All phone exchanges to be computerised
YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 6 — Mr Ram Bilas Paswan, Union Communication Minister revealed that all telephone linesmen at the state headquarters in the entire country would be provided pager facility by November 30 to facilitate the grievances of general masses.

Ambala to send aid to Orissa
AMBALA, Nov 6 — Residents here will send cash, foodgrain and medicine worth Rs 20 lakh as and to the cyclone-hit Orissa. This decision was taken at a meeting of the trader, social, industrial and educational organisations held here yesterday under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ramniwas.

HSAMB issued notices
SONEPAT, Nov 6 — The Civil Judge, Mr D.K. Sharma, yesterday issued notices to the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) and the state government, directing them to appear before the court on November 12 and file their written reply/statement about the allegations contained in the public interest litigation petition filed by Mr Rajiv Jain, chief patron of the Sarvjatiya Vikas Manch, Haryana.

BKU stages dharna
JIND, Nov 6 — On a call given by the state unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union activists of the union staged a dharna today in front of the residence of Mr Surinder Singh Barwala, a member of Parliament, in support of their demands.

Patrol Act enforced

Dr Kadian president of Jhajjar DCC

Chautala, Hooda greet people

Yogis seek ST status

Fake rape cases to settle scores
From Hitender Rao
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon: 1. FIR No 105 registered on July 2, 1999 under Sections 376, 511, 506 and 452 of the IPC at Ferozepur-Jhirka police station. The complainant, Zubeida of Sakras village alleged that four persons gang-raped her and threatened to kill her. The case was later cancelled by the police after investigations revealed that the accused were falsely implicated. Police records say that the complainant was used for getting the rape case registered just to settle personal scores.

2. FIR No 145 registered on September 1, 1998 under sections 376 IPC at Ferozepur-Jhirka police station. The victim, Pappi (of Kathurwas village), alleged that Yunus picked her up from the fields while she was chopping fodder and raped her. The statement of the complainant was recorded in court and on being found incorrect, the case was cancelled.

3. FIR No 188 registered on November 23, 1997, under Sections 376, 365, 342, 366, 506 and 120-B, IPC at Nagina police station. The complainant, Baskar village alleged that Hasan and Abdul took her away against her wishes, kept her locked in a room and raped her. The case was later cancelled by the police after it was found during the investigations that it has been falsely registered.

4. FIR No 382 registered on October 15,1997 under Section 376 at Nuh police station. In her complaint to the police, Ramzano of Naushera village alleged that Abdul Rahman raped her while she was working in the village fields. During police investigations the allegations were found false and subsequently the case was cancelled..

Seeing such brazen abuse of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), particularly the Section 376 (rape), there can be no better place than Haryana’s most impoverished and backward area Mewat. And all this is done either to settle personal scores, to extort money or are a result of political rivalry in the villages. Police officials say that the registration of false rape cases by the Meos is a very common phenomenon and most often section 376 is brought into play because it is a non-bailable offence.

Agrees a senior member of the bar: “It has been our experience that many rape cases in Mewat which come to us are in fact false. There are some ulterior motives behind the registration of such cases. There have been instances where women in their late fifties and sixties lodge complaints of being raped, which is unimaginable. The politics of the region, which has remained confined to the police stations and courts, has to be blamed for the menace. For every trouble they cannot think of anything else but to go the thana and get a case registered and the easiest way to get somebody behind bars is to lodge a rape complaint.’’

“If a women comes to the thana with a complaint that she has been raped, the police has to register a case immediately. In many cases, it is the menfolk who pressurise their wives, daughters, daughters-in-law and sisters to make such tutored statements. The medical examination has no relevance since the complainants take the plea of being raped days ago,” says a Sub-Inspector.

Dr Subhan Khan of the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), Delhi believes: “The root of the problem is illiteracy. Mewat is an extremely backward place as far as education is concerned. It may sound unbelievable to some that womenfolk are being used by male members to settle personal scores. The Meo community lacks wisdom and confidence due to illiteracy. It is a sociological problem and needs to be addressed urgently.” Dr Khan, who himself is Meo, is of the view that Thondas (touts-cum-troubleshooters) play an important role in all these matters. In fact nothing moves without their help. The aim of these touts is to make money and in the process they persuade their `party’ to level strong allegations against their rivals, he added.

Mr Navdeep Singh Virk, former Senior Superintendent of Police, Gurgaon, is of the view that generally such cases are registered to extort money. “We have seen that in many cases a compromise is reached through money. The police can take counter action to check the registration of false cases but the procedure is so lengthy that it does not work out.”

Mr Banvari Lal, Deputy Superintendent of Police, who had a considerably long stint in Mewat as inspector, says that such acts indicate how low women are placed in Meo society. “The women are abused just for the fulfilment of sordid motives. Even if there is a small altercation between the two groups, many a times the Meos go to the extent of taking their womenfolk to the police station and getting a rape case registered on their complaint. It is shocking !”

Rs 500 cr grant for Haryana sought
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 6 — Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, President of the Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U), today urged the Central Government to sanction a special grant of Rs 500 crore for Haryana to tide over the drought like conditions prevailing in the state on account of scanty monsoon this year and continuous power and water crisis.

In a press note issued here, he said if the Centre failed to give the special grant, the state government should declare the state as drought-hit and launch relief measures on its own for the benefit of farmers and farm labourers.

Mr Vidrohi blamed the Chief Minister Mr O.P. Chautala, for not safeguarding the interests of the farmers and said despite the drought-like conditions, the Chief Minister had not taken any step to provide help to the farmers.

He said the National Democratic Alliance government should render help to the farmers of this region as they had whole-heartedly supported it during the elections.

Mr Vidrohi said due to the continuous and unprecedented power crisis, the kharif crops had already withered away and the sowing of rabi crops had been delayed.

He said in the southern parts of the state, the last three preceding crops had been damaged due to power crisis, scanty rains and short supply of canal water. This, he said, had resulted in an increase in fodder prices. He urged the state government to make arrangements for the supply of fodder so that milch animals could be saved.

The Janata Dal leader also urged the government to postpone the recovery of all kinds of loans, remit interest on loans and provide immediate financial assistance to those farmers whose crops had been totally damaged.

Bumper crops raise spirits of farmers, traders
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Nov 6 — With bumper crop of paddy and cotton in this area this season, Divali is expected to be better this year for farmers, shoppers and traders of the local grain market alike. Better crop this year to some extent has helped farmers to get out of debt trap besides bettering the lot of traders, rice millers and cotton millers some of whom had gone into grave economic crisis due to bad crops in five consecutive years.

Condition of traders, rice millers and cotton millers had gone from bad to worse due to failure of crops in the past five consecutive years. The things had come to such a pass that two out of the seven cotton ginning mills had closed functioning while other five were also not finding sufficient business. Condition of rice millers was even worse and most of these were facing closure. With the running away of a cotton miller with crores of unpaid debts of the Mandi traders, last year, the business in the local grain market had gone in the doldrums. Mandi traders were finding themselves doubly cursed. On one hand their money was blocked with the millers, on the other hand the farmers were not finding themselves in a position to repay their debts. Some farmers had even changed their commission agents without repaying their debt despite good wheat crop.

With bumper crop of paddy and cotton this year lot of money has come in circulation in the local grain market. According to official reports 3.35 lakh quintals of paddy has arrived in the local grain market this season. Besides this 60000 quintals of cotton has arrived in the market. This means that Rs. 40 crore has come in circulation in the local grain market. This has eased much of the financial crisis which earlier had gripped the mandi traders. The traders feel that this will clear most of the debts of the farmers towards the traders, rice millers and cotton millers find themselves in better situation now and one of the two cotton millers who had closed operations has again started working. They hope that good days are back again and it would improve business in the area.

13 GJU appointments cancelled
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Nov 6 — Haryana Governor Mahabir Prasad, who is also Chancellor of the Guru Jambeshwar University, has upheld the recommendations of the University Executive Council, seeking cancellation of appointment of 13 teachers. This is likely to further delay in recruitments, as the aggrieved candidates said, they would approach the court.

There are indications that the Haryana government is likely to lift ban on the recruitment in the state universities in the immediate future. In case, the aggrieved candidates approach the court, the appointments to these 13 posts may not be possible during the time the matter is sub-judice, while the GJU needs to fill these posts on priority.

The appointments cancelled by the Governor, were made by the GJU in 1998. However, immediately after the appointment orders were issued, the Haryana government imposed ban on recruitment in the universities. Sub sequently, the GJU constituted a sub committees consisting mostly of bureaucrats, which recommended cancellation of 13 of the 22 appointments.

The aggrieved candidates told The Tribune here today, the recommendations of the sub-committee were "biased" and without any legal or technical justification. They pointed out, none of the members in the sub-committee had any expertise in the specialised subjects they were appointed for. "It was a bunch of bureaucrats directed from top, what to do and what not to do," one candidate alleged.

Significantly recommendations for cancellation were made by the sub committee, which was headed by an ad hoc Vice-Chancellor, who was holding additional charge of the VC.

The candidates said, they will seek justice from the court. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in its order on February 18 last had referred the matter to the Governor, with liberty to the candidates that they will be free to "reagitate" the matter, in case Governor's decision goes against them.

The candidates were sore over the inordinate delay in deciding the case. The High Court had said in its order that the matter be decided expeditiously. It took nine months for the authorities to take a final decision.

The worst-hit by this decision will be the students only. Top university sources pointed out, even if the ban on recruitments is lifted, it may not benefit the university. The university needs to fill these vacancies, pending for about past two years. As the candidates have decided to take the matter to the court, the recruitment to these posts will obviously get delayed in the legal process, the sources said.

There are about 100 vancancies of teacher in the GJU, besides 50 in the non-teaching departments. Some departments including the newly set up department of biotechnology is being run by a single professor for the past one near. The university has been hiring the services of the part time and guest faculty. This has also a affected the project work, as various projects allotted to the university get delayed due to the non-availability of regular teachers.

All phone exchanges to be computerised
From Ashwani Dutta

YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 6 — Mr Ram Bilas Paswan, Union Communication Minister revealed that all telephone linesmen at the state headquarters in the entire country would be provided pager facility by November 30 to facilitate the grievances of general masses.

Mr Paswan while talking to newsmen here today at the canal rest house said it had also been decided that the telephone subscribers now could deposit telephone bills in all nationalised banks so that pressure may be minimised in post and telegraph offices. Mr Paswan also added that pager facility would also be extended at the district level by March 2000.

Mr Paswan claimed that by June, 2000 all telephone exchanges in the country would be computerised. He said that there were Rs 45.50 lakh telephone lines in 6.7 lakh villages of the country. He further added that there was shortage of staff which had also created problems for the subscribers because the complaints normally went unattended. He further said that very soon a ban on recruitment of the staff would be lifted. He stated that one monitoring cell had been constituted to watch the development activities of the department of which every month the meeting would be called to review the situation. He added that a special grievances cell had also been constituted under his supervision. Mr Paswan announced that now any person could take the PCO without any delay under five categories i.e. unemployed youth of any caste, ex-army personnel, handicapped, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe and journalists.

Mr Paswan who remained the Railway Minister in his previous tenure stated that he had earned profit for the Union Government to the tune of Rs 800 crore and also confirmed the services of 57000 workers.

Mr Paswan speculated that Laloo Parsad Yadav and his party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) would be rooted out in the next Assembly poll in Bihar which is to be scheduled in February-March, 2000.

Mr Paswan further said that there was complete anarchy in Bihar and that people were fed up with the high-handedness of the Laloo regime. He said that in the recent Lok Sabha election in Bihar Mr Laloo Yadav's party was defeated in 273 seats out of 325 which is clearly the downfall of the RJD in the state.

When this newsman asked who would be the next Chief Minister of Bihar, he overruled his own possibility.

He said hat their aim was to remove Mr Laloo Prasad. He stated that the Atal Behari Vajpayee government would complete its five years and has taken all positive measures in the development of the country.

Ambala to send aid to Orissa
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Nov 6 — Residents here will send cash, foodgrain and medicine worth Rs 20 lakh as and to the cyclone-hit Orissa. This decision was taken at a meeting of the trader, social, industrial and educational organisations held here yesterday under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ramniwas.

According to a press note of the administration, Haryana Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association will contribute medicines worth Rs 2 lakh. Besides the Indian Medical Association will contribute Rs 1 lakh, the Ambala Science Apparatus Manufacturers Association Rs 51,000, the Ambala Rice Sheller Association rice worth Rs 1 lakh, the Guru Hari Kishan Educational Society Rs 1 lakh, Mr Kirti Prashad Jain Rs 1 lakh, the Rotary Club, here Rs 75,000 the Rotary Club, Ambala City Rs 31,000, the Grain Market, Ambala City Rs 51,000, the Brick-Klin Owners Association Rs 51,000, the Ambala Cooking Gas Agencies Association Rs 31,000, the Petrol Pump Dealers Association Rs 31,000, the Ambala Chemists Association Rs 31,000, the Lions Club, Ambala City Rs 31,000, the Private Bus Association Rs 11,000, a wine contractor Rs 51,000.

The Deputy Commissioner urged the people to donate their old clothes for the flood-affected people of Orissa.

HSAMB issued notices
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 6 — The Civil Judge, Mr D.K. Sharma, yesterday issued notices to the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) and the state government, directing them to appear before the court on November 12 and file their written reply/statement about the allegations contained in the public interest litigation petition filed by Mr Rajiv Jain, chief patron of the Sarvjatiya Vikas Manch, Haryana.

Mr Jain, in his petition, alleged that the repair work of the roads in the city had been entrusted to the HSAMB by the previous government but the board had not taken any substantial step to repair the roads damaged by rains. The petitioner also demanded the immediate repair of the roads in certain parts of the city mentioned in the petition.

He also alleged that on account of political bias against the citizens, the present government had stopped the work for repairing the roads in the city.

Mr Ajay Garg, advocate, appeared on behalf of the petitioner.

BKU stages dharna
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Nov 6 — On a call given by the state unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union activists of the union staged a dharna today in front of the residence of Mr Surinder Singh Barwala, a member of Parliament, in support of their demands.

BKU activists demanded the withdrawal of hike in the price of diesel, procurement of paddy at support price and hike in the support price of sugarcane.

Addressing the BKU activists, Mr Ram Phal Kandela, said the farmers had been agitating for the past seven years in support of their demands and more than 12 farmers had been killed during the agitation. But the previous state government had not accepted their demands, he added. He hoped the Chautala government which claims to be working in the interest of farmers would solve their problems.

Later the BKU activists submitted a memorandum of demands to Mr Barwala and urged him to get their problems solved.

Patrol Act enforced
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Nov 6 — Mr P.K. Das, District Magistrate, here yesterday enforced the Punjab Village Small Towns Patrol Act in the district making it obligatory for all able bodied adult males to safeguard government property and other vital installations, railway tracks, power transmission lines, etc, falling under their jurisdiction.

The block development and panchayat officers have been asked to ensure the implementation of this order.

Dr Kadian president of Jhajjar DCC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 6 — Dr Raghbir Singh Kadian, a former minister has been appointed president of the newly constituted District Congress Committee, Jhajjar.

According to a press note here today, Dr Kadian, who is a member of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee has been entrusted with the work of organising party activity in Jhajjar district till regular organisational elections are held.

Chautala, Hooda greet people
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 6 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has greeted the people on the occasion of Divali.

In a message today, Mr Chautala said the festival of lights would not bring cheer to the families of those brave sons of Haryana who lost their lives in the Kargil conflict.

The Chief Minister urged the people to contribute their bit for the cyclone-hit people of Orissa on this auspicious occasion. The Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has also greeted the people on the occasion of Divali.

Yogis seek ST status
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Nov 6 — A delegation of the Akhil Bhartvarshiya Nath (Jogi) Samaj led by its President today met the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, at Jhajjar and demanded the inclusion of its community in the Scheduled Tribe. Later, it submitted a memorandum to him.

A spokesman for the samaj said a delegation would also meet the Prime Minister in this regard.