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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Wednesday, November 10, 1999 |
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Bhajan, Hooda men trade
charges KARNAL, Nov 9 — Pro-Bhajan Lal and pro-Bhupinder Singh Hooda slogans were raised at a meeting of Congress workers at PWD Rest House here when Mr P. Shivshankar and Mrs Ambika Soni, two members of the party high command, came here to assess workers' opinion regarding the assembly poll in Haryana. Draft poll rolls to be
ready by Dec 8 Living at the mercy of rail
contractors Bus stands sans amenities CM’s
assurance on nabbing robbers Highest-ever cane price in Haryana Several
injured in mob-police clash Report
submitted to CM on Lok Pal Bill Narendra
Sharma sworn in minister of state |
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Role of admn, people laudable SONEPAT, Nov 9 — How the administration in Sonepat could avert a bigger tragedy by containing the devastating fire which broke out on the evening of November 6 to only 17 shops is a question being asked by the people here. It seems the combined effort of the administration and the people besides the shoppers made this herculean task possible and a bigger tragedy was averted. As the stories regarding the fire have been trickling in the public on the whole has appreciated the efforts of the administration led by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, to save precious lives from being lost. Inquiries made by this reporter showed that the officials of the administration were on their toes for all of 12 hours in a bid to control the fire. The Deputy Commissioner made frantic efforts to requisition the services of fire engines from the adjoining areas. So much so that when junior officers in the Delhi Administration refused to send any fire engine to Sonepat, pleading that their hands were already full with Divali cracker fires in Delhi areas itself, Mr Rajpal had the courage to wake up the Chief Secretary of Delhi in the dead of night so that he could direct the Delhi Fire Services to be of assistance to the trapped people in Sonepat. The market in which the fire broke out was too congested and full of illegal encroachments but still the police led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Kumar Yadav, made valiant efforts to contain the fire to 17 shops only. Had the fire spread almost all 200 shops in the market would have been gutted. So much so that Gulshan Crackers Shop, where 32 persons perished in the fire, had to be broken open from three different places to extricate bodies. The efforts of the youth of Sonepat was also praiseworthy. A number of youth and other citizens are reported to have used anything handy to put out the fire. People brought in buckets full of water and sand bags. At least 15 fire engines were refilled about 10 times to put out the fire. Ultimately, it took about 12 hours for both the administration and the public to completely control the fire. Another appreciable step by the administration was that postmortem examination of the bodies was conducted without any loss of time. By 7 a.m. on November 7, 43 bodies had been handed over to relatives. Social organisations of the city gave a helping hand in a big way. They were quick to provide medicines and food to the injured and transport them to various hospitals. The administration undertook the operation of clearing the debris from the 17 shops which had been gutted. By 9 a. m. on November 7 the entire bazaar was cleared of the debris. About a dozen tractor-trailers were pressed into service to clear the debris. The administration took this step to ensure that on Divali day there could be less visible remnants of the tragedy in the bazaar. But despite this the Sonepat district administration could not escape its responsibility of being lax in enforcing rules regarding the sale of crackers and unauthorised encroachments in the bazaar. The administration had fixed three open places for the sale of crackers. But shopkeepers in the affected market continued to sell crackers. Although the Haryana Chief Secretary is believed to have patted the district administration for its gallant efforts to save precious lives yet carelessness in vigilance on the part of administration cannot be denied. While the administration in Sonepat responded to the call of victims within 10 minutes the story in Karnal where 60 shops were gutted on November 6 night was totally different. Many senior officers of the administration reached the fire site in Sector 12 when almost every shops had been burnt to ashes. Although in Karnal the HUDA authorities had charged between Rs 2500 and Rs 3000 from each cracker selling shop as licence and site fee yet they did not provide even the basic equipment for containing the fire. Only one fire engine was kept in readiness near the HUDA grounds. Yet, that too could not be pressed into service because the staff was busy enjoying themselves on the eve of Divali. Other fire engines reached after one hour at the fire site. The affected shopkeepers raised slogans against the fire service authorities, the Deputy Commissioner and the police. The only saving grace in Karnal was that it was a spacious ground which was open from all sides where the sale of crackers was allowed. Otherwise, in the name of safety there was nothing to boast about. The sad aspect of the entire story is that very few police guards were put on duty to regulate the shoppers and dissuade people from burning crackers near the site of the shops. Inquiries reveal the fire in the HUDA ground broke out because a child had ignited a sparkler near shop no 5 after his father had given him a cigarette lighter to ignite it. The flames from this spread in the shop from where it took minutes to spread elsewhere in the market. There is a rising public
opinion against the bursting of crackers in congested
places. But who will enforce the law is the million
dollar question as the administration always acts in
tandem with the shopkeepers. |
They braved flames SONEPAT, Nov 9 — Several instances of bravery shown by policemen and a youth here have come to light. Constable Ashok Kumar in total disregard of his life entered the shop in which many persons, including women and children, were trapped. He managed to bring out at least six persons. In his seventh attempt to save people he sustained serious burn injuries and lost his life. It was only the number written on his belt that made the identification of his body possible. Ashok Kumar, originally belonged to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and was posted at the Model Town police post here. Similarly, Parveen Kumar, a youth of nearby Rohat village, saved the life of a woman and a girl but in this process he was himself injured after he received burn injuries. According to him, he was standing near Subhash Chowk when he saw smoke coming from the scene of the fire. He immediately rushed there and started making attempts to putout the fire. He came to know that several persons had been trapped in a crockery shop. He took buckets of water and sprinkled water on a blanket which he wrapped around himself in a bid to enter the shop. He succeeded in saving a woman in the first instance. In his second attempt, he dragged a girl out of the shop. The hands of the girl were severely burnt. When he tried going in the third time he could not see on account of the thick smoke and fainted at the entrance of the shop. He was removed by the people and immediately hospitalised. He is stated to be out of danger. The SSP and the DSP (Headquarters) took part in extinguishing the fire and were totally drenched. Meanwhile, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, Director-General of Police, Haryana, visited the place where the fire occurred and went to various hospitals to express sympathy with the injured persons. He also visited the house of Constable Ashok Kumar who died in the blaze while saving people. He said the Police Department had recommended his name for a gallantry award. ROHTAK: Three residents of Sonepat who sustained serious burn injuries on the fateful day of November 7, and were admitted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) here are still battling for their lives. Although their condition is reported to be stable they are still not out of danger. A visit to ward number 6 of the hospital revealed the condition of all three patients, identified as Rinky (25) wife of Vijay Pal, her niece Jyoti (6) and Ravinder (23) is still serious. While Pinky and Jyoti have sustained about 45 per cent burn injuries Ravinder has got about 70 per cent burns. Attendants of these patients although satisfied with the treatment going on here, reportedly have demanded separate rooms for the patients to prevent any kind of infection. It is learnt that young
Pinky has already lost her husband Vijay Pal in this
tragic incident. Not only this her nephew Jatin (8) has
also become of victim of the devastating fire. Vijay Pal
and Pinky had gone along with Jyoti and Jatin to make
some purchases when the fire engulfed them along with
several others. The third patient, Ravinder, had also
gone for shopping. It is reported that he tried to help
others to escape and in the process sustained very
serious injuries. |
Chautala visits victims' families SONEPAT, Nov 9 — The Haryana Government has decided to take certain steps to avoid fire accidents on Divali and other social functions in future in the state. This was stated by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, while talking to this correspondent here today. Mr Chautala was here to inspect the site of the accident and condoled the deaths of the victims. Expressing satisfaction with the steps taken by the district administration, especially the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP, for rescuing the people who were trapped inside a shop and extinguishing the fire. He promised to provide more fire engines to the city. He also said special steps would be taken to ensure power and water supply when such accidents occurred. Reacting to the demand of some Opposition parties for holding a judicial inquiry into the incident and increasing the amount of compensation, Mr Chautala said the Opposition was in the habit of making such demands. He promised that the state government would do everything possible to help the victims. He stated that a magisterial inquiry had already been ordered. The Chief Minister visited the site of the fire and went to the houses of the bereaved families to condole the deaths of the victims. He promised assistance to shopkeepers for their rehabilitation. Mr Chautala was accompanied by Mr Ved Singh Malik, former minister, Mr Suraj Mal Antil, MLA, Mr Ranbir Singh Dahiya, president of the district unit of the INLD, Mr Devi Dass, president of the district unit of the BJP, and district officials. He also visited the local civil hospital and other hospitals to inquire about the health of those under- going treatment for burns. He also assured them that the state government would provide free medical treatment to them till their recovery. Meanwhile, the president of the Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U), Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, has expressed grief at the tragic deaths of 45 persons in this city on the eve of Divali. In a press statement today, he urged the state government to order a judicial probe into the fire incident and punish those found responsible for this tragedy. He said the district administration and the police were solely responsible for this tragedy. No action had been taken against those persons engaged in selling crackers and other explosives in a thickly populated area in violation of the orders of the District Magistrate who had fixed places for selling crackers and other explosives. Mr Virodhi also urged the state government to give compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to families of fire victims. The grant of Rs 1 lakh each as announced by the Chief Minister was less as the tragedy was the result of negligence on the part of the administration. Mr S.P.S. Rathore, Director-General of Police, Haryana, also visited the site of the fire and went to various hospitals to express sympathy with the injured persons. FATEHABAD: Mr Chautala has assured farmers the government will take care that they get sufficient power supply for the rabi crops. Listening to public grievances at Bodiwali village in this district on Monday evening, Mr Chautala said the government would not hesitate in providing subsidised power supply to the farmers even after purchasing it at a higher cost from neighbouring states. He said the state government had succeeded in getting increased power supply from the central pool and this would definitely help the government in providing increased power to the farmer. The Chief Minister said his government had initiated moves to replace the existing old iron electric poles with cemented ones in the villages to strengthen the power supply system in the state. The power line going from above the residential areas would be removed and additional transformers would be supplied to the rural areas to meet the demand in the villages. Mr Chautala said the state government had taken up the job of repair of roads on a priority basis. He added that the government had decided to construct cemented roads at places where tarred roads got damaged frequently as a result of rains. He also assured the villagers that the government would remove all encroachments on public property in the villages. Mr Chautala also assured the villagers about improving the water supply in the villages and conducting a fresh survey of people below the poverty line. The INLD MP, Dr Sushil Indora, the Minister of State for Cultural Affairs, Mr Ram Swaroop Rama, and MP Vidya Beniwal were also present. HISAR: Mr Chautala attended a Lord Vishwakarma Divas function organised here on Monday night in the auto market by the Auto Market Vishwakarma Sabha. In a colourful cultural programme, 72 distinguished artists from all over Haryana took part. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chautala assured sabha members to consider the demands for extension of the automobile market which was established in 1974 with 719 shops. Now the market has 1,676 shops where more than 2000 mechanics and traders were working. Mr Chautala termed Lord Vishwakarma as the creator of art in this world who, according to Hindu mythology, constructed Indraprastha and Mathura. The Chief Minister garlanded a portrait of Lord Vishwakarma. SIRSA: Mr Chautala conceded to provide better transportation, health and educational facilities in the rural areas of the state. Hafed had decided to construct rice shellers and a stadium at Ding Mandi, he added. Mr Chautala said here on
Sunday that the government had decided to provide 70
litres of drinking water per person per day. He was
addressing public meetings in various villages of the
district during the third phase of his public contact
programme. New waterworks and boosting stations would be
built wherever required, he added. He also assured that
power lines passing over the residential areas, ponds or
any public places would be removed so that accidents were
avoided. |
Bhajan, Hooda men trade charges KARNAL, Nov 9 — Pro-Bhajan Lal and pro-Bhupinder Singh Hooda slogans were raised at a meeting of Congress workers at PWD Rest House here when Mr P. Shivshankar and Mrs Ambika Soni, two members of the party high command, came here to assess workers' opinion regarding the assembly poll in Haryana. Situation became tense with members from both groups started trading charges. The Bhajan Lal group which met the members of the high command committee included Mr Jai Prakash Gupta, a former minister and Mr Tara Singh, a former Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. The Bhajan Lal group demanded the removal of Mr Hooda from the presidentship of the HPCC. It brought to the notice of the committee that only a non-Jat could lead the Congress in the state effectively. It blamed the supporters of Mr Hooda for the defeat of Mr Bhajan Lal from Karnal. The group members alleged that Mr Hooda was encouraging groupism in the party and was ignoring genuine workers. They told the committee members that the unfortunate decision to support the Bansi Lal government had cost the Congress dearly in the State. The pro-Hooda group which was led by Mr Kuldip Sharma, president of Karnal DCC stated that only Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda could face the Chautala government and effectively lead the party in the coming assembly poll. The group alleged that people at the grassroots level were alienated with the Congress during the Bhajan Lal regime. The group blamed Mr Bhajan Lal for encouraging group politics. The pro-Hooda workers alleged that during 13 months when Mr Bhajan Lal represented Karnal in Parliament, he did not care for the ordinary party workers. Both Mr P. Shivshankar
and Mrs Ambika Soni told reporters that their mission was
not to recommend the removal of the HPCC chief. The high
command's brief to them was to meet Congress workers and
assess their opinion regarding the chances of the
Congress in the coming assembly poll. They would submit
their report to the Congress high command based on the
opinion expressed by Congress workers at the grassroots
level. The committee would also suggest how best the
image of the party could be refurbished as suggested by
the ordinary workers. |
Draft poll rolls to be ready
by Dec 8 CHANDIGARH, Nov 9 — The draft electoral rolls for all wards of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, municipal councils and municipal committees in Haryana will be prepared from November 9 to December 8 on the basis of electoral rolls published on July 21 with reference to January 1, 2000 as qualifying date. This will mean that all those who will attain the age of 18 on January 1, 2000, will also be eligible to get themselves enrolled as voters by filing claims with the authority concerned appointed by the Deputy Commissioner. The draft publication of the poll rolls will be made on December 9 for inviting claims and objections with the revising authority. The last date by which claims and objections will be presented has been given as January 8, 2000, and the date for disposal of the claims and objections by the revising authority is January 28, 2000, according to the State Election Commissioner of Haryana, Mr I.D. Jogpal. Any person aggrieved by any such order by the revising authority could file an appeal to the DC concerned till January 31, 2000, in respect of rolls for Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, and up to February 2, 2000, in respect of electoral rolls for municipal councils and committees. The last date for disposal of such appeals by the DC is February 7, 2000, for the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, and February 12 for municipal councils and committees. The final publication of
the rolls of the Faridabad municipal corporation will be
made on March 3, 2000, and the last date for municipal
councils and committees will be March 8. |
Living at the mercy of rail
contractors PANIPAT: Rail passengers at Panipat railway station are forced to consume polluted and unhygienic food supplied to them by approved contractors of Northern Railway. Railway contractors are doing a face-lift of the station and platforms, but the work is being carried on at a snail's pace. Platform Nos 1 and 2 and No 3 in particular, are in a hopeless state. Whenever a goods train, mail train or Shatabdi passes through the station, a virtual dust-storm is caused. Passengers waiting on the platforms cover their faces with towels and handkerchiefs. Vendors leave eatables on top of their trolleys exposed to dust. Passengers who want eatables have no alternative but to buy unhygienic and polluted snacks from vendors. Sources revealed that railway contractors had leased their trolleys to labourers on a daily basis as the business was monopolised by contractors. Daily workers of these contractors had not improved their lot despite working with them for years. Since they were required to meet the targeted daily sales, they did not care to preserve eatables from the dust. A daily-wage worker revealed that in case work was not started in the morning, whatever the condition may be, the contractor breaks open the lock, and allots the trolley to another daily-wage vendor. The earlier vendor loses his job. It is reliably learnt that the two vending railway contractors have been unchanged for many years and the railway authorities do not allot work to others for reasons best known to them. The rates of eatables as per the list are for best material, but eatables provided to passengers are sub-standard, unhygienic and full of dust. Whereas foodstuff supplied in super-fast express trains is comparatively better and there is variety. At Panipat railway station, however, contractors supply only those items which provide a hefty profit margin to them, irrespective of the quality. Spurious and inferior quality cold drinks are supplied to waiting passengers and those in trains by stray vendors as also by stall holders. Even their rates are higher than the standard cold drinks in the open market. It is also learnt that a group of unauthorised vendors with the help of musclemen move about selling substandard eatables and spurious cold drinks with blessings of the GRPF, RPF, coach conductors, train ticket examiners (TTEs) and other railway officials. Sources reveal that such
agents collect Rs 30 to Rs 60 each per day from these
unauthorised vendors and in return they are provided
protection and safe movement in trains from Panipat to
New Delhi and back as well as immunity from punishment
for ticketless travel. |
Bus stands sans amenities FARIDABAD: The bus stands of the city and Ballabhgarh lack the basic amenities and facilities to the inconvenience of thousands of commuters who travel daily to Delhi and other places. The main bus stand situated in the NIT area, serving a population of 14 lakh, has no facility for drinking water except a "piao" being run by a sewa samiti near the outer gate of the bus stand. The only lavatory stinks as it is rarely cleaned. Sewer overflows and leads to slush. Moreover, there is a wild growth of bushes and shrubs all around. Roads are in a dilapidated state and pock-marked. Private water tankers are parked inside the bus stand. The small waiting hall has inadequate seating arrangement and is without a ceiling fan and proper lights. The entire bus stand complex is partially lighted with only four illumination points. Close to the exit gate dhabas and other stalls have sprung unauthorisedly on government land. The bus stand has no inquiry counter to give information to the passengers. A board is hung outside a counter with the direction "Yahan inquiry counter nahin hai. Kripya samay sarini dekhen". (There is no inquiry counter. Please see the time table). Paradoxically the time table does not provide proper information about the arrival and departure of buses which run between Faridabad and Delhi and on long routes daily. The condition of the Ballabhgarh bus stand is also not better. It is littered with filth and garbage. During the rain, the water accumulates for days together. Almost all buses stop outside the bus stand on the Delhi — Mathura national highway for boarding passengers. There is an inquiry counter but no one is on duty. A road leading to the Ballabhgarh railway station passes through the bus stand. During peak hours it gets crowded with the commuters going to the railway station. No traffic policeman is present to regulate the traffic. Worse still is the condition of the shelters all along the national highway between Badarpur and Ballabhgarh. Most of them have crumbled and are not being used because of poor maintenance. Shelters which were recently constructed mostly in sectors at the directions of the then transport minister, who is a local MLA, were not being used as city buses do not ply. At Ajrondha road and old
Faridabad crossing there is a huge rush of commuters who
have to run to board the buses as they do not stop at the
place meant for the purpose. |
CM’s assurance on nabbing
robbers YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 9 — The Haryana police has geared up to nab the kachha buniyan gang who had recently been operating at various places in the state. Three gangs are operating in Haryana and other neighbouring states also. The modus operandi of the gang is to enter the houses during the night attack the sleeping persons with lathis and decamp with cash and other valuable article. Seven members of the same gang have been arrested by the Saharanpur police in Uttar Pradesh and one of them admitted that he was involved in many murders. On October 15 the same gang had committed crimes at Jhajjar and Panipat in Haryana. The Chief Minister of Haryana has given an assurance to nab the gang. When this correspondent contacted Mr K.K. Sindhu, Superintendent of Police, he stated that a special team headed by DSP, Headquarter, Yamunanagar, Mr Paramjit Ahalawat had been constituted. The team had been directed to visit the hide-outs of the gang. Mr Sindhu also said the district police had interrogated a numbers of suspects who were hardcore criminals. He urged the people to cooperate with the police by supplying information about criminals. The entire police in the district had been alerted. He stated that in 1995 the same gang committed crimes in the area at Chhachhrauli in the district. Four persons were arrested and were later on acquitted by the court as the witnesses turned hostile. The said gang reportedly
keep horses, monkeys and snakes, etc, with them so that
none could be able to doubt their criminal activities. |
Highest-ever cane price in
Haryana CHANDIGARH, Nov 9 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has announced Rs 110 a quintal as the highest-ever price for sugarcane for early varieties to benefit the farmers. Most of the cooperative sugar mills in Haryana are incurring losses. This was stated by Mr Chautala at a meeting of the State Sugarcane Control Board here today. The Chief Minister said the rate for the mid-varieties had been fixed at Rs 106 a quintal and that of the late varieties at Rs 104 a quintal. He added that this was much higher than the price of sugarcane announced last year as these rates were Rs 95 a quintal for early varieties Rs 93 a quintal for mid-varieties and Rs 91 a quintal for the late varieties. The rate of early varieties had been increased to encourage farmers to sow these varieties, he added. Mr Chautala said a higher price had been fixed for sugarcane keeping in view the hike in the prices of agricultural inputs. The sugar mills had already been directed to continue their crushing operations till the crushing of the entire crop in the state. These mills had also been asked to make payment to the farmers in a week otherwise they would have to pay an interest of 15 per cent for delayed payment for more than 14 days. The long-pending
disputes about the inclusion or exclusion of certain
villages in the cane areas of different sugarmills were
also solved on the basis of the reports of a committee
constituted by the Cane Commissioner in the interest of
the farmers. |
Several injured in mob-police
clash HISAR, Nov 9 — Several persons were reportedly injured when the police resorted to a lathi-charge to control an unruly mob which had gathered in the local auto market to see a cultural function organised by the Vishwa Karma Sabha yesterday. Mr Sohan Lal, SP said four police men were injured in the mele. Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, was the chief guest. Finance Minister Sampat Singh, Health Minister Mr Om Prakash Mahajan, Surender Singh Barwala, MP, and several others were also present. The trouble started as soon as Mr Chautala, along with others left the stage. The mob rushed towards the stage. When the police stopped them, they started throwing stones, empty bottles and bricks at the police. The police resorted to the lathi charge injuring several persons. The mob again got provoked when the Deputy Commissioner ordered that the programme be stopped. The mob damaged several vehicles. The SP said a case under sections 147, 148, 149, 323 and 506 of the IPC had been registered. Meanwhile, Mr Billu
Sharma, Secretary, Vishva Karma Sabha, has condemned the
police for the lathi charge. He said in a statement here
today that resentment prevailed in the auto market areas
against the police action. |
Report submitted to CM on Lok
Pal Bill CHANDIGARH, Nov 9 — The three-member expert committee constituted by the Haryana Government to draft a new Lok Pal Bill today submitted its report to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. The committee was headed by Justice G.S. Chehal, a former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The other members of the committee were Mr Mohan Jain, Advocate-General of Haryana; and the Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Varma. The report was submitted by Justice Chehal in a sealed cover to the Chief Minister. It is believed that the
committee has drafted the Lok Pal Bill, which will be
placed before the Assembly in the next session, likely to
begin from November 15. |
Narendra Sharma sworn in minister
of state CHANDIGARH, Nov 9 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Narendra Sharma, Independent MLA from Pundri, as a Minister of State, raising the strength of the Chautala ministry to 22. Mr Sharma could not be sworn in along with 10 others on November 6 as he could not reach Chandigarh in time. The Chautala ministry has now eight Cabinet Ministers, including the Chief Minister, and 14 Ministers of State. The swearing-in ceremony
was attended, among others, by Chief Minister, Om Prakash
Chautala, his ministerial colleagues, Speaker Ashok Kumar
Arora and senior officers of the state government. |
Indervesh to head relief panel ROHTAK, Nov 9 — The Haryana unit of the BJP has constituted a relief committee for the cyclone-hit people of Orissa. The state BJP unit Vice-President, Swami Indervesh will be the convener of the committee. In a statement issued here yesterday Mr Gulshan Bhatia, Office Secretary of the party, said Swami Indervesh would collect the relief fund and material by visiting various parts of the state. The party also appealed to the people to contribute for the cause. A meeting of
office-bearers of the party MLAs, MPs and district
presidents has been convened on November 11 to discuss
about the relief committee and the state-level
"shakti sammelan" scheduled to be held here on
November 21. |
Haryana move to prevent fire
mishaps CHANDIGARH, Nov 9 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has said that it has been decided by the government to remove electrical wires passing in close proximity to houses, schools and other public places in order to prevent any untoward incident. It is suspected that sparks from overhead wires caused the Saturday fire mishap at Sonepat which claimed 45 lives. The Chief Minister who
was addressing a public meeting in Ding Mandi village in
Sirsa last evening said the government would ensure the
availability of 70 litres of drinking water per capita
per day in the state and the infrastructure for this
would be augmented. |
Farmer murdered FARIDABAD, Nov 9 —
A farmer was killed while he was asleep in his fields in
Bahbalpur village, about 50 km from here, yesterday
night. Old enmity between two groups of farmers is stated
to be the reason behind the cold-blooded murder. The
police has registered a case under Section 302. In
another case, three persons died under different
circumstances. Shyam Lal, a resident of Ballabhgarh,
committed suicide yesterday. In the second case, two
unidentified persons were killed by a speeding train
while crossing the railway track. |
Petrol station looted FARIDABAD, Nov 9 — Five armed persons looted a petrol pump situated on the national highway yesterday night and escaped after snatching a cash bag from an employee. The miscreants fired several shots in the air to scare away the persons who tried to catch them. The Senior
Superintendent of Police reached the spot immediately and
initiated investigations. He told newsmen today that the
culprits had been identified and would be arrested
shortly. |
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