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| Tuesday, January 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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No takers for Akali support |
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| Rao Man Singh is Chairman HSSC NARNAUL, Jan 3 — The Haryana Government has appointed Rao Man Singh of Neerpur village in Narnaul subdivision as Chairman of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission. Theft motive of attack on priest PANIPAT, Jan 3—The district police has established that the motive behind the assault on the priest of St. Mary Church on the night of December 31 was robbery and that there was no communal angle to the whole episode. Leopard enters house FARIDABAD, Jan 3 — Residents of Housing Board Colony in Sector 28 had to spend a few anxious moments when a fully-grown leopard entered the house of a retired police official early morning. Rewari Secretariat dedicated to people REWARI, Jan 3 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today dedicated the district secretariat, constructed at the cost of Rs 3.73 crore to the people of Rewari district. Two dead, 10 hurt in rail mishap FARIDABAD, Jan 3 — Two persons were killed and many of others were injured when they were hit by the Agra-bound Taj Express at the Ballabhgarh level crossing early this morning. Selection panel reconstituted CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Haryana Government has reconstituted the State Staff Selection commission for three years. Registrar Sangwan suspended HISAR, Jan 3 — The Haryana Government has placed the Registrar of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Mr J.P.S. Sangwan, under suspension with immediate effect.
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No takers for Akali support CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Even as the two major Akali factions are searching for allies in Haryana for fighting the coming Assembly elections in the state, major political parties of Haryana continue to shun them. The Badal as well as the Gurcharan Singh Tohra factions of the Akali Dal units in Haryana had, in separate statements, said that they would contest the Assembly elections in Haryana and had invited allies for this purpose. The Sikh community has a strong presence in Sirsa, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Hisar and some other pockets in Haryana. In case the Sikhs in Haryana rally behind a particular faction of the Akali Dal, they may be, it is said, able to make or mar the results in more than 30 Assembly constituencies. However, despite its potential as a political force, the major hurdle for any other outfit to have a tie-up with the Akalis is believed to be the Akali Dal’s staunch stand in favour of Punjab vis-a-vis the inter-state issues between Punjab and Haryana. “There will be more loss than gain by having any formal alliance with the Akalis”, said Mr Vinod Kumar Marya, Minister of State of Industries in the INLD-led Cabinet of Haryana. Mr Marya also added that he did not think that the INLD-BJP alliance could be stretched further for accommodating the SAD (Badal). The Akali Dal, it may be mentioned, last time had an alliance with a political party in Haryana was way back in the seventies when it shared seats with the Lok Dal. Since 1977, the SAD had not been a formal partner of any electoral combination of Haryana. Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD), blamed the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the SAD’s inability to make its presence felt in Haryana. “When Mr Simranjit Singh Mann’s popularity was at its peak in Punjab, he had put up Akali candidates in Haryana who got good support leading to the defeat of Lok Dal candidates in 15 to 20 Assembly constituencies”, Mr Chandumajra said and added that the AISAD was trying to strengthen its organisation in Haryana. While conceding the Akali Dal’s inherent ‘handicap’ in Haryana the AISAD leader said that even disputed issues like sharing of river water between Punjab and Haryana could be worked out by sitting across the table. “We do want Haryana also to become as prosperous as Punjab”, he said. Surprisingly, however, the AISAD meeting at Assand, near Karnal, on January 1, which was also attended by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, confined itself to issues related to the Sikhs and stayed away from any of the controversial issues between Punjab and Haryana. The most important resolutions adopted in the meeting were proportional representation of religious minorities in legislative bodies and representation of Sikhs in the Kurukshetra Development Board. Even though the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Haryana Vikas Party, which could have been the AISAD’s natural ally, had so for not shown any inclination of initiating talk with the Akali faction, Mr Chandumajra claimed that others were showing interest. Former Deputy Speaker Ved Pal, Mr Jagir Singh and Mr Rakesh Kumar, respectively representatives of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena reportedly attended the meeting at Assandh. Even if no one comes to the help of AISAD, it will fight the elections alone in some select seats, Mr Chandumajra asserted. While it remains to be seen what kind of response the AISAD evokes if it really participate in the polls, the Badal camp say the political observers will fold up its challenge and quietly lend support to the INLD-BJP alliance. The observers, however, added that though the Sikhs of Haryana may not constitute a vote bank for the Akalis, the Akali leaders may find it worthwhile to try to make a dent among the Sikh voters by playing the religion card. The observers added that Mr Tohra might take recourse to this tactics to create a split among the INLD’s Sikh supporters and ensure Mr Chautala’s defeat. |
Army-police issue snowballs AMBALA Jan 3 — Resentment prevails among Army officers of Ambala over the arrest of Major Sudhir Tripathi of 9 Deccan Horse Unit for reportedly assaulting a driver of the Haryana Roadways on December 25. According to sources, the Army authorities have written a letter to the Commissioner and the Inspector-General of Police, Ambala range, expressing concern over the role of the Superintendent of Police, Ambala, in this regard. The sources said that the officer was kidnapped and later kept in the Naggal police station on the pretext of talking to S.P. They also alleged that Army officers were not allowed to meet the SP. A letter (No 25013/83/GB II dated February 28, 1984) by the Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to the home secretaries of the state directs that “Soldiers under arrest should not be insulted, manhandled, assaulted or beaten up. They should also not be handcuffed. The arrest of a member of the defence forces should immediately be reported to the nearest military station as well as to the commanding officer of the arrested personnel together with details of the offences, date of arrest and the place where detained, if in custody”. The Army authorities have warned the civil authorities that action had a demoralising effect on the Army and it may take a serious turn. They demanded the transfer of the SP. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the SP, Ambala, has written a letter to Chief of the Staff, 2 Corps, Major-Gen V. Bhanot, in which he mentioned that Major Tripathi assaulted a bus driver of the Haryana Roadways. A case was registered against him under Sections 353, 332, 323 and 506 IPC in Ambala cantonment police station. He was arrested and lodged in the Ambala police station. When some officers of Deccan Horse Unit came to the police station to inquire about Major Tripathi, the SP, in the letter, said they were told about the details of the case by the SHO. They were also told that Major Tripathi had been arrested as per law. But an officer, who identified him as Major Bhinder, misbehaved with the police personnel and insisted that Major Tripathi be released on bail immediately. He was told that these offences were non-bailable and only a court could grant bail in this case. The letter further said that the officer threatened the police that they could also be arrested by the Army and locked up in the quarter guard. |
Case against ex-Minister CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — A criminal case has been registered against a senior member of the Bansi Lal Cabinet, Mr Siri Kishan Dass, his son, Manmohan, the then D.C. of Rohtak, Mr Anil Kumar, IAS, and the Executive Engineer of HUDA, Rohtak, Mr R.K. Garg. The case was registered under Section 13 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code by the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau at its Rohtak police station on the eve of the new year. A spokesman of the bureau said here today that the FIR was registered after legal experts held that a prima facie case of misutilisation of official position and misappropriation of funds had been made out against the accused. The spokesman claimed that the bureau had charged the accused with misappropriating government funds meant for carrying out repair work of the damage caused by the floods in 1995-96. He said out of a total allotment of Rs 13.35 crore, about Rs 11.35 crore were meant for five cities of Panipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Sirsa and Rohtak. He alleged that Rs 11.40 crore was misutilised in Rohtak town at the behest of the then Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Siri Kishan Dass, and Mr Anil Kumar. In the remaining four cities, only Rs 2.05 crore was spent. |
DAV cleanliness campaign AMBALA Jan 3 — Around 150 students of DAV College, Ambala city, launched a cleanliness campaign in the nearby Sultanpur village during their 10-day NSS camp there. The camp, which concluded here today, was attended by a large number of villagers. Former Deputy Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Faquir Chand Aggarwal, who was the chief guest on the occasion, urged the students to devote some of their time in social service too. The students made the villagers aware of value of literacy, environmental conservation and the traditional values of rich Indian culture and heritage during their stay in the village. They also imparted awareness on subjects related to health, hygiene and sanitation. The girl students organised literacy classes for the village women. NSS officers Rajesh Sharma, Dr J C Rattan and Mrs Rekha Sharma, accompanying the students, also arranged talks on different development issues of the rural area for the villagers. The sarpanch of the village, Prem Prakash Saini, announced that the panchayat would award Rs 1,000 to the model clean village of Ambala every year. |
Subsidy for sugar mills sought AMBALA Jan 3—The managements of the sugar mills of the Haryana have urged the state government to either ban the sugar import from UP or make the cane price be on a par with UP for the survival of the mills of the state. Mr Hem Raj Singh, General Manager, Naraingarh Sugar Mill, told mediapersons here today that the reduction in sugarcane price to bring to the level of UP was not possible at this stage in Haryana.He urged that the state government should compensate for the high cane price by providing subsidy to the sugar mills and increasing molasses’ prices. The Central Government should abolish excise duty from sugar and molasses. He said that the import of sugar should be banned or import duty increased to 100 per cent as the mills have buffer stocks of sugar also, sugar production is expected to reach nearly 165 lakh tonnes as against the consumption of maximum of 145 lakh tonnes.The GM said that this year the state government had banned cane purchase from other states and diversion of cane to other states was open which would adversely affect cane availability and the profitability of sugar mills. On the other hand, sugar had been coming from UP and Punjab which costs around Rs 20-25 per bag lower than Haryana. This was adversely affecting the sugar mills of Haryana.He disclosed that this year, the average cost of production per bag of sugar worked out to be Rs 1750 whereas the selling price was only Rs 1475. |
HUDA employees threaten stir SONEPAT, Jan 3 — The joint action committee of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) Karamchari Union today threatened to launch an indefinite fast if the demands of the employees were not accepted by the government. Mr Raghbir Singh Kataria, President of the union, said here today. He regretted that the HUDA authorities had failed to accept the long-standing demands of the agitating employees. The main demands, among other things, include the holding of a vigilance inquiry into the misdeeds of the Superintending Engineers posted at Faridabad and Rohtak, regularisation of the services of all daily-wage employees, grant of pension at par with other government employees, bonus for all, increase in the plot quota and the grant of promotion on a seniority basis. Mr Kataria also charged the INLD-BJP Government with adopting an "anti-employee" attitude and warned that if it failed to fulfil the demands, the union will also hold demonstration in front of the residence of the Minister of Country and Town Planning and gherao him before the Assembly elections. He appealed to the Chief Minister to concede the demands without further delay and avoid a confrontation with the employees. |
BKU to announce nominees on Jan 17 SONEPAT, Jan 3 — The district BKU has decided to field its candidates for Sonepat, Rai, Kailana and Gohana Assembly constituencies of the district. A BKU spokesman said here today that the nominees would be announced on January 17 at a state-level convention of the union at Karnal. Defending the BKU decision he blamed the Chautala Government for adopting an anti-farmer attitude and disconnecting power connections to tubewells for failure to pay electricity bills. The spokesman appealed to the farming community to remain united and work for the defeat of INLD-BJP candidates in the Assembly elections. |
Rao Man Singh is Chairman HSSC NARNAUL, Jan 3 — The Haryana Government has appointed Rao Man Singh of Neerpur village in Narnaul subdivision as Chairman of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC). This was disclosed by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, while redressing grievances of residents of the Ateli and Narnaul constituencies under the “sarkar apke dwar” programme held here today. The Chief Minister said it had been decided that if a particular panchayat was interested to go to a particular block, it would be done after the panchayat elections in the state. The government would not have any objection would be delay. Similarly polling booths would also be set up separately keeping in view the convenience of the people. The Chief Minister said every effort was being made to provide potable water and electricity to the people of the state. He assured that by desilting canals and distributaries, it would be ensured that water reached the tail. He said sufficient power would be supplied to the consumers even if it was purchased from the neighbouring states. |
Theft motive of attack on priest PANIPAT, Jan 3—The district police has established that the motive behind the assault on the priest of St. Mary Church on the night of December 31 was robbery and that there was no communal angle to the whole episode. The SP, Mr. M.S. Mann, said today that the priest was attacked because the assailants found him to be a soft target as the church where he was residing was at a secluded place. He said the police had identified the suspects involved in the attack and a manhunt had been launched to nab them. Meanwhile, the police has deputed armed guards at the church and school to ward off any threat. The Inspector-General, Rohtak range, Dr John V George, is also expected to visit Panipat tomorrow to take stock of the investigations. The Provincial Superior of Delhi province, Father Mahender Paul, said the attack was indicative of law and order problem and that there was no communal element to it. |
Leopard enters house FARIDABAD, Jan 3 — Residents of Housing Board Colony in Sector 28 had to spend a few anxious moments when a fully-grown leopard entered the house of a retired police official early morning. Delhi zoo officials were called in by the police who Immobilised the animal with tranquillisers, caged it and took it to Delhi. The leopard was first spotted resting in the lawns of the house of a property dealer by his wife when she came out to switch off the lights. She immediately came back, locked the doors and alerted other members of the family. Disturbed by a passing scooter, the leopard jumped into a nearby house which belonged to a former police official and entered through the bathroom door which was open. The zoo officials put a cage outside the bathroom and fired tranquillisers at the leopard. When it became unconscious, it was caged and taken away to Delhi. It is stated that the leopard had come from the jungles of Surajkund or was a pet of some farmhouse owner. |
School board members CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Haryana Government has appointed non-official members of the Board of School Education, Haryana, Bhiwani. From the category of principals/headmasters of recognised high and higher secondary schools: Mr Mohinder Singh of Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Gohana; Mrs Suman Sethi, Principal, Jain Girls Senior Secondary School, Rohtak; from the category of Lecturers of colleges of education: Mr Suraj Kaul, Principal, S.P. College of Education, Rewari; from the category of distinguished educationists living in Haryana, Mr B.V. Sharma, Principal, Shri Ram Senior Secondary School, Rohtak; Mr Raj Gambir, Principal, Dayanand Women College, Kurukshetra; from the category of members of managing committee of recognised committees of Haryana; Mr Ram Kumar Mittal, Chairman, Hindu Education Society, Sonepat; have been appointed non-official members of the Board. Mr Suresh Chand Garg, Lecturer, Vaish Senior Secondary School, Charkhi Dadri; and Mr Krishan Chand Verma, Lecturer, Vaish College, Bhiwani, will be special invitees of the Board. |
Rewari Secretariat dedicated to people REWARI, Jan 3 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today dedicated the district secretariat, constructed at the cost of Rs 3.73 crore to the people of Rewari district. Mr Chautala said the three-storeyed district secretariat has been completed in three years. He said a judicial complex was also under construction. It would be completed, at a cost of Rs 2.96 crore, by August. Of this Rs 1.26 crore had been spent. Dr Sudha Yadav, M.P, Mr Jagdish Yadav, Transport Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh Bawal, State Minister of Public Health, Rao Inderpal Singh, Chairman, Haryana Tourism Corporation, Mr S.C. Chaudhary, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr L.S.M. Salins, Commissioner, Gurgaon Division, Mr Rajeev Dalal, I.G. (police), Gurgaon division, Mrs Sumita Mishra Singh, Deputy Commissioner and Mr A.S. Chawla, Superintendent of Police, Rewari, were also present on the occasion. |
Two dead, 10 hurt in rail mishap FARIDABAD, Jan 3 — Two persons were killed and many of others were injured when they were hit by the Agra-bound Taj Express at the Ballabhgarh level crossing early this morning. While Nine of the injured have been admitted to hospitals at Ballabhgarh and Faridabad the rest had been discharged after first aid. The condition of the injured was stated to be out of danger. The accident occurred when a number of people on bicycles and scooters were crossing the railway track despite the closure of the level crossing gates. Eyewitnesses said some passengers pulled the chain of the GT Express coming to Delhi from Chennai which stopped at the level crossing. A few minutes later the train started moving and the Taj Express came from the Delhi side. Most of the persons were trapped between the up and down tracks. Those killed have been identified as Shailendra Singh of Kanpur and Bhagwan Das of Badaun. Both were labourers. While Shailendra Singh died on the spot Bhagwan Das died in hospital. |
Selection panel reconstituted CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Haryana Government has reconstituted the State Staff Selection commission for three years. Rao Man Singh, a retired IPS officer of Narnaul, has been appointed Chairman of the commission, which was earlier dissolved by the Chautala Government. A writ petition filed by the former Chairman, Mr Manmohan Singh Chaudhary, challenging the dissolution of the commission was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently. Mr Amir Chand Chawla (Sirsa), Mr Jai Prakash Kamboj (Karnal) Mr Vedpal (Loharu), Mr Satbir (Kaithal) and Mr Lachhman Singh Mirdha (Narwana) has been nominated members of the board. All of them are advocates by profession. A former Superintendent of police, Mr Suresh Sharma, has also been made a member of the board. |
Registrar Sangwan suspended HISAR, Jan 3 — The Haryana Government has placed the Registrar of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Mr J.P.S. Sangwan, under suspension with immediate effect. According to information available here, Mr Sangwan, an IAS officer, has been suspended following detection of irregularities committed during his earlier tenure as HUDA Administrator at Faridabad. The probe panel set up by the government is stated to have found him guilty on certain counts. Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor's office here had received a fax message regarding his suspension in which Mr Sangwan was asked to report at Chandigarh immediately. Meanwhile, an eminent soil scientist, Dr M.S. Kuhad, had been given the charge of the Registrar. The HAU Teachers' Association has welcomed the appointment of Kuhad. |
Consumer group for more facilities in courts PANIPAT, Jan 3—The Crime Detection Society has urged the National Human Rights Commission to issue neccessary directions to the concerned authorities in the centre and the states for providing proper shelters in court premises for visiting litigants and witnesses. In a statement today the director general of the society, Mr P.K. Ahlawat stated that almost all subordinate courts upto the district level did not having sufficient seating and the majority remained standing outside the court room. Many court rooms did not have verandas or corridors either and litigants and witnesses stood in the sun. Mr Ahlawat was of the view that compulsory attendance irrespective of their health & age in the present condition was a violation of their human rights. |
Four police officials held KARNAL, Jan 3 — The Karnal police today arrested four police officials, including Inspector Om Parkash, for the alleged murder of Naresh Kumar — a resident of Kattabagh near here. The others arrested include Head Constables Satbir and Mr Ram Swarop and Constable Vinod Kumar. The officials have also been suspended. According to officials sources, all of them were arrested under Section 304-A of the IPC. Their arrest follows an inquiry by DSP Ratan Singh. It may be added that Naresh Kumar died in police custody following his arrest by the Karnal police last month. The Kashyap ‘biradari’ had been seeking the arrest of the guilty police officials.Phoolan Devi MP, led a noisy demonstration against the police and blocked traffic here. |
Seven arrested for possessing drugs SIRSA, Jan 3 — The police has arrested 10 persons in the district. According to the police, seven persons were arrested for possessing narcotics.Those arrested are Raj Singh of Taruana village, Binder Singh of Seerat Garia village, Bhura Singh of Alikan village, Chhinda of Kirpal Patti village, Bhim Singh of Rania, Om Parkash of Alikan and Manu of Balmik Mohalla, Bathinda.Three others were arrested for quarrelling in a public place.In another incident, the police arrested 14 persons under the Gambling Act and four for absconding after getting a bail. |
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