Libraries for martyrs’ native places
Rs 1.5 crore grant released
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — A former Deputy Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha member, Mr Devi Lal, has released a grant of Rs 1.50 crore out of the MP Local Area Development Fund for setting up libraries at the native places of 75 martyrs of Haryana who sacrificed their lives during the Kargil war.

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, who is the eldest son of Mr Devi Lal, had doubled the financial assistance from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for the dependents of those soldiers who sacrificed their lives to safeguard the borders of the country. The injured soldiers were given Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh so that they could be rehabilitated.

Mr Chautala had also urged the Central Government that LPG agencies and petrol stations should be allotted to the dependents of the martyrs. The first such agency was given to the mother of martyr of “Operation Vijay” at Barara in Ambala district recently.

The 75 martyrs are as follows: Sepoy Manjeet Singh of Kanspur, Sepoy Pawan Kumar of Godauli and Ofn (VM) Parveen Kumar of Dhanauri (all Ambala district), Rifleman Parvesh Kumar of Mukhla, Sepoy Gulab Singh of Ballah, and Hav Sukhwinder Singh of Sahbhi (all Karnal district).

Sepoy Sanjeev Kumar of Koulapur (Kurukshetra), Major Sushil Aima of Choma, Lance Naik Azad Singh of Mumtazpur and Sepoy Bijinder Kumar of Daultabad (all in Gurgaon district), Rifleman Ashish Kumar of Ghimana (Jind).

Capt Amit Verma of Bharai, Hav Jai Parkash Singh of Desalpur, Signalman Vinod Kumar of Jaitpur, Lance Naik Shyam Singh of Nilothi, Granadier Surender Singh of Subana, Naik Leela Ram of Jatwara, Naik Ramphal of Soldha, Sepoy Dharamvir of Dhakla, Hav Hari Om of Khunghai (all Jhajjar district).

Major Sandeep Sagar (Panchkula), Dy Comdt Joy Lal (Panchkula), Flg Officer Gursimrat Singh Dhindsa of Pinjore (Panchkula).

Granadier Amardeep of Bandh, Granadier Riasat Ali of Adhmi, and Lance Naik Jaivir Singh of Babail (all in Panipat district).

Granadier Manohar Lal of Dhani Dult, and Sepoy Narender Singh Jakhar of Mahuwala (both in Fatehabad district).

Sepoy Barbar Harparshad of Faridpur (Faridabad), Subedar Randhir Singh of Balkara. Sepoy Suresh Kumar of Charkhi, Lance Hav Ram Kumar of Bewawas, Lance Naik Raj Kumar of Rawaldhi, Hav Sidhkampur, Hav Lal Singh of Gokal, Sepoy Kuldeep Singh of Maharana, Granadier Sanjay Singh of Madh Madhvi, Sepoy Surinder Singh of Bardhu, Hav Rajbir Singh of Mauri, Lieut Dharambir Singh Sihag of Miran, Lance Naik Mahavir Singh of Kanheti (all Bhiwani district).

Naib Subedar Lal Singh of Guwani, Naik Birender Singh of Garhi Ruthal, Hav Ram Singh of Rampura, Naik Satya Pal of Sihore, Gunner Parminder Singh of Unhani, Hav Shiv Kumar of Kakrola, Lance Hav Lekh Ram of Sohla, Paratrooper Hanuman Singh of Kotia, Hav Khazan Singh of Dhungrajat, Dy Comdt Lal Singh of Kanina, Sepoy Anand Kumar of Bhagdana and Sepoy Ashok Kumar of Sihore (all Mahendrgarh district).

Dy Comdt Satpal Singh Chaudhary of Panjupur, Hav Naveen Mehta, Rifleman Parminder Singh of Tejli and Sepoy Ranjit Singh of Mandhar (all Yamunanagar district).

Dy Commandant Sukhbir Singh Yadav of Kutubpur (Rewari) Naik Samunder Singh Hooda of Sanghi, Lance Naik Jasbir Singh of Sisar, Lance Naik Rajbir Singh of Lakhan Majra, Rifleman Jasbir of Saman, Lance Naik Vijay Singh of Sunderpur, Naik Kishan Lal of Titoli, Lance Hav Balwan Singh of Khidwali, Lance Naik Suresh Kumar of Mokhra and Petty Offr Mahavir Singh Verma (all Rohtak district).

Rifleman Radhey Sham of Barwala Kd (Sirsa), Capt Sanjeev Dahiya of Rohana Sepoy Ravinder Singh of Rohana, Lance Hav, Lachhman Singh of Mehllana, Naik Bhim Singh of Pinana, Granadier Sukhbir Singh of Rukhi, and Hav Mahavir Singh of Bhanderi (all Sonepat district) and Hav Mahabir Singh of Ghirai (Hisar).

The grant for other martyrs would be released shortly.

I will be CM soon, says Bhajan
From Narender Sharma

HISAR, Aug 23 — Former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal said here today that he had no plans to retire from politics in the near future.

Addressing a large gathering on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Jambheshwar, founder of the Bishnoi sect, he said he was looking forward to becoming the Chief Minister again.

He said he still felt fit and young enough to continue in active politics for another few years. Besides he had been told that his stars indicated he would be the Chief Minister of Haryana for another term soon.

Pointing to the large presence of women at the function he said he felt happy that many of the women did not have their faces covered by veils. He said he had always been asking women to shun purdah and was happy they had begun to heed him.

He asked people to follow the teachings of Guru Jambheshwar who, he said, was not only the founder of the Bishnoi sect to which he belonged but the “greatest and the first environmentalist” ever born.

He said the guru fought for saving trees hunderds of years ago when conservation was not known to the modern world.

He criticised the Tamil Nadu and the Karnataka Governments for yielding to the demands of notorious bandit Veerappan and for every government should fight terrorism.

Former Minister, Mr Mani Ram Godara asked Bishnois to follow the 29 principles enunciated by their guru.

Mr Ram Singh Bishoi a minister of Rajasthan and president of the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, said social worker should devote more time to the uplift of the Bishnoi community.

District diary
Need for setting up govt college
From Satish Seth

KAITHAL: Successive state governments have failed to keep their promise of setting up a government degree college here. The demand had been taken up at the level of Chief Minister over the years by the people’s representatives but to no avail.

In the absence of such an institution, there is a lot of pressure on the present colleges, which lack the necessary facilities to accommodate more students.

Residents hope that the long-pending demand for the college will be conceded soon.

* * *

The local Lions Club was instrumental in making a dream a reality for some Bagri-Lohars when a former president of the club, Dr D.R. Miglani, motivated them to contribute Rs 5,000 for the purchase of a plot to construct their dwelling units. The Bagri-Lohars used to live in tents. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Mahavir Singh, conducted a draw of lots at a function held here recently and announced a grant of Rs 1,100 to each family from the Red Cross for the construction work. He gave an assurance that basic civic amenities would be provided on priority.

* * *

The District Consumer Redressal Forum headed by its president, Mr H.K. Mudgil, decided 20 cases relating to power disputes at Lok Adalats held here recently.

The forum was set up in 1991 and since then has received 2,674 complaints. Out of these 1,895 were decided till the end of July. Ten complaints were transferred to the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

* * *

The Deputy Commissioner has emphasised the need for creating awareness about population control and literacy among women and called for better hygienic conditions in the rural areas.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the installation function of the local Rotary Club at Milan Place here recently.

He asked the Rotarians to include these projects in their programmes during the year.

The SP, Mr Prabhat Ranjan Deo, who presided over the function, said the police was a friend and not a foe of the residents and they should help it minimise crime.

Five blood donors were among those honoured.

* * *

The Teej festival was celebrated by the Zila Gian Samiti and the Gram Panchayat, Siwan. It was attended by a large number of women and students. The Deputy Commissioner was the chief guest.

The programme was followed by sapling plantation and the distribution of seeds free of cost.

Question mark on cops’ recruitment
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 23 — Simultaneous withdrawal of “huge” sums of money from banks in rural areas in the past 15 days has put a question mark on the recruitment of cops in the state.

Alleging that something was amiss, the District Congress Committee (Rural) demanded a high-level inquiry into where the money was being deployed.

He apprehended that the money was flowing to middlemen as bribes to be paid to the appointing authorities.

The Congress leader alleged that the government was adopting dual standards in the matter of recruitment of cops.

On one hand Mr Om Prakash Chautala had announced that youths of a district could apply only from their native districts, but on the other the authorities received a wireless messages on the night before the last day for submitting applications permitting the youths to apply in any district.

He claimed that this was a clear indication that all was not above board.

BCA students given wrong degrees?
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Aug 23 — About a 100 students of a college here were allegedly awarded wrong degrees by the authorities of Maharshi Dayanand University at a convocation held here yesterday.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Maj-Gen (Retd) Bhim Singh Suhag, who was the Chief Guest at the function, reportedly promised an inquiry into the matter when it was raised by some students on the stage itself.

It is learnt that some of the students of a private college here, who had come to receive their degrees for the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) course at the annual convocation here yesterday, protested against the contents of the degrees awarded to them. They alleged that while they had done the three-year BCA degree course, the certificates given to them mentioned the course as B.Com (Computer Application) and the Computer Application had been written by hand and not printed properly. The students alleged that the degree awarded to them suggested that they had done B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) and not BCA. One of the students said that ‘wrong’ certificates had put their career at stake. He said no one would believe that they had done BCA, which had better value in the employment market.

The college authorities took up the matter with the Vice-Chancellor on the dais itself and the latter reportedly promised a probe into it.

The college authorities, on the other hand, said there was no error on their part and the students were told clearly about the course before they took admissions. They said if there was any fault it was on the part of the university which had finalised the wordings and shape of the certificate. The college, authorities, it is learnt, have taken up the matter with the varsity authorities formally.

The issue has led to resentment among the students and their parents and they have demanded awarding of a proper certificate for the course.

Scintillating show by army bands
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Aug 23 — A scintillating performance was given by the mass Army Band on the concluding day of the 2 Corps Army Band Competition which was held at Kharga Stadium, yesterday.

From the Scottish bagpipe to the brass bugle to the reverberating drums, the band developed a synergy between music and body movement which was a pleasure to watch and hear. The display concluded with the band playing beating the retreat in the backdrop of the setting sun.

Lt-Gen G.S. Sihota, GOC 2 Corps, was the chief guest of the function. A large number of officers, JCOs and other ranks with their families including retired officers of the station, attended the function.

The winners were 33 Gorkha Rifles. In second position were 24 Gorkha Rifles and third were 15 Gorkha Rifles. While 51 Gorkha Rifles stood fourth, 4 Mechanised Infantry were placed fifth. In sixth position were 7 Mechanised Infantry and seventh were 2 Mechanised Infantry. 7 Sikh were in eighth position, 10 Mechanised Infantry were in ninth position and 14 Mahar were tenth.

The bands were drawn from 1 Armoured Division, 14 Infantry Division, 22 Infantry Division and 14 (I) Armoured Brigade.

An army official said that music had accompanied the feat of arms, serving the two-fold purpose of inspiring the troops to fight and as a method of carrying orders and commands. Over and above, music had a soothing effect.

Indian Regiments started maintaining regular bands in the 19th century and these bands played for official function. 

'Train time’ leads to chaos on highway
From Our Correspondent

KALKA, Aug 23 — It is time for the Himalayan Queen to pass the level crossing between Kalka and Pinjore on the National Highway no.22. The crossing is closed to vehicular traffic by gate man for 8-10 minutes to allow the train to pass.

As minutes roll by, traffic chaos is all pervasive on both sides of the crossing. Honking of horns and smoke-billowing vehicles add to the pollution. Haphazard parking of vehicles leads to chaos as everybody is in a great hurry to cross the crossing. Due to “apple season”, the increase of loaded heavy vehicles on the highway adds to more congestion on the level crossing. On an average, the closing time of the crossing varies from a minimum of 5 minutes to a maximum of 15 minutes at different time intervals. At least six to 10 trains, including goods trains, daily pass through this level crossing.

The chaos here can be ascribed in large measure to drivers because they do not follow rules of the road. A daily commuter said that the problem is that traffic awareness is lacking in drivers, generally the younger lot.

Another commuter from Pinjore suggested that the traffic problem at this level crossing can be solved by constructing a flyover. Increasing traffic on highway demands a permanent solution to the problem.

Brick-kiln licence suspended
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 23 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, today ordered the suspension of the licence of Om Brick Kiln at Rohna village in this district following public complaints about the sale of sub-standard bricks.

According to official sources, the owner of this brick kiln had supplied sub-standard bricks for the construction of houses under the Indira Aawas Yojna in the village of Mehndipur, Murthal, Nandnaur and Malikpur in this district.

Earlier, Mr Ashok Yadav, Additional Deputy Commissioner, accompanied by the Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), carried out a surprise inspection of this brick kiln and found the sub-standard bricks dumped there.

The Deputy Commissioner has also directed the officials of the Food and Supplies Department to take immediate and effective steps for the stoppage of the sale of sub-standard bricks at this kiln. He also asked them to take legal action if the owner failed to comply with the orders.

Ex-MLA joins HVP
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 23 — Mr Kanwar Singh Dahiya, a former MLA from the Rohat Assembly constituency in the district, today resigned from the primary membership of the Congress and joined the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP).

Mr Rajiv Jain, General Secretary of the state unit of the HVP, told mediapersons here that Mr Dahiya called on Mr Bansi Lal, former Chief Minister and President of the party, at New Delhi and expressed his confidence in his leadership. Mr Bansi Lal welcomed the decision of Mr Dahiya and hoped that his entry would boost the image of the party.

Truck with cows impounded, 2 held
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 23 — The Meham police today impounded a truck carrying 12 cows for slaughter and arrested two persons in this connection.

According to police sources, the truck (DLI-G-7105) was signalled to stop at a barricade near Meham following a tip-off and Sadiq and Santosh Pal of Uttar Pradesh were arrested.

In a separate incident, a minor girl of Khairainti village in Meham was allegedly raped by a youth of the same village today.

In the FIR, the father of the victim alleged that Rajesh raped his 15-year-old daughter when she was alone and threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter to police.

In yet another incident, eight persons were injured and an 8-year-old boy fell in to water when a jeep carrying them rolled into JLN canal near Moin village today.

It is learnt that the injured belonged to Rookhi village and were returning after mourning the death of a relative.

Woman commits suicide
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Aug 23 — A middle-aged woman of Hanuman Colony committed suicide by consuming poison here yesterday.

According to the police, Ratni Devi (45) married to Sukhpal for 20 years had been troubled by a family dispute for the past few days. Early on Tuesday, she consumed poison. Her relatives brought her to the civil hospital where she died.

A case under Section 174 of CrPC has been registered.

In another case Umesh, a worker of a powerloom unit in Sector 29 tried to kill himself also by consuming poison yesterday. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital. He was reported to be in critical condition.

1 more succumbs to bullet injuries
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Aug 23 — With one more person succumbing to the bullet injuries in the shooting which took place in Sector 17 here on Monday, the toll has risen to two. The victim, identified as Ramesh Chand Gupta, died in the hospital last night.

The first victim of the firing incident had been Tara Chand Gupta, who had come to resolve the ‘dispute’ between two property dealers regarding the sale of a house in Sector 17. Mr Tara Chand had died on the spot while Mr Ramesh Chand was critically injured due to firing resorted by the suspect identified as Suraj Kumar, who has been arrested. A case has also been registered against four others who were present at the spot.

2 die of encephalitis in Kurukshetra

KURUKSHETRA, Aug 23 (PTI) — Two children of the district have died of encephalities (Japanese cerebral fever) raising alarm as the disease had hit the district last year too.

Nitin (3) and Neha (1) of Khaspur Kolia died of the disease at the PGI at Chandigarh. This was confirmed after the examination of their blood samples.

The blood sample reports had recently been sent to the Civil Surgeon here.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr R.C. Bhutani, said the Health Department had carried out fogging operation as per the directions of the PGI.

Chemist attacked
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Aug 23 — A chemist, Mr Ramesh Kumar of Ujhana village in this district was attacked by some jeep-borne persons on the Jind-Patiala road while he was coming from Ujhana to Narwana.

According to the reports received here today, Mr Ramesh Kumar was seriously injured in the attack. He was beaten with iron rods by the assailants. They fled on their jeep after the crime.

Naidu’s statements criticised
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Aug 23 — Former MP and Congress leader, Ms Chandravati has severely criticised the ‘stand’ of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Chandra Babu Naidu on the issue of developed and less developed states.

In a statement here, Ms Chandravati, who is also a former Governor, alleged that Mr Naidu had been trying to divide ‘states’ on this issue.

She said while Mr Naidu had been describing Andhra Pradesh as a ‘developed state’ it had the dubious record of maximum farmers committing suicide due to ‘debts’ .