Task force mooted to check interstate crime
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Sept 26 — To check entry and operation of the interstate gangsters in Haryana, the state police has urged its counterparts in Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for coordinated action to check criminal incidents. It urged for formation of a Joint Task Force (JTF) for concerted approach of the states to contain crimes in the National Capital Region (NCR).

For the first time the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi convened a high-level meeting of the Directors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police and Inspectors-General of Police from the Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, a few days ago, to take stock of the crime situation in these states as well as the NCR. Parts of Haryana and UP fall in the NCR and the developments in the areas of Rajasthan close to the NCR have bearing on the crime graph in Delhi and its suburbs.

There was unanimity at the meeting for close watch on the activities of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan in the areas of these states.

The Haryana Police made out a case that the crime situation in the state was well under control as all sorts of crime, except dowry related deaths, had gone down. It pointed out that the strength of the police in Haryana was one-third to that of Delhi, but had to cover more geographical areas. Still, the crime rate in Delhi was more than double to that of Haryana.

The state police, however, pointed out that there was an alarming and new trend of crime relating to kidnapping for ransom in Haryana. Also, there was new trend of protection money charged by criminals from the businessmen. Although crime in these areas have gone down so far in this year corresponding to the period last year, there was urgency to root out such incidents. The state police argued that the new trends in crime in Haryana were on account of its proximity with Delhi where rate of crime had shot up as in the neighbouring areas.

The authorities of Haryana also drew the attention of the participants that interstate criminals commit murders in other states and dump the dead bodies in Haryana. As the bodies are located in Haryana the state police has to bear the cross and put to extra strain to conduct investigations and follow up actions. As the victims are from different states, the local police ultimately ends up in cul de sac.

Also, Haryana built a case for amendment to the rules formed at the behest of the Centre making it obligatory on the part of the police of the states where the criminals were held to produce it in the courts in other states at its own risk and resources. For example, if A has been held in Haryana for a crime committed here, the state police will have to produce him in the court of another state for a crime committed by him there. The stand of the state police is understandable. With a number of interstate gangs also operating in Haryana, the police here also faces the odds of producing criminals in other states. With already shortage in manpower, this puts a strain on the entire police. The state police alleged at the meeting that the personnel from the other states sometimes do not cooperate on such occasions.

Haryana also urged that there should be meetings of the Superintendents of Police of the bordering districts of the states concerned on a regular basis and strongly advocated exchange of views and information between them in the overall interest of the society. The top officials of the bordering districts do meet, but such meetings are few.

Porno movies regular feature on cable TV
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, Sept 26 — There is unabashed violation of the Cinematographic Act, 1952, and the Copyright Act, 1957, in Haryana by owners of cable TV networks and video parlours, audio cassettes’ sellers etc.

Despite strict instructions by the Punjab and Haryana High Court which were passed in 1999 on writ petition no 8573 preferred by the Haryana Cinema Owners Association, the violation is continuing unchecked resulting in huge loss both to the state exchequer, cinema owners and the motion picture dealers.

Two recent cases this week, one each in Karnal and Panipat, highlighted the spread of this menace among cable TV operators and owners of video parlours. In Karnal the police arrested owners of a cable TV network on the alleged charge of not only violating the Act but also for showing pornographic films. In the second case, a video parlour owner of Panipat was arrested for showing pornographic movies in the parlour.

The craze of showing pornographic movies by the video parlours and a section of cable TV operators has taken deep roots. The youth of the state have badly fallen in the grip of this menace. The menace has spread to farflung villages in the state where pornographic movies are shown on video cassettes in small dhabas or shops. There are cases where viewing of such movies is being arranged in the privacy of small kutcha houses in the rural areas to a selected gathering. This has adversely affected the morale of the village society especially the youth in the countryside.

A very senior police officer confided in TNS that the rising graph of rape cases in the villages was the result of the exhibition of pornographic movies there.

A section of people in the city, especially the so-called elitist groups and the youth, are also in the grip of pornographic movies. The video parlours in the cities which have grown like mushrooms show such movies to a select gathering of youth during daytime. The college students are easy victims of the video parlour owners. The college students play truant and miss their classes to enjoy one to two hours of pornographic “escapades” in the dark surroundings of video parlours. The video parlour owners charge a heavy amount for this. It is a fact that many of the video parlour owners run their shows with the full knowledge and connivance of the police officials of the area.

In some other cases, the video parlour owners provided these services on heavy payment to a select gathering of couples in far-flung farmhouses or big bungalows at very heavy prices.

Taking a cue from video parlour owners, even the cable TV operators have started showing such movies. Inquiries made by TNS show most of the pornographic cassettes are smuggled from Nepal and are available in the bazaars of Delhi. This reporter learnt that after midnight a section of cable TV operators show pornographic movies till early hours in the morning.

This has been certified by the observations of the District Magistrate, Karnal, who in an order banned the screening or exhibition of films for which no commercial rights had been sold and also such films which were not meant for general public exhibition without a valid licence.

In the order, the District Magistrate observed that cable TV operators were running local channels and exhibiting video films without any valid licence, which is required under Section 3 of the Haryana Cinema Regulation Act, 1951. They were thus liable for penal action under Section 7 of the said Act.

The Magistrate in a directive sent to the SSP to check this said the cable network operators showed programmes in violation of the programme code prescribed under rule 6 of the Cable TV Network Rules, 1994, and also violated Section 7 of the Act by not maintaining the mandatory register. This was punishable under Section 16 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulations) Act, 1956. Further, owner of video parlours and cable TV operators were violating the provisions of Section 52A Clause (2) of the Copyright Act, 1957, which was punishable under the Section 63 and 63(A) of the said Act.

It has been further observed video parlour owners and cable TV operators exhibit films to the children which are not certified for unrestricted public viewing under the Cinematographic Act which is punishable under Section 7.

The District Magistrate has admitted this caused financial loss to the state government in the form of evasion of taxes, duties and fees to the government. This action of the video parlours and cable TV operators amounted to cheating which was punishable under Section 420 of the IPC.

It may be added that while disposing a writ petition by Sohan Lal Punani on behalf of the Northern India Motion Pictures Association, Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice N.K. Sood of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken a very serious view of the matter.

The judges had directed all Deputy Commissioners and district police chiefs in Haryana to take a serious view of the situation and enforce various provisions of the Cinematographic Act.

However, the high court order is still being implemented in a lukewarm way as many of the cable TV network operators and video parlour owners are people with high connections.

It is being felt that if this menace continues unchecked it will affect the fabric of Indian society.

Farmers resort to canal cuts
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Sept 26 — The district authorities are worried over the increasing cases of canal cuts in this region, especially in Gohana sub-division. The authorities concerned have failed to check the pilferage in canal water done by farmers in connivance with corrupt officials.

According to official sources, the shortage of power supply in the rural areas and little rainfall during the monsoon season, have increased pressure on canal water in the district. Although, almost all canals, distributories and minors run at full capacity during the rotation period, but canal cuts are on the rise.

However, the sources claimed that they were making efforts to check the incidence of canal cuts by farmers. Officials have also got the cases registered against them.

Meanwhile, resentment prevails among farmers against the inability of canal water to reach tail-end fields and the failure of the authorities to maintain a regular supply of irrigation water despite repeated complaints.

Representatives of various farmers’ organisations have urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, to ensure the regular supply of canal water. 

HVP urges govt to fulfil poll promises
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Sept 26 — The INLD government should fulfil its pre-poll promises of providing electricity and water free of cost, the General Secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), Mr Surender Singh, said addressing a public meeting here yesterday. He also submitted a 14-issue memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner at the mini-secretariat.

He demanded that since the district had been in the grip of a drought for the past two years, the government should provide financial help to farmers and labourers. The recovery of loans should be postponed by converting them into long-term loans, he said.

The HVP leader said Mr Bansi Lal had started various development works but the same had allegedly been discontinued by the Chautala government. s

Sonepat units evading excise
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Sept 26 — The government has been suffering a huge loss of revenue on account of large-scale evasion of central excise duty by a number of units engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel goods on the GT Road belt, particularly in Murthal and Bahalgarh areas in this district.

According to informed sources, the modus operandi of the racket is to show less production in their records. The managements of some units, it is alleged, have kept duplicate stamps and copies of the bills for evading central excise duty.

Certain officials of the departments concerned are said to be in league with unscrupulous industrialists of the belt and this was the main reason for duping the government on this account.

It is also alleged that some units near Murthal and Bahalgarh are stated to be engaged in power theft, thanks to the failure of the authorities of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) in checking it effectively despite repeated complaints.

Representatives of various trade unions, including CITU have urged the government to order a high-level probe into the scandal and punish those officials responsible for the racket.

They also urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to direct the police authorities to complete the investigation into a criminal case registered against the management of the Haryana Steel and Alloys Ltd., Murthal, without any further delay. The delaying tactics adopted by the police, they said, had caused widespread resentment among workers of this unit.

Chaudhry elected MC chief
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Sept 26 — Mr Kamal Chaudhry was elected chairman and Mr Kishori Lal vice-chairman of the local Municipal Council here today.

The SDM, Mr Ashok Bishnoi, who conducted the election proceedings said that out of 27 elected members 26, except a woman councillor Angori Devi, were present and the elections were held unanimously.

Mr Leela Ram Local MLA who is ex-officio member of the council was present during the election meeting. The Chief Parliamentary Secretary Haryana Mr Ram Pal Majra, though did not participate in the election process, remained present in the Municipal Council office to help in unanimous choice/elections, as both elected office-bearers belong to ruling INLD party.

After the elections the Executive Officer Mr J.P. Bishnoi, informed mediapersons that newly elected chairman will assume office after the notification by the State Local Bodies Department.

However, the chairman elected Mr Kamal Chaudhry gave instruction to the Municipal staff to immediately swing into action and replace the defective tubelights and bulbs installed on the town roads. Later, Mr Kamal Chaudhry was taken in a procession in the town by his supporters.

Hooda: farmers resorting to distress sales
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The Haryana unit of the Congress has alleged that government agencies are yet to start paddy procurement in the state.

An HPCC press note, quoting the party unit chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said here today that the state government had initially announced that procurement would start from September 15, which was later postponed to September 21. However, even though September was coming to an end, the government agencies had not entered the markets, the press note claimed. It added that farmers were now resorting to distress sales.

Mr Hooda said that farmers were being forced to adopt path of agitation to get the minimum support price for paddy.

The party also alleged that the names of many eligible persons had been deleted from the list of old-age pension beneficiaries.

However, the allegations were rejected by Finance Minister Sampat Singh. In a statement here, he said that government agencies had entered the markets on September 21. Out of a total arrival of 81,329 tonnes of paddy in the markets till yesterday, 31,965 tonnes were purchased by the government agencies.

The Finance Minister also claimed that Mr Hooda’s charge on the deletion of names from the list of old-age pensioners was not based on facts.

Governor given civic reception

KARNAL, Sept 26 (UNI) — Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand today exhorted social workers to work for the uplift of the people living below the poverty line with a missionary zeal without any discrimination of caste or region.

The Governor cautioned the people against narrow dimensions of terrorism and inequalities which were instrumental in destabilising national unity and integrity.

All primary school teachers’ post ‘filled’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The Haryana government today claimed to have filled all 7,206 vacancies of primary school teachers in the state.

The Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Education, Mr Prem Prashant, said here today that the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had fulfilled his promise of filling all vacancies of teachers. He said the result of JBT teachers had been declared and district primary education officers were issuing appointment letters to 3,206 successful candidates.

He said 4,000 other candidates, who had also appeared in the interview for JBT teachers would be posted on consolidated wages of Rs 3,000 per month under the district primary education programme.

He said 2,523 vacancies of classical and vernacular (C and V) teachers would be filled within a week. These include language teachers for Punjabi, Hindi, Sanskrit and crafts.

The applications invited to fill 3,153 posts of social studies masters and mistresses, mathematics teachers and science teachers had been given to the Haryana Staff Selection Commission for recruitment. The commission had been asked to fill these vacancies at the earliest. He said 842 vacancies of senior secondary lecturers would also be filled by the commission shortly.

He said the selected candidates would be appointed at any of the four places opted by them. In case, no vacancy existed at any of the four places of their choice, they would be given yet another chance to opt for two more places. He also made it clear that these candidates would have to serve in rural areas atleast for five years and they would not be transferred to urban areas before this period.

Lok Adalat awards to be binding
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The Haryana Government today claimed to have been taking steps to make Lok Adalats a popular and effective medium of providing justice.

As part of these measures, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, gave his approval to the Haryana State Legal Services Authority to amend its rules of 1996, under which every award made by a Lok Adalat shall be final and binding on all parties to the dispute and no appeal shall lie to any court against the award.

Every award of a Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a decree of a civil court or, as the case may be, an order of any other court and where compromise or settlement has been arrived at by a Lok Adalat in a case referred to it under sub-section (1) of Section 20, the court fee paid in such case shall be refunded in the manner provided under the Court Fees Act, 1870.

The awards of Lok Adalats in respect of pending cases shall be executable by the courts in which those matters were pending prior to these awards. However, the awards of Lok Adalats regarding matters at the prelitigative stage shall be executable through the court of District Judge of the district in which the Lok Adalat is held.

‘Fear psychosis’ in state industry
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The BJP, an ally of the ruling INLD of Haryana, has expressed concern about the “fear psychosis” which has allegedly gripped the industries in the state in the wake of Mr Om Prakash Chautala coming to the power.

The BJP’s view becomes particularly significant in the light of Mr Chautala’s proposed trip to the South-East Asian countries to woo industrial investments, including investments for the IT sector. “ The established industries are fleeing from Haryana and the Chief Minister is going to ask for fresh investments”, remarked a senior BJP leader. The BJP executive, which had met at Khol village in Rewari district on September 16, reportedly felt that a feeling of insecurity had gripped the state industry.

In a resolution passed at the meeting the party executive urged the state government to take steps to remove the feeling of insecurity among the industries situated at Faridabad and Gurgaon.

The executive felt that law and order was deteriorating in the state. The recent spate of robberies in the petrol stations and murder of a religious sect leader reportedly figured in their discussion and the state government was urged to take effective steps against crime.

The Chief Minister reluctance to form coordination committee of INLD and BJP members has believed to have infuriated the saffron party. Last month BJP leaders, including the party’s state unit President, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, and Mr Rambilas Sharma, had met the Chief Minister twice and urged him to form a coordination committee to ensure better working relations between the two partners. On both occasions Mr Chautala reportedly assured the BJP leaders that he would consider the proposal. However, nothing was done by Mr Chautala subsequently.

A senior BJP leader here alleged that Mr Chautala did not want to form a coordination committee because he could not decide that which INLD leaders should be included in the committee. The BJP leader said before the Assembly elections in Haryana, a coordination committee of the BJP and the INLD was formed and there were a couple of meetings of the committee. While the BJP had three standing members in the committee, Mr Om Prakash Grover, who was the chief of the BJP’s state unit then, Mr Rambilas Sharma, and Mr Manohar Lal, the party’s General Secretary, Mr Chautala reportedly used to always bring a different person with him for the meetings . “ Sometime it will be Mr Sampat Singh, sometime Mr Dhirpal Singh will come, or it will be Jaswinder Singh Sandhu or Jaswant Singh or somebody else”, the BJP leader said.

Kataria for stronger BJP in Haryana
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, Sept 26 — The BJP will work to strengthen its base in the states to emerge as a major political force in Haryana before the next Vidhan Sabha Election, president of the state unit of BJP Ratan Lal Kataria said here yesterday.

Mr Kataria was addressing party workers at the local Janta Bhavan. Elaborating his plans to consolidate the party’s base in the state, he said 1,400 power centres were being created to cover all 6,735 villages in the state.

Mr Kataria urged the Chautala government to implement Central Government’s schemes like the Kisan Credit Card and insurance of the poor immediately. He cited the example of the Himachal Pradesh Government, which had decided to bear 50 per cent share of the insurance installment while the rest was being borne by the Centre, and demanded that Haryana should do the same.

2 killed in road mishap
Tribune News Service

SONEPAT, Sept 26 — Two persons were killed and another was injured when their scooter was hit by a truck on the GT Road near Murthal Chowk, about 8 km from here, yesterday.

According to a report, the victims have been identified as Isham Singh and Parveen.

The police has registered a case against the truck driver on the charge of rash and negligent driving.

According to another report, five persons travelling in a car sustained injuries when it collided with a tractor-trailer on the GT Road, near Bahalgarh Chowk, about 10 km from here, last night.

The car was on its way from Jalandhar to Delhi and a team of Punjabi artists was travelling in it. Two of the five injured persons were hospitalised.

In another accident, four INLD workers sustained injuries when the canter on which they were travelling overturned on the GT Road near Ganaur Chowk, about 20 km from here yesterday.

The INLD workers were on their way to attend the rally of the birthday celebrations of Devi Lal in the city.

Councillor, son booked
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Sept 26 — The police today registered a case under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC against a municipal councillor and his son.

The complainant, Sat Prakash Dalal of Subhash Nagar locality here, said in the FIR that he deposited an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh with the municipal councillor, Naveen Kumar Jain, and his son, Vikas jain, at a rate of 2 per cent interest in April, 1998. He said he had also got a receipt of the amount. He alleged that despite several requests to return the amount, Naveen Jain, who is also a wholesale dealer of a popular brand of bidi (502), delayed the payment by making excuses.

The complainant got suspicious when Naveen Jain left the town along with his son a few days ago. It is suspected that Naveen Jain has decamped with the money. However, sources in Jain’s family claimed that he had gone on a pilgrimage.

Several prominent people of the town had deposited an amount of more than Rs 1 crore with him.

Workshop on science teaching
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The Haryana State Council for Science and Technology will organise, in cooperation with the National Council for Science and Technology Communication, a workshop on the “teaching of science through hands-on activities” here from September 27 to 29.

A spokesman for the Haryana council said today that the workshop was aimed at exposing school science teachers to fascinating aspects of science and technology.

District panels’ meetings
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The Haryana Government has ordered that the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee, Jhajjar, will be held on the second Sunday of every month, instead of second Saturday.

The monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee, Rohtak, will also be held the same day, according to a press note issued here today.

Special chance to diploma students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The Haryana Government today granted a special mercy chance to all those candidates of various diploma courses, including pharmacy candidates, who could not clear their diploma courses earlier and had exhausted all available chances of appearing in the examination conducted by the state board of technical education.

The examination will be conducted in November or December this year. The last date for the submission of admission-cum-permission forms without late fee is October 11. This will be the last opportunity being given to such candidates and no further chance would be granted. The students concerned should contact the principals of their respective institutes.

Ajay Chautala thanks people
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 26 — The Indian National Lok Dal leader and MP, Mr Ajay Singh Chautala, thanked the people of the state for the overwhelming response to the “vridh samman divas” rally.

He said the rally indicated the support of people to the policies and programmes of the government.

The rally was held in Sonepat to facilitate the INLD patriarch, Mr Devi Lal, on his 87th birthday.

Red lights on vehicles
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The Haryana Government today permitted all members of the Haryana Public Service Commission to use red light on their official vehicles. The government has, however, not allowed the use of red light on their personal vehicles.