Saturday, March 10, 2001,
Chandigarh, India





THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H A R Y A N A

Haryana Congress names block chiefs
Chandigarh, March 9
The Haryana Congress today announced the names of the presidents of its various block units, though elections were held several weeks ago.

B’desh team to visit Haryana
Chandigarh, March 9
A 16-member team consisting of high-ranking officers from Indian Defence Forces, Bangladeshi and Tanzanian Air Force and Vietnam Army will visit Haryana state from March 12 to March 16 to study industries, agriculture, rural development, health education, panchayati raj and future plans and programme of the State government.

Govt offices yet to pay house tax arrears
Panipat, March 9
Government offices here are reportedly the main defaulters in paying house tax arrears to the local Municipal Council which has been starving of the funds after the abolition of octroi duty more than a year back.

Haryana clears plan on e-governance
Chandigarh, March 9
The Haryana Government today claimed to have decided to launch e-governance in the next three months as the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, cleared the proposal to procure powerful servers and 1000 more computers.

Image of police takes a beating
Sonepat, March 9
The prevailing lawlessness, non-registration of criminal cases and rising number of unsolved cases have lowered the confidence of residents in the police in the city.

Team back with imported goodies
Hisar, March 9
Government employees from Haryana are back from Rapar in Gujarat after their much-publicised relief operation with truckloads of foreign goodies meant for quake victims, forcing the district administration to order a probe into who pinched what.



YOUR TOWN
Ambala
Chandigarh
Faridabad
Hisar
Jind
Panipat
Rohtak
Sonepat


EARLIER STORIES

 

Action against mill MD being taken
Chandigarh, March 9
The report of an inquiry conducted by the Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Haryana, in 1998 against the Managing Director of Cooperative Sugar Mills, Shahbad, regarding irregularities committed in the sale purchase of items and export of sugar etc, was tabled in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha earlier this week.

Strategy to check menace of copying
Rohtak, March 9
Perturbed over the increasing incidents of mass copying in annual examinations, the Board of School Education, Haryana, has formulated some strange strategies to check the menace.

BKU threatens not to pay power bill
Jind, March 9
The Bharatiya Kisan Union held a rally in the local grain market on Wednesday and demanded a written assurance from the district authorities regarding the implementation of their demands. Mr Mahender Singh Tikait, President of the All-India BKU, was the chief guest and Mr Ghasi Ram Nain, President, state unit of the BKU, presided.

Registration office goes hi-tech
Fatehabad, March 9
The Deeds Registration Office in the local tehsil has gone hi-tech. Now all deeds in Fatehabad, including sale deeds of immovable property, will deeds and mortgage deeds will be registered through computers only.

Centre blamed for farmers’ plight
Rohtak, March 9
Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, senior Congress leader and former HPCC chief, has alleged that the Vajpayee-led NDA government has brought the farming community to the brink of ruin by curtailing the role of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the public distribution system (PDS).

HVP blames govt for water crisis
Hisar, March 9
Mr Kanwal Singh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Board of the Haryana Vikas Party, said today the people of Haryana were facing an acute shortage of drinking water.

Goods worth lakhs destroyed in fire
Panipat, March 9
Handloom goods and furniture worth lakhs of rupees of a three-storey handloom showroom at the local Amar Bhavan chowk were reduced to ashes in fire which broke out on Wednesday night. Short circuit is stated to be the cause of the fire.

Bhandari mourns RSS leader’s death
Sonepat, March 9
The Gujarat Governor, Mr S.S. Bhandari, yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the residence of the late V.K. Jain, RSS leader of Haryana and Deputy Registrar of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, to express sympathy with members of his family.

Advisory panel formed
Fatehabad, March 9
The local INLD MLA, Mr Leela Krishan Chowdhary, has set up an advisory committee to work as a bridge between the public and the administration for implementation of the economic and 20-point programme of the state government.

Two gangsters, sarpanch held
Hisar, March 9
The police has arrested two members of the notorious Subhash Fauji gang and a sarpanch for allegedly demanding ransom from a trader.

Gang of thieves busted, four held
Jind, March 9
With the arrest of four persons, the district police claims to have busted a gang of robbers. Stating this here today, Mr O.P. Singh, SP, said the arrested had been identified as Bhupinder of Gatoli village, Kailash of Nagura village and Pawan and Hardeep of Kinana village.

3 of family consume poison, 1 dead
Faridabad, March 9
A woman and her two daughters reportedly took some poisonous substance in their house at Tigaon village last night. While one of them died, two others have been admitted in the hospital.

Body found
Ambala
A man was found dead in a hotel in Ambala Cantonment this morning.

  • Two killed in accident

  • Stolen goods recovered

Haryana police transfers
Chandigarh, March 9
The Haryana Government today transferred Mr Raj Kumar , DSP, State Crime Record Bureau, Madhuban and posted him as such with the 4th Bn Haryana Armed Police, Madhuban.



 

Haryana Congress names block chiefs
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The Haryana Congress today announced the names of the presidents of its various block units, though elections were held several weeks ago.

Presumably, the announcement has been made in view of the meeting of the partymen convened at Panipat on March 11 by the party chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in connection with a proposed rally, which is being perceived as a reply to Mr Bhajan Lal’s rally held at Bhiwani on March 4.

The following are the names of the newly-elected presidents : Mr S.S. Nanda (Pinjore), Mr Krishan Lal Sharma (Morni), Mr Shyam Lal (Raipur Rani), Mr Rakesh Sharma (Barwala), Mr O.P. Taneja (Panchkula); Mr Darshan Kumar (Barara), Mr Arjun Singh (Naraingarh), Mr Mehar Singh (Ambala Rural), Mr Tehal Ram (Ambala M.C.), Dr Vijay Gupta (Shehazadpur), Mr Narinder Pal Singh (Ambala Cantt).

Mr Ram Kumar (Yamunanagar), Mr Mohan Lal (Shahabad Rural), Mrs Shakuntla Sharma (Thanesar-Shahabad M.C.), Mr Rakesh Aggarwal (Babain), Mr Mehar Singh (Thanesar Rural), Mr Paramjit Singh (Pehowa), Mr Tarsem Singh Bakali (Ladwa); Mr Shish Pal (Rajaund), Mr Paras Mittal (Kalayat Rural), Mr Hukam Chand Singhwal (Kaithal-Pundri-Kalayat MC), Mr Gian Singh (Guhla), Dr Baldev Karora (Kaithal Rural), Mr Hans Raj Sharma (Pundri).

Mr Sohan Lal Gupta (Gharaunda), Mr Ram Saran Bhola (Nissing), Mr Atam Parkash (Nilokheri), Mr Vijay Sharma (Karnal Urban), Mr Karam Singh (Indri), Mr Moti Ram Goel (Assandh); Mr Inder Sharma, Sarpanch (Israna), Mr Ramesh Sharma (Madlauda), Mr Narender Vaid (Panipat Urban), Mr Rattan Singh (Bapauli), Mr Janeshwar(Panipat Rural), Mr Dev Raj Chopra (Samalkha).

Mr Suraj Bhan (Alewa), Mr Sat Narain Shastri (Uchana), Mr Preet Kumar (Julana), Mr Ramesh Jain (Jind-Uchana-Narwana MC), Mr Dalel Singh (Pillu Khera), Mr Chandi Ram (Jind Rural), Mr Megh Raj (Narwana), Mr Gian Singh Rana (Safidon); Mr Ravinder Hooda (Rohtak Rural), Mr Sant Lal Wadhwa (Kalanaur), Pt. Lehri Singh (Lakhan Majra), Mr Anil Sharma (Meham), Pt. Khem Chand (Sampla), Mr Suresh Goel (Rohtak Urban), Mr Suresh Munjal (Rohtak-Jhajjar MC).

Mr Moti Ram (Bahadurgarh), Mr Shyam Lal Jangra(Jhajjar Rural), Mr Ram Gopal (Salhawas), Mr Mohinder (Matanhail), Mr Badlu Ram Bhardwaj (Beri).

The block presidents from the southern areas are: Mr Ramphal Saini (Gannaur), Mr Maha Singh (Sonepat Rural), Mr Randhir Singh Lathwal (Mundlana), Mr Dev Raj (Rai), Mr Jai Pal Malik (Gohana), Mr Joginder Singh Dahiya (Kharkauda), Pt. Khajan (Kathura), Mr Prem Narain Gupta (Sonipat Urban); Mr Gian Chand Ahuja (Faridabad NIT), Mr Lekh Raj (Palwal Rural), Mr Sewa Ram (Ballabgarh Rural), Mr Gopi Chand Dixit (Ballabgarh Urban), Mr Dharamvir (Mewla Maharajpur), Mr Ramesh Chand Sharma (Faridabad Urban), Mr Lakha Ram (Hodel), Mr Raghubir Singh Khokiaka (Hathin), Mr Parkash Chand Singla (Palwal Urban), Mr Rattan Singh (Hassanpur).

Mr Desh Raj (Farukhnagar), Mr Des Raj (Gurgaon Urban), Capt Balbir Singh (Pataudi), Mr Lachhi Ram (Sohna), Mr Narender Singh (Taoru), Mr Rambir Singh (Gurgaon Rural), Ch. Ishak (Ferozepur Jhirka), Moulvi Hameed Hussain (Nuh), Mr Govardhan Dass Hans (Punhana), Mr Juhur Khan (Nagina); Mr Mahesh Sharma (Bawani Khera), Mr Nand Lal Chawla (Bhiwani Urban), Mr Umed Singh (Siwani), Mr Shish Ram Mechu (Loharu), Mr Balbir Sharma (Bhiwani Rural), Mr Taj Bir singh (Tosham), Mr Ashok Kumar (Badhra), Dr Dharambir Sangwan (Charkhi Dadri-I), Mr Yudhvir Singh (Charkhi Dadri-II), Mr Sheoran (Kairu).

Mr Uggar Sain (Adampur), Mr Jitender Punia (Agroha), Master Nihal Singh (Barwala), Mr Umed Singh Dalal (Bass) , Mr Ram Avtar Yadav (Hansi Rural), Mr Hawa Singh Kajla (Hisar-I), Mr Ramesh Godara (Hisar-II), Mr Suraj Bhan (Narnaund), Mr Ram Deo Mittal (Uklana), Mr Pankaj Mehta (Hisar Urban), Mr Kishore Kumar Mongia (Bhuna), Capt Banwari Lal (Bhattu Kalan), Mr Vijay Chaudhry (Fatehabad Rural), Mr Ashok Garg (Ratia), Mr Nathu Ram (Tohana), Mr Parkash Chand Gupta (Hansi-Fatehabad-Tohana MC).

Mr Dalip Singh Yadav (Ateli), Mr Narender Singh (Kanina), Mr Rajinder Singh (Mahendragarh), Mr Manoj Kumar (Narnaul), Mr Ashok Chaudhry (Nangal Chaudhry); Mr Charanji Lal Rohila (Bawal), Mr Rohtash Singh (Jatusana), Mr Rattan Kumar Yadav (Nahar), Mr Rajesh Kumar (Khol) and Mr Yad Ram (Rewari).

Meanwhile, the Yamunanagar MLA, Dr J.P. Sharma, under whose presidentship 17 party MLAs had condemned the humiliation of Mr Hooda at the Bhiwani rally, has clarified that the sole purpose of the meeting was to condemn the Hooda episode. He asserted that Mr Bhajan Lal was the CLP leader and “we all are with him and express confidence in him. There is no question of switching sides and loyalties. We all are working for the party”. 
Top

 

B’desh team to visit Haryana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
A 16-member team consisting of high-ranking officers from Indian Defence Forces, Bangladeshi and Tanzanian Air Force and Vietnam Army will visit Haryana state from March 12 to March 16 to study industries, agriculture, rural development, health education, panchayati raj and future plans and programme of the State government.

An official spokesman said the team would be headed by Mrs Meenakshi Hooja, Joint Secretary and Senior Directing Staff National Defence College Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.

He said other members of the team included Mr Gautam Sen, IDSA, Brig R.S. Mehta, Brig A.N. Bahuguna, Brig P.C. Bhardwaj, SC Gp AKM Harun Chowdhury, Bangladeshi Air Force, G.I. Dahal, Tanzanian Air Froce, Brig Arun Dravid, Sir Comde Pravesh Kumar, Senior Col Dau Van Minh, Vietnam Army Gp Coordinator Brig J.K. Mohanty SM Ms Karuna Pillai, IPOS, Brig P.S. Rama. Gp Capt J.A. Sathe, Brig Rajeshwar Singh and Mr T.C. Janartha, IAS.

He said the team would call on the State Governor, Babu Parmanand, and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Pradash Chautala, on March 12 and have interaction with the Chief Secretary and other senior State government officers. On March 13 it would visit Haryana Agriculture University and Remote Sensing Centre at Hisar and it would also visit Rock Garden at Chandigarh and Pinjore Garden on the same day.
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Govt offices yet to pay house tax arrears
Our Correspondent

Panipat, March 9
Government offices here are reportedly the main defaulters in paying house tax arrears to the local Municipal Council which has been starving of the funds after the abolition of octroi duty more than a year back.

According to available information, the arrears amount to around Rs 15 lakh and many of the departments have reportedly not paid the house tax for the past 15 to 20 years despite several notices and reminders issued by the council authorities.

Even the Deputy Commissioner have asked officers of the departments concerned to pay the house tax arrears at the earliest, but except a few departments, the others have not bothered to pay the legitimate dues of house tax.

The arrears of about Rs 5 lakh are outstanding against the Skylark Tourist Complex of the Haryana Tourism Corporation. Despite the every day income of the complex, the authorities are reluctant to pay the arrears.

Similarly, the Estate Office of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has to pay house tax arrears of about Rs 2.60 lakh outstanding for the past many years. This office is considered to be one of the prime revenue earners for the state.

The other major defaulters are the Civil Hospital (Rs 1.20 lakh), SDM office (Rs 1.20 lakh), PWD B&R office (Rs 68,000), Social Welfare office (Rs 33,000), Tehsil office (Rs 82,000), Sadar police station (Rs 49,000), Forest office (Rs 18,000), Drainage Department (Rs 45,000), Canal office (Rs 80,000) and State Institute of Catering (Rs 20,000). A few other government offices the arrears of which are below Rs 10,000 are the Housing Board and Animal Husbandry.

It is pointed out that after the abolition of octroi, house tax is the major source of income of the local Municipal Council. Due to financial problems, the council is not in a position to pay even the salaries of its staff on time. Many a time salary payments are delayed for months due to the paucity of funds.

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Haryana clears plan on e-governance
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The Haryana Government today claimed to have decided to launch e-governance in the next three months as the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, cleared the proposal to procure powerful servers and 1000 more computers.

An official spokesman said a centre for e-governance had already been set up at the Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. As many as 500 computers would become operational within the next three weeks.

A computer training programme was also in full swing at the Secretariat Centre because 750 employees had already been trained during the past four months. Some of the MLAs have also undergone training.

The computers and other related items were being purchased by Hartron, the nodal organisation responsible for computerisation. Mr L.M. Goyal, Chairman of the state IT steering committee, had recommended a transparent and properly planned purchase procedure. This decision envisaged that established manufacturers with excellent sales service get equal opportunity.

Mr K.K. Khandelwal Managing Director of Hartron, feels it is a quality control measure and says ISO 9001/9002 certifies quality and credibility. Hartron is committed to procure only the best technology.
Top

 

Image of police takes a beating
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 9
The prevailing lawlessness, non-registration of criminal cases and rising number of unsolved cases have lowered the confidence of residents in the police in the city.

The residents have become panicky in view of the number of looting, robbery, dacoity and murder cases reported during the past two weeks. They feel insecure and are critical of the district and police administration for their failure to arrest the culprits involved in the cases.

Even the arrest of at least 30 students of the local Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in connection with the arson and violence on February 2 has failed to win people’s confidence in police. Many residents said if the police took precautionary measures on February 1 immediately after damage to three Haryana Roadways and DTC buses the situation would not have be worsened and the cases of arson and violence could be prevented.

The IG, Rohtak range, Mr Resham Singh, later took a serious note of the lapses on the part of the police and placed the SHO, Civil Lines, under suspension and shifted the SHO city police station to instil confidence among the residents.

On February 12, certain armed miscreants looted Mr Manohar Lal Kumar owner of a finance company, outside his residence in the Model Town area and escaped with about Rs 2.50 lakh the police had failed to apprehend the culprits so far.

The murder of Dr V.K. Jain, a veteran RSS leader and the Deputy Registrar, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, on February 21 had still not been solved. Three unidentified armed youths shot him dead in the broad daylight when he was returning home after attending the RSS ‘shakha’.

On February 18, a woman passenger and a student were robbed of their cash by certain armed miscreants between Ganaur and Rajlu Garhi railway stations in a Delhi-bound passenger train light. Thereafter on February 22 last, the miscreants robbed many passengers travelling in a Kurukshetra-bound passenger trains and inflicted knife injuries on two passengers who were later hospitalised. The incident occurred between Sonepat and Sandal Kalan railway stations and the miscreants got down at Sandal Kalan and escaped.

On February 1, two motor cycle-borne armed youths forced their way into the shop of an arhtiya in old Anaj Mandi Gohana and looted Rs 60,000 in cash and injured one of those present in the shop before they fled.

On February 12, certain armed miscreants entered the shop of a trader at Ganaur Mandi and inflicted knife injuries on the owner of the shop and his son and escaped with booty.

On February 15, armed miscreants struck a house at Lalehri Kalan village and looted the owner before they escaped on a motor cycle.

Similar incidents have also been repeated at Gohana and Ganaur towns and these have caused panic among the residents.

The police authorities have asked residents to cooperate with the police and submit the details of their tenants and domestic servants.

Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, SP, told this correspondent here today that police patrolling had been intensified in the urban and rural areas of the district. Special police force had been deployed along the border with UP and Delhi to check the activities of anti-social elements and the criminals.

Meanwhile, the IG, Rohtak range, Mr Ramesh Singh, convened a special meeting of all the SHOs and other police officials and stressed the need of taking stringent measures to deal with anti-social elements and criminals.
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Team back with imported goodies
Deputy Commissioner orders probe
Raman Mohan

Hisar, March 9
Government employees from Haryana are back from Rapar in Gujarat after their much-publicised relief operation with truckloads of foreign goodies meant for quake victims, forcing the district administration to order a probe into who pinched what.

Reports indicate that most of those who went there returned with Swiss blankets, waterproof tents, mats and even medical equipment, including diagnostic instruments.

None of this would have come to light but for a slight misdemeanour on the part of a wife of an official who displayed some of the imported stuff her husband brought from Gujarat at her kitty party. She spread out an orange Swiss tent and a couple of soft blankets in her drawing room for other women to see. Those present there came out with details of “souvenirs” that their husbands brought from Gujarat.

The word reached the Deputy Commissioner who ordered a probe. It is learnt that most of the employees denied that they had brought anything with them. However, a driver said he was not given time to collect his bedding when he was asked to proceed to Gujarat. Once there, he found the nights were colder than expected, so he collected a couple of blankets meant for the quake-hit. He said he forgot to return them as he kept them in his vehicle.

According to sources, a doctor had brought along costly medical equipment that he had borrowed from an international relief agency. Many of these diagnostic tools are not easily available and are costly. Initially he maintained that the foreign team from whom he had borrowed the equipment had left for elsewhere by the time the Haryana team wound up its camp. So he could not return the equipment.

Several of the employees claimed that they had purchased these goods from the Ghaffar Market in New Delhi where they were easily available following the tragedy. They said they did not know that these were meant for the quake victims since these were available in the open market. They, however, agreed that they had seen the same relief material being distributed in Gujarat by foreign relief missions.

Reports from other districts also tell the same story. The inquiries ordered by the Deputy Commissioners are not making much headway. One Deputy Commissioner said: “They have undone the good work Haryana did in Gujarat. This was the first time that Haryana launched such a massive relief operation in another State. Instead of being proud of our work, we have to hang our heads in shame”.
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Action against mill MD being taken
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The report of an inquiry conducted by the Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Haryana, in 1998 against the Managing Director of Cooperative Sugar Mills, Shahbad, regarding irregularities committed in the sale purchase of items and export of sugar etc, was tabled in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha earlier this week.

The probe was conducted by Additional Registrar against Mr M L Kaushik, MD of Shahbad Cooperative Sugar Mill, following allegations contained in a complaint made by Mr Tej Bhan, of Charuni Jatan village, (Kurukshetra).

The first allegation related to irregularities in the purchase of machinery parts, erection and fabrication work and high rate of transportation of exported sugar. The irregularities in the purchase of a Kirloskar-type impeller and high pressure boiler parts were proved. Similarly, the erection and fabrication work was given at exorbitant rate. The allegation that transportation rate for the export of sugar was higher, was also proved. However, the allegations regarding irregularities in purchase of soft starter, pumps and brass tubes of semi-kestner were not proved.

The second allegation related to invocation of bank guarantee of Triveni Engineering Works. It was established that MD, Shahbad Sugar Mill, invoked the bank guarantee on April 1,1997, when bank was closed to public dealing. The MD did not file any caveat in the court and thus gave opportunity to the supplier for a stay. The report said the fact that the MD of Shahbad Sugar Mill only debited Rs 6 lakh instead of Rs 9.50 lakh spent on boiler parts and allowed inverters (costing Rs 12 lakh) to be lifted by Triveni Engineering Works indicated favour shown by the MD of the Shahbad Mill.

The third allegation was relating to irregularities in the sale of sugar. The allegation that sale of lapsed quota of sugar to a party who did not lift the sugar earlier was proved. The fourth allegation was regarding irregularities in the insurance of sugar stock against fire. It was established in the probe that the relevant record was tampered with and prompt action was not taken by the MD against the officer concerned .

The cooperatives Minister, Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana informed the House that on the basis of the findings of the Inquiry Officer, the government decided to take disciplinary action against the MD and other officers of the mill including the Chief Engineer, Chief Accounts Officer and Labour Welfare Officer and initiate surcharge proceedings against them under Section 101 of the Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. Since Mr Kaushik is an HCS officer, the Chief Secretary was requested on May 18, 1999, to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him.

Regarding the surcharge proceedings, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in a letter dated April 21, 2000 appointed Joint Secretary (Cooperation) as Inquiry Officer. Mr J P Narain, Additional Registrar, of Cooperative Societies, was appointed Inquiry Officer by the Registrar on February 28.

The report of the probe was also sent to Shahbad Sugar Mill on July 23, 1999 for taking necessary action against employees of the mill indicted in the report. Further action is being taken by the mill authorities, the minister said.

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Strategy to check menace of copying
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, March 9
Perturbed over the increasing incidents of mass copying in annual examinations, the Board of School Education, Haryana, has formulated some strange strategies to check the menace.

The board has decided to introduce five different sets of question papers in the matric and plus two examinations commencing from March 14. The same strategy will be adopted in the middle examinations that will start from March 27, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Khullar said.

The students sitting in the front, rear or the left and right side of a candidate will have different sets of question papers, thus making it impossible for the examinee to indulge in copying.

Flying squads had been constituted at the subdivisional and district level to check copying. Besides, the administration had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144, CrPC, around all examination centres to discourage the assembly of people within a radius of 200 metres of each centre.

The Deputy Commissioner appealed to village panchayats to help the administration in conducting the examinations in an orderly manner.

He said the government had formulated schemes to evaluate the functioning of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) in the state. It had also introduced ranking system according to the performance of the DRDA.
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BKU threatens not to pay power bill
Our Correspondent

Jind, March 9
The Bharatiya Kisan Union held a rally in the local grain market on Wednesday and demanded a written assurance from the district authorities regarding the implementation of their demands. Mr Mahender Singh Tikait, President of the All-India BKU, was the chief guest and Mr Ghasi Ram Nain, President, state unit of the BKU, presided.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jind, Mr Amar Nath, was given a memorandum urging him to accept their demands. The SDM assured them that their demands would be considered sympathetically. But BKU activists were not satisfied and demanded a written assurance by the higher district authorities. The BKU activists staged a dharna at the venue of the rally and refused to leave the venue unless their demands were accepted. They threatened that if their demands were not accepted they would block rail and road traffic.

To maintain law and order situation the district administration deployed a large number of policemen near the venue of the rally to prevent any untoward incident. Mr R.P. Bhardwaj, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Amar Nath, SDM, an Assistant Superintendent of Police and two Deputy Superintendents of Police were also present at the venue.

To defuse the situation Mr Bhardwaj held talks with the BKU leaders and persuaded them to lift the dharna. He assured the farmers that their demands would be accepted and the remaining demands would be referred to the higher authorities.
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Registration office goes hi-tech
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, March 9
The Deeds Registration Office in the local tehsil has gone hi-tech. Now all deeds in Fatehabad, including sale deeds of immovable property, will deeds and mortgage deeds will be registered through computers only.

The Commissioner, Hisar Division, Mrs Umesh Nanda, inaugurated the Haryana Registration Information System (HARIS) today. Speaking at the occasion, Mrs Nanda said the computerisation of registration office would ensure transparency in the valuation of properties and calculation of stamp duty and registration.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, told mediapersons that HARIS had been developed with the objective of providing single windows service, timely registration, transport and timely transactions.

The old procedure of registration of deeds in the Sub-Registrar Office led to many problems. These included lack of transparency in the valuation of properties and calculation of stamp duty and registration, delays in providing service and office record maintenance.

Mr Malik said the introduction of HARIS would ensure on-live queries on registration deeds, structurise and standardise the language of deed documents, minimise intermediaries, maintain a database of photographs to ensure genuine witnesses, executants and claimants, generate exceptional reports for the purpose of auditing, and maintain permanent records of deeds on C.D. ROMs.

Initially, Sub Registrar Offices at the district headquarters only were being computerised and in the second phase registration offices at the subdivision and tehsil levels would also be computerised, Mr Malik added that soon the Patwaris Information System (PATIS) and HARIS would be integrated and the issuance of non-encumbrance certificates would become possible through the computers. Later the system would be linked with the state level to ensure proper monitoring at Chandigarh. 
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Centre blamed for farmers’ plight
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, March 9
Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, senior Congress leader and former HPCC chief, has alleged that the Vajpayee-led NDA government has brought the farming community to the brink of ruin by curtailing the role of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the public distribution system (PDS).

Addressing a press conference here today Mr Surjewala who is also the president of the Haryana Krishak Samaj, said a state-level convention of the samaj would be held at Jind on March 12 to discuss the problems being faced by the farmers.

Mr Surjewala said it was unfortunate that the government had slashed the prices of cars, a luxury item, but not reduced the prices of tractors, an essential item for farmers.

He claimed that the Union Government was misleading the masses on the WTO issue. He said there was no clause in the pact with WTO that could prohibit the government from providing subsidy to farmers on agriculture items. 
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HVP blames govt for water crisis
Our correspondent

Hisar, March 9
Mr Kanwal Singh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Board of the Haryana Vikas Party, said today the people of Haryana were facing an acute shortage of drinking water.

Addressing a public meeting at a nearby village, he said the Chautala government had failed to provide adequate water to the people. The crops were wilting and farmers were helpless.

Mr Kanwal Singh said though the Chief Minister had come to power on the promise that he would ensure adequate power supply, and water, but on assuming power he had not fulfilled his promise.
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Snake found in tap water
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 9
A six-inch-long snake was reportedly noticed in tap water in the house of Narender, a resident of New Janata Colony, this morning. According to locals, complaints of “unfit” water being supplied have become common in some of the residential colonies.

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Goods worth lakhs destroyed in fire
Our Correspondent

Panipat, March 9
Handloom goods and furniture worth lakhs of rupees of a three-storey handloom showroom at the local Amar Bhavan chowk were reduced to ashes in fire which broke out on Wednesday night. Short circuit is stated to be the cause of the fire.

According to information, around 10 pm on Wednesday, some residents saw flames coming out from a handloom showroom of Tilak Handloom Industries and immediately informed the owner, Mr Tilak Raj Juneja, and the local fire station.

Before the fire brigade reached the spot, residents of the area broke open the shutters of the showroom and tried to put out the fire with sand and water.

On receiving information, SDM Kulwant Kalsan, Tehsildar Devender Singh and Quila police post in charge Rajender Singh also reached the spot and supervised the fire-fighting operation.
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Bhandari mourns RSS leader’s death
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 9
The Gujarat Governor, Mr S.S. Bhandari, yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the residence of the late V.K. Jain, RSS leader of Haryana and Deputy Registrar of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, to express sympathy with members of his family.

Mr Bhandari was accompanied by Mr H.V. Sheshadri, an RSS leader, and Ms Purnima Sethi, a former Delhi minister. They sought details of the murder of Dr Jain and hoped that the culprits involved would be brought to book by the police. Mr Bhandari said Dr Jain’s death was a great loss to the RSS.
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Advisory panel formed
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, March 9
The local INLD MLA, Mr Leela Krishan Chowdhary, has set up an advisory committee to work as a bridge between the public and the administration for implementation of the economic and 20-point programme of the state government.

The advisory committee will help people belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, destitude and those living below poverty line in getting benefit of all government schemes. The committee will work at block level.
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Two gangsters, sarpanch held
Our Correspondent

Hisar, March 9
The police has arrested two members of the notorious Subhash Fauji gang and a sarpanch for allegedly demanding ransom from a trader.

The arrested persons have been identified as Nandu and Surender, both residents of nearby Gavar village, and Chandgi Ram, sarpanch of the same village. Subhash Fauji gang is allegedly involved in more than 30 cases of murder, dacoity and extortion. Fauji was arrested recently.

According to the police, these persons had demanded Rs 4 lakh from Mr Fakir Chand, of nearby Chaudharivas village, three months ago.

Meanwhile, the police seized 1200 pouches of illicit liquor from Sunil of Hansi today. A police team raided his house and nabbed him. The police seized 10 bottles of illicit liquor from Ravan at Adampur near here yesterday.

In another incident the Hansi police arrested Amit for stealing electrical wires. The Subdivisional Officer of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam had lodged a complaint against him.
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Gang of thieves busted, four held
Our Correspondent

Jind, March 9
With the arrest of four persons, the district police claims to have busted a gang of robbers. Stating this here today, Mr O.P. Singh, SP, said the arrested had been identified as Bhupinder of Gatoli village, Kailash of Nagura village and Pawan and Hardeep of Kinana village.

The police seized three pistols and five cartridges from their possession. A car stolen by them was also recovered, he said.

On a tip-off, a police party raided a farm near Kinana village. Seeing the police party, the robbers resorted to firing and attempted to escape. The policemen returned fire and nabbed four robbers while another gang member, Naresh of Kinana village, managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

The police has registered a case under Sections 399, 402 and 307 of the IPC. During interrogation, the arrested confessed that they had committed robberies and stolen vehicles in Jind, Rohtak, Hisar and Sonepat districts. Hardeep and Pawan confessed that they had looted train passengers between Jai-Jaiwanti and Kinana railway stations, the SP added. 
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3 of family consume poison, 1 dead
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 9
A woman and her two daughters reportedly took some poisonous substance in their house at Tigaon village last night. While one of them died, two others have been admitted in the hospital.

According to police sources, Sudesh (13) died in the hospital while her mother and sister have been hospitalised. It is learnt that all of them took celphos tablet after tension developed in their house over some issue.

A case has been registered.
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Body found

Ambala
A man was found dead in a hotel in Ambala Cantonment this morning. The deceased, Rann Singh, had checked into the hotel at about 11 p.m. last night. He was found dead at about 8.30 a.m. Rann Singh, who was a state government employee, is believed to have taken liquor last night. He hailed from Ranila village in Charkhi Dadri. The police is not suspecting any foul play.

Two killed in accident

Two persons were killed in an accident at Ghastipur T point early this morning.

The accident took place when a truck hit a stationary truck. The two persons, Surender Singh and Maheshi, were killed on the spot. The truck driver has absconded.

Stolen goods recovered

The local police has recovered stolen goods worth Rs 5.50 lakh during February.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, said the police also solved four looting, five house-break and 11 robbery cases. He said that 15,908 country liquor pouches, 40 kg Lahan and 86 bottles of country liquor were seized besides 17.8 kg of chura post. Under the Arms Act, one revolver, one hand grenade, 26 cartridges and four knives were seized. Rs 38,090 were recovered from 33 gamblers, a release said.
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Haryana police transfers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The Haryana Government today transferred Mr Raj Kumar , DSP, State Crime Record Bureau, Madhuban and posted him as such with the 4th Bn Haryana Armed Police, Madhuban.

Mr Risal Singh, DSP, (Telecommunications) goes as DSP (Telecommunications) Gurgaon Range, while Mr Karan Singh, DSP, (Telecom) becomes DSP, (Telecom), Hisar Range, with immediate effect against a vacant post.

Auction of liquor vends on March 15
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
The Haryana Excise and Taxation Department has decided to re-auction country liquor and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) vends in seven districts on March 15. The vends in Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra districts were put to auction at Ambala on March 7. Now all the vends in these districts will be re-auctioned at Karnal at 10 a.m. on March 15. 

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