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| Sunday, July 30, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Poppy husk rules village economies Christian Forum for minorities’ panel Welfare scheme for
poor kids launched Hostel for hearing impaired students Assurance given
on house tax Kalra is civic body chief Mystery shrouds
girl’s death A forgotten war hero? 5 of family killed
in road accident |
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Accused hurls shoe
at Sessions Judge Ex-minister
held for looting arms Form panel to reduce
differences: BJP Naik cremated with
state honours
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Poppy husk rules village economies Daban Kheri (Kaithal), July 29 — Poppy husk may be a scourge for thousands of addicts but for the people of this village and half-a-dozen others situated along the banks of the Ghaggar on the border with Punjab, it is an elixir of life through which dreams come true or go up in smoke. Poppy husk rules the economy of the villages. Nearly every household has a horse. And nearly every able bodied man has been arrested at least once. Everyone in this village is adept in the use of sharp edged weapons, including “kirpans” and ‘ barchas’. A visit to the village situated alongside the Ghaggar adjoining Samana subdivision of Patiala district of Punjab reveals that horses are the first love of the villagers. Nearly every house on the periphery of the villages has stables and youngsters are engaged in their upkeep. The number of horses owned by a villager denote his prosperity as well as his success in the poppy ‘trade’. This is because horses are also given on rent to those who deliver poppy husk to addicts in Punjab. The villagers have an obsession with good quality horses and also have thoroughbreds in their possession. A villager while talking about the death of his pure white mare whom he tried to save by continuous ministrations by a doctor bought from a nearby town, said they had been in the poppy husk trade since the past 25 years. He tried to justify the smuggling activity saying that the ground water was of poor quality and their fields were frequently flooded by the Ghaggar forcing them to turn to poppy trade for their livelihood. This view is, however, contested by Kaithal Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Ranjan Deo. He says that the lands of the villagers who are involved in poppy husk smuggling are reasonably fertile and that they continue to engage in smuggling the drug into Punjab as it has become a profitable business for them. The SSP said it had become impossible to take them out of the habit and that social organisations also could not do much as the people themselves were not poppy addicts. Sources said poppy husk smuggling had become a way of life for people of the area over the years due to the’ tolerant’ attitude of the Haryana police on the issue. They said the drug smugglers were allowed to smuggle the drug into Punjab as it did not cause any law and order problem in Haryana. They said though the Haryana Police was cracking the whip on smugglers the activity still continued with the rates of the drug having gone up. Mr Deo says that there has been a complete stop to distribution of poppy in Haryana and that trucks carrying poppy husk from Rajasthan were no longer off loaded in Kaithal district. He says that now the smugglers take delivery of the drug in Patiala district and transport it to their clients ahead. However, Harpreet Singh Sidhu, Patiala SSP, maintains that the smugglers would not need horses to transport the goods if they had started taking delivery of the drug in Patiala district. He says horses were used to cross over into Patiala from Haryana through muddy roads and various small bridges over the Ghaggar. Last year the police had seized 2,000 kg of poppy husk smuggled into Samana subdivision from Haryana while this year the seizure till now had been 1,500 kg. He said similarly 460 kg and 200 kg had been seized while being smuggled into Ghaggar subdivision of the district last year and this year respectively. Notwithstanding where the drug filled trucks are off loaded, for the youngsters of Seon Majra near here and other villages, including Chaan Chak, Ratta Kheri, Saraula and Bhattian each day starts and ends with poppy. Villagers say that all able bodied men start from their village before dawn or in the dead of the night, cross over to Punjab through paddy fields or the bridge over the Ghaggar in the Gurdialpura reserve forest and penetrate deep into Punjab to sell their “elixir”. The drug is stored in bags attached to the saddle and the horsemen are always well armed. |
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Christian
Forum for minorities’ panel CHANDIGARH, July 29 — The Haryana United Christian Forum for Human Rights has urged the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to set up a state minorities’ commission with statutory powers. In a memorandum to the Chief Minister at Karnal yesterday, Bishop Gerald John Mathias, Vicar General Father Thomas Anchanikal and Convenor of the Forum Rev Issac Mann, also demanded an inquiry into the July 27 incident at Faridabad where Christian pastors and school staff were beaten up. The Forum said church property, especially the cemeteries, have been encroached upon in Rohtak and Hansi and the district authorities had not taken any action. The Forum said the commission would give the minority community a platform to express its opinion. The Forum also demanded action to check anti-Christian hate campaign in various parts of the State. It sought action against those found guilty in the attacks on convents and clergy houses in Sonepat, Panipat, Narwana and Samalkha since January 1 this year. |
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Accused
hurls shoe at Sessions Judge SONEPAT, July 29 — Quite a stir was created in a courtroom when Mazhar Khan, an accused, along with three others, facing trial in a case of murderous assault, hurled his shoe at Mr Inderjit Mehta, Additional Sessions Judge, and started abusing him here yesterday. The incident occurred immediately after the Judge pronounced the judgement and sentenced them to undergo seven years of rigorous imprisonment each. The accused was immediately whisked away by police. According to the presecution story, Mazhar Khan, along with Gurdial of Meerut (UP), Amar Nath and Mange Ram of Kundli village (Sonepat) were arrested on June 25, 1998 and charged with murderous assault on the police. Consequently, the police sent the challan to the court for trial. On receipt of information, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Commis-sioner, Mr A.S. Chawla, SP, and Mr S.K. Sharma, District and Sessions Judge, arrived in the courtroom and resolved to tighten the security of the judges. Meanwhile, representatives of various political, social and voluntary organisations have condemned the action. |
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Welfare scheme for
poor kids launched ROHTAK, July 29 — The District Child Welfare Council plans to make about 250 poor children ‘self-supporting’ and independent through its schemes in this financial year. According to the Deputy Commissioner, a scheme called “street-working children” had been launched for poor children. He said about 100 such children would be given vocational training, education, health facilities and opportunities to increase trade skills. An amount of Rs 2.96 lakh would be spent. He said, children engaged in jobs like shoe polish, garbage collection, rickshaw pulling, mechanical and domestic work would be covered under the scheme. |
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5 of family killed
in road accident HISAR, July 29 — Five members of a family were killed and one seriously injured in a head-on collision between a Tata Safari and a Haryana Roadways bus of the Rewari depot near Kharkara village about 50 km from here, on the Hisar-Delhi highway last evening. The Tata Safari (HR 21 A 9000) was on its way from Delhi to Hansi while the bus was going towards Rohtak. All victims were residents of Hansi. They have been identified as Suman Khandewala, her son Neeshu, daughter Prachi, mother Chameli Devi, and Anshu, son of Satpal Khandewala. The driver of the Tata Safari has been admitted to Rohtak Medical College, Rohtak. His condition is stated to be
serious. |
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Hostel for hearing impaired students AMBALA The Rotary Club has been running a school for the deaf, Pavitra Dham, for the past 15 years and the new hostel, Shraddha, was inaugurated by the former Union Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, this month. A visit to the school reflects the enthusiasm, spirit and the unique abilities of those who cannot hear. According to the principal of Pavitra Dham, Mr Uday Thakur, the atmosphere at school is conducive for learning. “We ensure that the child learns things which are of everyday need so that when he or she steps out into the world, the child is well equipped to handle day to day situations,” he said. He observed that the children who cannot hear, develop special abilities such as the other four senses being much sharper and stronger. In the tailoring section of the school, where young girls are taught tailoring, sewing and embroidery, some of the articles made by the girl students, most of them hailing from nearby areas, were displayed. The articles showed exquisite embroidery and the craftsmanship of the girl students was reflected in the neatness of the finished product. “We encourage at feeling of independence among the children so that they can be an asset to their family in particular and the society in general. We dispel the notion that a deaf child is a liability. The child is definitely an asset and we only need to encourage them,” the president of the Rotary Club of Ambala, Capt (retd) Baldev Singh said. He pointed out that the school for the deaf, located in Ram Bagh in Ambala Cantonment, has been growing over the past couple of years. “The opening of the new hostel will help deaf students from far to avail the facilities at the school,” he said. We are charging a nominal fee of Rs 550 per month which includes wholesome meals, lodging in airy dormitories, besides, of course, the facilities available at the school,” noted social worker, Dr Jaidev said. According to Dr Jaidev four students have already begun to reside in the 20-bed hostel. “Right now we are only taking boy students upto the age of 12 years. When the dormitories become full, we plan to expand the living quarters,” he said. The hostel which has been built next to the school, has spacious living quarters, a recreation room, large bathrooms, a dining hall and other such facilities. Pavitra Dham is currently running with the help of grants and donations. “With the introduction of the hostel, our budget has definitely gone up but we are hopeful that we will get assistance from individuals and institutions so that the school as well as the hostel can continue to be of benefit to those who need it most,” Dr Jaidev said. The children at Pavitra Dham are like any other children except that they cannot hear. But that is not a deterrent for them to be like any other ‘normal’ children. When this correspondent visited the school, the classes were on. The students were paying attention to what the teacher was explaining and to any question asked by the teacher, there was a chorus of answers from the children. The answers were usually correct and the smile on the face of the children when they saw that they had got it right, was more than enough to show that even if they did not hear, they understood well. The previous president of the Rotary Club of Ambala, Mr Subhash Bansal, said that their effort is to enable the hearing-impaired children who are staying at a distance from Ambala, to avail the facilities at the school. “These children are no different from other children, they need only love and affection and they will blossom into useful individuals,” he stated. The school for the deaf has got to its credit individuals who have been an asset, outshining others. Arjuna awardee, Anju Dua, who now heads the sports department of the school, is a pass out from this school. Pavitra Dham started with four children and has now got 70 children. Shraddha, the hostel, too has started with four children and the Rotarians are hopeful that the number of hearing-impaired children who will be able to avail the facilities there will also increase in the near future. |
Assurance given
on house tax HISAR, July 29 — The Local Bodies Minister, Mr Subhash Goyal, today assured uniformity in assessment of house tax. Addressing a press conference here, he said the government had ordered a survey of house tax assessment to rule out the possibility of arbitrary imposition of tax. Besides, the government had set up a committee for bringing about uniformity in house tax rates. The panel was expected to submit its report shortly. He flayed the opposition parties for misleading propaganda on the issue saying that since the assessment had not been completed yet, there was no question of imposition of new rates of house tax. The minister said the survey would ensure that influential persons did not get away with lower tax on bigger houses. He also accused the opposition parties of misleading industry and trade on the issue of introduction of ST38 form. He clarified that the form was aimed at harassing businessmen but it was only a means for checking tax evasion. Mr Goyal claimed that the government had in fact simplified the sales tax procedures by abolishing several types of forms, including form 15 and ST14-A. The government had also introduced self-assessment for traders with a turnover of Rs 50 lakh a year. Referring to the power reforms, he said the government was committed to uninterrupted supply round the clock, but the results of the government’s efforts in this direction would take some time to show. |
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Kalra is civic body chief ROHTAK, July 29 — Mrs Poonam Kalra of the BJP was unanimously elected President of the local municipal committee today. Mr Om Parkash ‘Rajasthani’, a confidant of former minister Subhash Batra, was elected vice-president, also unanimously. The meeting was presided over by the SDM and attended by 29 of the 31 newly elected municipal councillors. Mrs Kiran Gupta and Mrs Kelapati, though present in the town did not participate in the meeting. Both are said to be supporters of the INLD legislators from Hassangarh, Mr Balwant Singh Myna. Although the BJP enjoyed the support of only 10 councillors in the 31-member municipal committee, it got the president’s post in the draw of lots held prior to the meeting. Besides the BJP members, 16 members reportedly divided equally between the Subhash Batra and Dharam Pal Singh camps took part in the draw of lots. Twenty six municipal councillors have reportedly agreed that the chairmanship of the powerful Finance Committee would go a nominee of Mr Dharam Pal Singh, Chairman Zila Parishad, Rohtak, and prominent leader of the ruling INLD. The 16 members, who have formed a group with a view to garnering the key posts, had on Tuesday last met the Chief Minister at Chandigarh to express confidence in his leadership. Though these members wanted Mr Chautala to name the president and vice-president from among, them the Chief Minister reportedly advised them to decide the posts themselves after consultations with the BJP. It was in this background that the 26 members held their meeting before the official meeting to unanimously elect president and vice-president. Though the elections were held unopposed, resentment prevails among the BJP and the 16-member group about the choice of the candidates. A few members of the BJP were heard alleging that they have been betrayed. |
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Mystery
shrouds girl’s death JIND, July 29 — Mystery shrouds the death of a 15-year-old girl, Suman of Brahkhurd village in this district. According to the reports received here today, Suman was allegedly murdered by her close relatives and was cremated hurriedly to destroy evidence. On receiving information about this incident, the police along with two Medical Officers of the local general hospital reached the village and took samples of bones and ashes of the deceased for investigation. According to reports, Suman eloped with two youths of the same village about two months ago. The father of Suman lodged a complaint at the sadar police station, Jind, about her elopement. The police recovered Suman three weeks back from Sirsa and restored her to her parents. It is said the family members of Suman felt insulted by her elopement and allegedly killed her and cremated her hurriedly without the knowledge of the residents of the village. However, the family members of Suman say she died as a result of pain in her stomach. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC in this regard. The police suspects that the father and two brothers of Suman were involved in the murder of Suman. However, no arrest has been made so far in this case. Meanwhile, Mr B.L. Goyal, Additional Sessions Judge, Jind, on Friday, convicted two persons for raping a woman of Karkhana village in this district, and sentenced them to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined them Rs 2000 each. |
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A forgotten war hero? SIRSA: The brave die only once, but their memory lives for ever. A brave man of the district — a Kargil martyr — was consigned to the flames this month last year. This great son of the soil after killing eight enemy soldiers in a Kargil operation had immortalised himself. Remembering him today, his fellow villagers and parents feel proud of Krishan Kumar. Krishan Kumar of the 17 Jat Regiment, hailing from Tarkanwali village, of which 20 families have a each member serving in the armed forces. The uncle of martyr Krishan Kumar is a retired Armyman. According to the martyr’s father, Mr Jai Singh, Krishan was the youngest of his three sons. The father considered service to the nation as a supreme duty and inspired many youngmen, including his son, to join the defence services. He had been married for just a year when he was called to the front. Tiger Hills was his area of operation and while fighting laid down his life on May 30. His body was recovered 45 days later from under the snow. His body was brought home and consigned to the flames with full military honours. Choked with emotion his mother, Ram Payari, while talking to this correspondent, said she was proud of her son but regrets that the state government did not keep the promises. None from the administration came to mourn the death of her great son on his death anniversary on May 30. No memorial was erected by the state government or at Goldiggi Chowk as promised by certain social organisations, no school or road was named after him as was promised by former Sports Minister Ram Swarup Rana. The MP too, forgot his promise. The family was given Rs 10 lakh as financial assistance and a clerical post for Krishan’s brother, but emotionally the void is irking them. After all, the loss of a son cannot be compensated by money. |
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Ex-minister
held for looting arms KARNAL, July 29 (PTI) — Former Haryana Minister Tajinder Pal Singh Mann of the Congress was arrested here today by the state police on the charge of looting arms of his younger brother. Mann, who was minister in then Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal’s Cabinet, was arrested following a complaint lodged with the police by his younger brother, Surinder Mann, district police chief A.S. Ahlawat told mediapersons here. In his complaint, Surinder Mann had alleged that Tajinder Pal had looted his licenced gun and a revolver. The district police chief said that a case under the Arms Act and various sections of the IPC had been registered against Tajinder Pal. Surinder Mann has also sought police protection apprehending danger to his life as Tajinder Pal and his two sons are of ‘criminal background’, Ahlawat said. Meanwhile, Pushpa Mann, wife of the former Haryana minister, has termed the whole episode as “politically motivated”, saying that “they are trying to involve her husband and both sons”. |
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Form panel to reduce
differences: BJP KURUKSHETRA, July 29 — The Haryana BJP President, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to treat his alliance leaders in the BJP in the same way as the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, was treating him (Mr Chautala). Mr Kataria, who was addressing a press conference after inaugurating the Kurukshetra Institute of Management and Technology here today, said that he agreed that although differences had crept in to the BJP’s relationship with the INLD immediately after the previous assembly elections, still Mr Chautala had the responsibility to create a rapport with the BJP. On what should be done to remove the BJP-INLD differences, Mr Kataria said that a coordination committee on the pattern of Centre should be formed in Haryana. Denying the allegations levelled by Mr Chautala that the Haryana BJP was playing the role of an opposition party and not an alliance party, Mr Kataria said these allegations were ‘wrong’ and ‘totally baseless’. |
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Naik cremated with
state honours BHIWANI, July 29 – The body of Naik Nurses Assistant Anup Singh Yadav who died during an operation in Siyachin glacier of Jammu and Kashmir on July 24 was cremated with full state honours here last evening. The body arrived from Chandimandir here. The mortal remains of Anup Singh Yadav were consigned to flames by his younger brother Jagmohan. A large number of persons paid homage and laid wreaths at the body. The Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Ranbir Singh Mandola, MLA, Mr Shashi Parmar MLA, SDM Yogesh Chander Bhardwaj, Mr Dilbag Singh, Vice-Chairman, Board of School Education, Haryana, were among those present. Anup leaves behind his widow and two sons. |
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