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| Sunday, February
4, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Ex-minister gets bail on health ground Sonepat ITI closed following violence Girl ‘sold’ to aged villager Interactive medi-software
developed 15 quake-hit villages adopted Back to life from jaws of death No takers for donations |
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Thirteen trucks
flagged off Court staff booked on Additional CJM’s complaint Labourer killed, 6
hurt in collapse Haryana “reclaimed” 2.13 lakh hectares since 1974 Clarification on no-dues certificate Cops posing
as vigilance staff nabbed 2 meter readers suspended
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Ex-minister gets bail on health ground ROHTAK, Feb 3 — The Special Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, today granted bail to former minister Sri Kishan Dass on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court. Mr Sri Kishan Dass, who has been booked by the State Vigilance Bureau under Sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, has been in judicial custody since January 17, the day he surrendered in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM). Under orders of the CJM Mr Sri Kishan Dass was kept in the local PGIMS during judicial custody in view of his ill-health. Mr Sri Kishan Dass had sought bail on the grounds that he has been a freedom fighter and was in jail in 1946 during the freedom struggle, remained president of the District Congress Committee from 1954 to 1994 and president of the Haryana Pinjra Pole Gaushala from 1958 till today and was thrice elected chairman of the Vaish Education Society, the foundation stone of which was laid by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. The bail application said Mr Sri Kishan Dass remained MLA for three terms and was awarded the Padma Sri in 1976 for his dedication to social work. He has been a minister in Haryana on two occasions. It was averred the age of Mr Sri Kishan Dass was 75 years and he was suffering from many ailments. His age, infirmity and ailment entitled him to bail within the meaning of Section 437 of the CrPC. The former minister alleged he had been falsely implicated and he had nothing to do with the allocation of funds and that allegations against him were false. The Public Prosecutor,
however, opposed the bail application and filed written comments. According to the prosecution case, Mr Sri Kishan Dass during his tenure as minister had got land acquired for the industrial sector on the Gohana-Rohtak road adjacent to his own land, that HUDA constructed roads and provided sewerage and electricity near the farmhouse of Mr Sri Kishan Dass, that the residence of the petitioner was constructed with the contribution of HUDA and a big function was organised when the house was completed as he was Minister for Town and Country Planning. The FIR further alleged Mr Sri Kishan Dass had not called the elected councillors of the Municipal Council, Rohtak, and the council was rendered redundant by him and his son, who got various works done in the city in their own way, thereby causing losses worth lakhs to the municipal council. The prosecution further alleged Mr Sri Kishan Dass had got land acquired near his ownland to push up the price of his land; that the construction of roads after the flood was entrusted to HUDA which was under his control as a minister; that a sum of Rs 11,39,84000 was spent in Rohtak alone while Rs 2.5 crore was spent in the other flood-affected five districts. The defence counsel, however, denied the allegations and argued that funds were allocated by the Haryana Governor and the former minister had nothing to do with the allocations. Developing his arguments, the defence counsel said the decision to entrust the repair and construction of roads to HUDA was taken by the Bhajan Lal government in November 1995 and Mr Sri Kishan Dass was not a minister at that time. The Special Judge said the allegations levelled by the defence counsel needed to be probed thoroughly and their correctness or otherwise could only be adjudicated upon in a regular trial. Granting bail, the Judge said a careful study of the medical reports and documents pertaining to the treatment of the petitioner clearly showed he was completely immobilised because of weakness and breathlessness. The petitioner, the order
said, was receiving treatment for diabetes, hypertension, prostate and orthopaedic problems. Under these circumstances it was a fit case where concession of bail in terms of Section 437 of the CrPC deserved to be granted. He, however, ordered that the petitioner would join investigation as and when required by the investigating officer and would not tamper with evidence and leave India without the prior permission of his court. He directed the former minister to surrender his passport, if any. |
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Sonepat ITI closed following violence SONEPAT, Feb 3 — The district administration today closed the trouble-ridden Government Industrial Training Institute, Sonepat, till further orders, following yesterday’s incidents of hooliganism, violence and rioting etc in different parts of the city by irate students of the institution after the death of a student. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, told mediapersons here today that this step had been taken as a precautionary measure though the situation returned to normal around 3 p.m. yesterday. He claimed that the situation was under control and armed police pickets had been set up at vulnerable points to meet any eventuality. The entire city, he said, had been divided into various sectors and each sector had been put under the charge of a Duty Magistrate. Police patrolling had been intensified and the authorities were keeping a close watch on the situation. Strict instructions had been issued to the district and police officials to take action against the anti-social elements and students who were found indulging in violent activities. Superintendent of Police, Paramjit Singh Ahlawat told mediapersons on Saturday that the police had arrested as may as 10 students in connection with yesterday’s incidents of violence and rioting, and they were being interrogated. The police, he said, had registered a case against 23 students who had been identified by various official agencies for causing damage to government and private property. He said additional police force had been summoned from Panipat and Rohtak to meet the situation. Armed police pickets had been deployed at strategic points and patrolling intensified in the city. The police authorities were keeping a strict vigil on the activities of the students and anti-social elements. Meanwhile, this correspondent has received more details of damage caused to government and private property by the irate and violent mob of ITI students yesterday. The students marched through the Mandi area on the Sonepat-Rohtak road and damaged signboards and hoardings of the shopkeepers. City police station is situated on this road but the policemen did not apprehend the students indulging in rioting etc. Instead, they remain silent spectators. The protesting students also crossed the railway crossing and reached the telephone exchange road. They indulged in stone throwing and smashed a number of vehicles and a tourist bus of an MLA of the ruling party. They reached the general bus stand where they damaged the inquiry office and smashed windowpanes of several buses besides the counters and the STD PCO booth. They also tried to burn buses and the petrol pump station but they were challenged by the employees of Haryana Roadways. Four employees sustained injuries in the clash with the students and the employees succeeded in saving the petrol station and the roadways buses from the fury of students. The injured employees were immediately hospitalised. Officials of the roadways depot alleged that the police failed to arrive in time despite being informed. They also alleged that the injured were not given proper aid at the Civil Hospital and they were admitted only at the intervention of the General Manager of the roadways depot. |
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Girl ‘sold’ to aged villager FARIDABAD, Feb 3 — “Is a poor woman still a saleable commodity?” The answer to this seems to be in the affirmative if an incident which came to light in a nearby village is true. An 18-year-old girl from an eastern state was allegedly sold a few months ago to an old resident of Chhainsa village. The man who ‘bought’ the girl is stated to be aged about 70. The girl lived with this old man for some time but went away with a person hailing from Buraka village recently. The girl was reportedly unhappy with the old man and allegedly decided to live with a younger person. This development ‘enraged’ the old man and his associates. They reportedly went to Buraka village to bring back the girl, but did not succeed. The youth with whom she is allegedly living also opposed them. This led to a verbal dual between residents of both the villages. While no case has been registered in this connection, a panchayat of these villages was held to
solve the issue. The district police chief Mr Ranbir Sharma, said he had come to know about the ‘incident’ and had directed the police officials to investigate the matter. He said if there was anything illegal, action would be taken against the guilty. The SSP claimed that although incidents of poor girls being sold in eastern parts of India had been reported, no such case had come to light in Faridabad so far. |
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Interactive medi-software
developed ROHTAK, Feb 3 — The Defence Bio-Engineering and Electro-Medical Laboratory, Bangalore (DEBEL) has developed a software which could be interactive from hospital to hospital, doctor to doctor, and remote areas to central base hospitals of the Army for immediate consultation and the treatment of patients. The DEBEL has proposed collaboration with PGIMS here for setting up the hardware as this institution has the infrastructure facilities and patients population to provide requisite database, claimed Dr S.B. Siwach, Director, PGIMS. A team of doctors and engineers selected by the DEBEL today gave a demonstration of their hardware set up in the PGIMS. They demonstrated transmission of an X-ray picture from
Banglore to PGIMS, Rohtak. It will also be possible to transmit live ultrasound images to and from, Dr Siwach said. He said the system would benefit armed forces as field ambulance doctors would be able to transmit data to experts of base hospitals to seek specialist advice. |
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15
quake-hit villages adopted CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — A Haryana team, which had gone to set up a base camp in Gujarat for launching relief operations for the earthquake victims, has returned highly impressed with the indomitable spirit of the people of the ravaged State. The team returned last night after setting up the base camp in Rapar town, from where the relief operations would be started effectively from tomorrow to provide succour to the people of the 97 villages falling in Rapar taluka (equivalent to a tehsil). The INLD MLA from Rori, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, who led the team, told The Tribune here today that the people in the countryside of Gujarat were not short of food. However, their most urgent need was shelter because almost all houses in the villages had been damaged. Moreover, because of the frequent after-shocks caused by the Republic Day earthquake, the people were not sleeping inside pucca structures. The variation between the day temperature and night temperature in the quake-affected area of Kutch is vast. It can be as high as 30 degrees Celsius in the day and as low as 5 degrees or even at certain places 2 degrees Celsius at night. For this reason, tents are the most urgent requirement. He said Gujaratis within the State as well as those settled in Maharashtra had responded to the tragedy in a fighting spirit. Even those who had lost their near and dear ones in the quake had come forward to help others. The Haryana team came across two persons, Mr Mehta and Mr Seth, who had lost their wives and children in the quake but were undeterred by their personal tragedy in helping others. Mr Abhey saw certain Gujaratis bringing in relief material on their own from Maharashtra in Mercedes and Opels. The Gujaratis, who had been deeply touched by the manner in which the entire nation had responded to their hour of crisis, were confident of rebuilding their future. He found them to be a highly self-respecting community, which would rise like Phoenix, once it had overcome the initial shock of the enormous tragedy. The Haryana team would initially adopt 15 villages in Rapar
taluka. It would provide tents to every family of the village, along with a set of new
utensils, blankets, mats and other goods of daily use. It would also make arrangements for drinking water. The volunteers would include technical persons like plumbers and electricians, which would repair water and power lines. Once their mission is completed in the 15 villages, volunteers from Haryana will move on new villages. Each family will be treated a unit for providing the relief. The relief operations in Rapar taluka, which has been allotted to Haryana by the Gujarat Chief Minister, will be conducted under the supervision of the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, which has already sent about 1200 highly-motivated volunteers to Gujarat. Its head, Sant Ram Rahim Gurmit Singh Ji, is also camping in Rapar, 130 km from Bhuj. A satellite telephone has been specially procured from Chennai for installation at Rapar so that Haryana officials could phone in the urgent relief material required from the state. Mr Abhey said there was no dearth of volunteers in Gujarat. A large number of volunteers from the RSS, Manav Sewa Samiti and other NGOs had reached there and were actively involved in the relief operation. Of course, there is need to coordinate efforts. Another team of about 500 volunteers of the youth wing of the Indian National Lok Dal led by Mr Ajay Singh Chautala would leave for Gujarat on February 6. It will work at a place other than Rapar. Mr Ajay, who is the president of the INLD youth wing, told The Tribune that while the team would stay in Gujarat as long as need be, he himself would stay at least for a week to coordinate its operations. |
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Back to life from jaws of death JHAJJAR, Feb 3 — Five-year-old Vishu had a miraculous escape when she was digged out by rescue workers from the rubble of Gayatri Apartments in Bhuj on January 27, a day after the earthquake hit Gujarat killing thousands and causing widespread destruction. However, her parents and two-year-old brother, Ishu, could not survive the quake and were buried alive. Vishu was brought to her home in Dubaldhan village here by her maternal grandfather, Mr Raghbir Singh, two days ago. Recalling the fateful day, Vishu says: “I was playing with my younger brother. Papa was preparing to go to the vegetable market while mama was boiling milk in the kitchen when the building started rocking. It collapsed within minutes.” She does not remember what followed thereafter. Raghbir Singh said after hearing the news of the quake he left for Bhuj along with a relative on January 27 where his daughter, Sunita, lived along with her husband, Narender Kumar, sergeant in the Air Force, and two children, Vishu and Ishu. They searched for Narender, Sunita and Ishu in the rubble but in vain. They came back from Bhuj two days ago and are still hoping that they would meet their kin even as more than a week has passed since the tragedy took place. Vishu is still in a playful mood, little realising the magnitude of the catastrophe that has struck her. She remembers her Air Force School, her classmates, and Reena Madam, who was fond of her. Vishu’s relatives and other people have been visiting the family to express sympathy. Raghbir Singh, still in a state of shock, is at a loss of words to describe the condition of the survivors there. According to him, more than 50,000 persons may have died in Bhuj alone. |
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No takers for donations HISAR, Feb 3 — The “better half” of Haryana — the rural people — are an angry lot. They wish to contribute their mite to the relief kitty for the Gujarat quake victims but there are no takers. This unseemly situation has arisen because the official thrust all over the state has so far been on urban areas where scores of unofficial organisations are already engaged in collecting cash and relief material for the quake-hit. However, no attention has been paid to the generosity of the rural persons who do not whom to forward their donation to. Inquiries made by The Tribune from different districts revealed the bureaucracy swung into action only after instructions were received from the top for mobilising funds and relief material. It, therefore, had little choice but to opt for the easier option of concentrating all its energies on the towns where the task could be accomplished without much effort. Consequently, the rural areas, which could in the end, generate more resources than the urban areas, were left out. A tour of certain villages of the nearby districts showed there was equal enthusiasm among the villagers, if not more, for doing their bit for the quake victims. But it was dampened by the absence of both official and unofficial channels. Nevertheless, the good Samaritans among them approached their contacts in the nearby towns to find out whom they should send their donations to. In most cases they followed the advice given by their lawyers or doctors. But on an average for every one villager who has donated, there are 10 who are still waiting for the authorities to make arrangements for collecting their donations. The sarpanch of a village in Bhiwani district said a farmer by nature considered his task only half done if he contributed only cash. Thus, every one wanted to contribute foodgrains or ghee along with cash. However, it was too much to expect them to carry the weight to the Red Cross offices in the district towns. It was found that on earlier occasions patwaris and teachers of government schools in the villages were roped in to collect the cash and material. No such directions have been issued so far. This is not all. For the first time, it was found that village youths were willing to go to the quake-hit villages in Gujarat to provide free labour for rebuilding the devastated dwellings. However, the government has not made any effort to enlist them and make arrangements for them to go there. Reports received here from various districts indicate the youths are willing to travel all the way to Gujarat and stay there so long as their services are required there provided they were allowed to accompany the official teams sent from various districts. Official sources, however, said since this was a new development they could not take the risk of sending them without proper scrutiny. Realising the potential in the rural areas, many unofficial organisations plan to send their teams to the villages from Monday to help the villagers do their bit for their suffering Gujarati brethren. |
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Thirteen trucks
flagged off FARIDABAD, Feb 3 — As many as 13 trucks containing relief material, including three water tankers, were despatched for the quake-hit areas of Gujarat, yesterday. About 49 volunteers accompanied these trucks. According to district officials the relief material, including medicines, clothes, utensils had been collected by various voluntary bodies and individuals, including the District Red Cross Society. The trucks were flagged off by the Deputy Commissioner. About 5000 blankets and other material has already been sent to Gujarat. |
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Court staff booked on Additional CJM’s complaint HISAR, Feb 3 — Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sanjeev Kumar today lodged a complaint of forgery against two employees of his court. Mr Kumar said here that Mahesh Kumar, a process server, and Madan Lal, a peon, had taken loans from a local private finance company two years ago. They allegedly forged the signature of his predecessor, Mr Inderjeet, on an undertaking given to the company. The matter came to light when they failed to repay the loan and on the basis of the forged undertaking, the company asked Mr Kumar to deduct the amount from their salaries. He said that on inquiry it was found that the employees had forged the signatures on the undertaking. The police has registered a case in this regard against both employees. Meanwhile, Mr Sanjeev Kumar today remanded Subhash Fauji, a notorious criminal, in police custody for three days. He was arrested last month for his involvement in nearly 30 cases of murder, attempt to murder, dacoity and extortion. |
Labourer killed, 6
hurt in collapse JHAJJAR, Feb 3 — At least two persons were killed and six injured in two incidents in the district today. In the first case, a labourer, Shyam of Bupenia village, was killed and six others were injured when a chimney of brick-kiln which was under construction collapsed and fell on them at Desalpur village, about 30 km from here. The injured were rushed to a hospital at Bahadurgarh. The injured have been identified as Hawa Singh, Jagjivan, Ramesh, Rohtas, Baljit and Nand Kishore. A case has been registered in this regard. In another incident, 19-year-old Praveen Kumar was shot dead, allegedly by Amit, alias Bhola, in Jakhoda village near Bahadurgarh subdivision. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC in this regard.
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Haryana “reclaimed” 2.13 lakh hectares since 1974 CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Haryana Land Reclamation and Development
Corporation today claimed to have reclaimed 2.13 lakh hectares of land and made it worth culturable with the use of gypsum since the inception of the corporation in 1974. A spokesman of the Corporation said that last year over 78,830 tonnes of gypsum had been sold to the farmers at 50 and 75 per cent subsidy for land reclamation and production of oilseed crop respectively thus making 8668 hectares of land worth farming in the current year against the target of selling of 90,000 metric tonnes of gypsum over 83,707 metric tonnes had been sold to the farmers on subsidised rates and 11,481 hectares of land had been reclaimed against the target of 9,286 hectares. He said during the first nine months of the current year 70,978 tonnes of DAP, Urea and zinc sulphate had been sold to farmers as against 38,939 tonnes in 1999-2000. He said the farmers had also been sold 11,210 tonnes weedicide and 40,355 tonnes of pesticide. Farmers were also supplied 27.86 quintals of improved seeds and 4,794 spray pumps during the period under report. The spokesman said the corporation was engaged in the production of improved seed of whet, paddy, sarson and sugarcane under the improved seed production programme at the Hisar Farm. During last year over 85,599 quintals of seeds was produced in this farm. He said the corporation had earned a profit of Rs 96 lakh during the first nine months of the current year. |
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Clarification on
no-dues certificate CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Uttar/Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam today said that certain employees either of the government or of the nigam had been insisting on “no-due certificate” from the sub-divisional officers concerned of the nigam in every case. An official spokesman of the nigam clarified that the person desiring to avail of facilities of cooperative loans, DRDA grant, issue of ration cards, driving licence, arms licence, registration of vehicles and properties, is required to submit his application along with the latest electricity bill and receipt of the payment, that he or his family had made the payment of electricity bills. Once this application was made, there after there would not be any need of getting no-dues certificates from the nigam. He added that in case the consumer did not have the latest bill, then he could approach the commercial assistant for issuing duplicate bill or no due certificate. The commercial assistant would be available in his office from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to attend to this work. |
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Cops posing
as vigilance staff nabbed FARIDABAD, Feb 3 — Four persons, posing as members of a vigilance team of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) were caught by nigam officials near Hathin town in the district yesterday. Two of the accused are reported to be policemen. The accused posing as vigilance officials were checking power meters of some shops near Hathin bus stand. They charged the shopkeepers with stealing power through some irregularities and a penalty of Rs 20,000 was fixed by the ‘team’ for the theft. The shop-owners reportedly agreed to pay some amount to team members to forgive them. Some amount was collected and the team members decided to board a bus. But some shopkeepers got suspicious of the move of the team as an employee of the nigam, who was also present there, failed to identify any member of the vigilance team. He reported the matter to senior officials of the nigam, who reached the spot. The bus, which the team got into, was intercepted by the nigam officials. All four persons were nabbed and handed over to the police. While nigam sources have confirmed the incident, it is not clear whether or not the police has booked a case in this connection. |
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2 meter readers suspended YAMUNANAGAR, Feb 3 — Two meter readers of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) have been suspended on charge of indiscipline. According to information received Mr Tarun Bajaj, Managing Director, (UHBVN) on Thursday went to different offices of the nigam in Yamuna Nagar on a surprise check after receiving complaints from consumers regarding theft cases and negligence of officials. He went to SDO’s office in Model Town and inquired about the meter readers from consumers. As he was inquiring two meter readers were summoned but they did not comply the order of senior officials and ran away from the office. The Superintending Engineer, Yamuna Nagar, Mr O.P. Bansal, said the two meter readers Rajpal and Dinesh were chased by the employees of the nigam but they escaped. The MD ordered the suspension of Rajpal and Dinesh. |
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