house tax by 200 per cent.

The meeting which will be presided over by Mrs Kamla Verma, Local Bodies Minister would be attended by all the three MLAs representing Faridabad City, Mayor Subedar Suman and senior officials of the civic body.

While officials of the corporation insist that a hefty increase in house tax according to the 1994 Act was necessary to provide services to the people, the elected councillors say that tax be raised around 25 per cent. Both officials and the councillors are sticking to their stand.

The controversy has deepened with councillors boycotting meetings called by the corporation to hear objections from the public on notices for tax increase served on buildings and vacant land owners.

Reliable sources feel that an agreement to increase tax by 100 per cent was expected to be reached at the Chandigarh meeting. After the meeting Chief Minister Bansi Lal will be briefed for taking a final decision.

Pay parity, transfer policy sought
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 10 — Members of the Haryana Police Doorsanchar Association has demanded pay parity with junior basic teachers.

The demand was raised at a meeting of the association here today.

Head Constable Prithvi Singh and Constable Sri Krishan were elected president and vice-president, respectively of the association.

The association also sought a strict transfer policy and a ration allowance of Rs 570 per month.

Telecom Dept incurs loss
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Jan 10 — The Telecommunication Department has incurred a loss of several lakhs of rupees, due to the burning of machinery at two telephone exchanges in the rural areas.

According to reports, the telephone exchange at Kairu village, 30 km from here, was burnt two days ago due to technical fault.

Similarly, on December 26 the machinery of the Bapora telephone exchange, 9 km from here was also burnt. According to an estimate, machinery worth Rs 10 lakh was burnt.

Plea for desilting of canals
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 10 — A former minister, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, has alleged that the state government had failed to carry on the maintenance and desilting of the canals and minors in Rohtak district. As a result he said the irrigation water does not reach the tailend.

In a statement issued here yesterday, Mr Hooda claimed that desilting and cleanliness of various minors, including Asan, Jasrana, Chamarian, Pehrawar, Kiloi, Titoli, Sanghi, Nakroli, Jassia, New Kiloi, Khidwali, Chiri and Bhalot distributary had not been taken up so far.