Drug-abuse snuffs life slowly and surely
Tribune team gets at the heart of the matter
Nishikant Dwivedi

Nayagaon (Kharar), May 19
Twenty-two-year old Sameer, who resides on the Panjab University campus, is a man without hope. When, as a bubbly teenager he sought solace in the world of drugs, he cared little about his future. Today, drugs have acquired a vice-like grip on his life. Even though he wishes desperately to kick the habit away and lead a normal life all over again, his will power fails him.

The reason: he is too weak to fight the fatal addiction. He used to take injections of opiates two years ago. Earlier, he had got into smoking and moved on to charas before graduating to harder drugs. Soon, he started stealing and picking pockets to satiate his craving. No wonder, he has managed to enter the police files. His parents once got him admitted to one of the drug de-addiction centres, but to no avail.

Babloo has been into active drug-taking for the past four years. A resident of Nayagaon, he stole crockery, iron scrap and TV antennae to buy drugs. His arms are full of marks of injections. His thighs tell the same story. He feels helpless now. “When my arms turned insensitive to needle, I started injecting the drug into my thighs”, said Babloo.

Rakesh, a resident of Dadu Majra, has been addicted to various drugs for the past seven years. Today, he cannot even walk properly. He stammers while talking and convulsions keep racking up his body. He has been held four times for theft. Constant craving has now forced him to visit the PGI and other hospitals where he poses as a penniless patient and begs for money.

Selling death has become a profitable venture — more so on the periphery of Chandigarh, which is not vigorously patrolled by the police. Numerous medical shops dot the areas and openly sell Schedule — H drugs (without a doctor’s prescription). Easy availability of drugs seems to be attracting more and more youths with the result that the periphery has turned into a haven for the addicts.

Chandigarh Tribune today bought three ampoules of drugs taken by addicts to get kicks through injection (without any doctor’s prescription). In one case, this correspondent posed as a drug addict, while in the other two cases decoy customers were used. The ampoules were purchased from three different medical stores in Nayagaon.

Yesterday, this correspondent met some of the drug addicts of Sector 14, Chandigarh, and learnt about the various injections and tablets used by them. Then, one of the addicts, Sameer, took him to one of the medical shops here and asked the chemist to supply the injections in future also.

Today, at 12.30 pm, the Chandigarh Tribune team reached the market of Nayagaon and this correspondent went back to the chemist he had met the previous day. “Give me ‘tota’ (these injections are commonly known by the codename ‘tota’ (parrot) or ‘set’. “More often than not, the shopkeeper just hands over the drug as soon as the addict walks into the shop because he knows him by face.

When this correspondent asked for the drug, the shopkeeper recognised him because of the previous meeting and handed over to him injections and a syringe for Rs 35. The team also succeeded in purchasing injections from the two other medical stores using decoy customers.

Interestingly, the addicts shift to tranquillising injections and cough syrups after they fail to procure narcotic drugs. Many chemist shop owners make a quick buck by selling injections and tablets which offer a “high” feeling to consumers. The failure of the police department and the involvement of a few drug inspectors are helping this injection culture to flourish at places like Mullanpur-Garibdas, Nayagaon, Zirakpur and Kurali.

Villagers and sources in the police department say that hundreds of young men and “adventurous” girls from Chandigarh and the surrounding townships of Panchkula and SAS Nagar have become habituated to cough syrups and mind-altering injections, thanks to their quick availability. The local residents allege that the police is protecting them and is furthering the nexus. Senior residents of the area, however, wondereded how this correspondent could get the smell of the rampant evil without let or hindrance.

People in the Mullanpur-Garibdas area said that youths from Chandigarh came in cars and on motorcycles to purchase “those injections.” They added that in the absence of effective check by drug inspectors and the local police, the chemist shops were thriving for long and making huge profits at the cost of young lives.

It hurts one to know that when the addicts fail to secure money by genuine means, they resort to nefarious practices to extract money from their parents and friends. And when this method also fails, they get down to stealing. A senior police official of Chandigarh says that in most of the cases such addicts have been found to be involved in petty crimes.

(The names of drug addicts have been changed to ensure anonymity)

Science teachers on CET duty despite PU orders
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
Despite orders of the Panjab University to discourage deployment of science teachers as invigilators for the Combined Entrance Test (CET)-2000, many of the 34 centres of the city had science teachers of colleges on duty. In most of the other centres for CET, outsiders had also been deployed in some cases, in preference to the college’s teachers.

College principals, coordinators of the examination in the group of centres allocated to their colleges, said there was always dearth of faculty members opting to do such duties and one had to do with whosoever was readily available. “With the vacations on, it is even more difficult for us to get the faculty,” said a college principal.

A large number of the college’s and Education Department’s clerical staff was looking forward to such examinations. The reason was that as their services were utilised for invigilation, they could make a quick buck.

The duty as invigilators, who were paid Rs 450 for a single day’s work, was highly sought after by the educated but non-teaching staff. Sources stated that the principals’ favorites were deployed on these days, showing non-availability of teachers as the reason. At a particular centre today, a teacher had brought along his wife and daughter to do examination duty, the family effort earning them Rs 1350 in a single day.

Teachers from one of the government city colleges claimed that no notice had been put up in the college asking that services of teachers were required for the examination and the principal simply picked and chose persons for the duty. Sources added that some of the staff of the office of DPI (Colleges) too had managed to be on duty for the examination in one capacity or the other.

“There is no possibility of anyone helping anyone in the examination, least of all the invigilators. There is simply no time to cheat. If the student starts trying to cheat, he or she has more to lose than gain,” said Principal P.S. Sangha. Although most of the officials in the university agreed that the discouragement of deploying science teachers was an extra-careful effort, cases of invigilators having helped a large number of students pass the examination were not unknown.

Meanwhile, some of the teachers who were on duty today, decided to give a representation to the university, asking for remuneration in accordance with the number of hours they put in on duty. ‘‘Since the number of centres in various colleges varied, some teachers were free after the first three tests, while some had to wait till the five tests were over,” said a PU Fellow, Dr R.P.S. Josh.

While more than 8000 students of the city appeared in the CET today, hundreds of VIP vehicles of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, with escorts, were used by wards of VIPs. The centres witnessed mini-traffic jams after the examination was over. Drivers with cars had been asked to wait outside for the duration of the examination till the ward came out.

The Vice-Chancellor, of Panjab University himself visited many of the city colleges, overseeing the whole show. Nineteen observers, who were senior university professors and Senate members, also were deployed in these 34 centres to oversee the conduct of these examinations.

‘Slow processor’ Zee loses IT education contract
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 19
The UT administration has cancelled its offer to Zee Interactive Learning Systems (ZILS) for running computer courses in schools here.

The courses were to be introduced for students of class VI to XII in 67 government schools.

According to sources, the company has been blacklisted for “deliberately delaying” the project.The company has also lost the Rs 1 lakh earnest money and the bid money. In this context, the Administration had earlier issued a letter of intent to the company, asking it to begin the courses from March 21.

Thereafter, a draft of an agreement based on terms of the tender was sent to the company on March 27 and it had to respond by March 30.

The company had sought a couple of clarifications that were given by the Administration. However, the company further postponed the signing of the agreement by raising two more queries. A final draft of the agreement that was prepared after discussions with representatives of the company, was sent to the company on April 28 and it had to sign the contract on May 4.

At the last moment, the company made a fresh request for extending the deadline till May 11 and the Administration accepted this as well. After these “delaying tactics”, the company said it was unable to work on the project and provide students with quality education according to the prescribed syllabus.

Following this, the Administration cancelled the offer and blacklisted the company.

13-yr-old abducted, raped
Our Correspondent

Chandimandir, May 19
A 13-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and raped by a youth of Bir Ghaggar village near here on Friday morning.

According to information available, the victim is a Class V student of Government School at Chandimandir.

She was reportedly abducted by Harish Kumar, a 22-year-old resident of her village, on her way to the school and taken to a nearby forest. There, the youth removed her clothes and took her nude pictures.

Sources said that Harish had good relations with the family of the girl and he used to frequent her house for the past many years. He lured the girl on some pretext to commit the crime.

The family of the victim searched for her when she did not return home till the evening.

The girl narrated the episode to her mother after returning home past night.

Mr Prem Singh, a relative of the victim, complained to the police and the girl was examined in private nursing home in Sector 6 here today.

A case under Sections 336, 366 and 376 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Chandimandir police station. The accused has absconded.

FIR records cruelty to schoolchild
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 19
The Principal of Sarva Bharati Model Middle School, Mani Majra, who beat up one of her students severely, was booked by the police for illegal confinement and causing minor injuries late in the evening yesterday.

Ms Padmini Dhiman, the Principal, locked 10-year-old Parvinder Singh, in her office and then thrashed him ruthlessly for about 15 minutes. The boy’s fault was said to be “the breach of the discipline of the class”. Parvinder, a student of class III, sustained major injuries on his back, legs and arms as a result of 27 cane-strikes.

Following the horrid incident, the boy was unable to walk. After he came out of the Principal’s office, the entire school took notice of the situation and there was utter chaos.

According to police sources, Ms Kamaljit Kaur, the mother of the boy, lodged a complaint and, subsequently an FIR was registered under Section 342 and 323 of the IPC.

Round-the-clock blood availability stressed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
Pradeep Virk did not die of shortage of blood but critical head injuries sustained following a road accident. But Mr Daljit Singh Gujral, the INSCOL managing director, where Pradeep was treated after she was referred there from GMCH, Sector 32, to the PGI said relatives of the patients in private hospitals often had to run from pillar to post to get a couple of units of blood, especially at odd hours.

Relatives of the deceased 17-year-old Pradeep Virk, had to make efforts for hours to get the required O -ve blood group, which was not available at the PGI blood bank— the only one in the city catering to needs of 35 private hospitals and nursing homes in the city. Due to lack of round-the-clock bleeding facility at the PGI, they could not bleed, in spite of 11 ready donors.

At present, there are only three licensed blood banks in the city —PGI, GMCH, Sector 32 and General Hospital, Sector 16. But the PGI blood bank is the only one that caters to the needs of the private sector. Since private hospitals are not authorised to have blood banks (they do not have the licence), they have to depend on the PGI. The problem arises when hospitals are not able to get blood from even the PGI and in absence of the same, it is the patient who becomes the victim.

Dr G.S. Kochchar, president of the Indian Medical Association, says though PGI gives one or two units of blood to private hospitals in emergency, it is difficult to get more than that. “We have also requested General Hospital, Sector 16, to provide us blood, he adds. “For hospitals situated in its vicinity, it will be helpful if the GMCH too extends its facility of the blood bank to private hospitals,” he says.

Honorary secretary of the Blood Bank Society, Ms Kanta Saroop Krishen, says the gap between the actual demand of 60,000 units and collection of 40,000 units can be easily filled in if PGI blood bank operates round the clock. Irrespective of the fact that it is a government institution and operates during a certain time limit, convenience of donors is more important. She adds that at times, the approach of the blood bank staff at the PGI also turns the donors away. “The donor should never be made to wait,” she opines.

Former PGI Director, Prof I.C. Pathak, also feels that blood should be available 24 hours. “ If PGI is the only hospital authorised to have a blood bank which caters to private hospitals, they should also be made responsible to provide the life saving fluid throughout the night,” he adds. If PGI is not able to bleed donors throughout the night private hospitals should be allowed to make alternative arrangements, he says.

Dr H.S. Pannu, from Mukut Hospital and Heart Institute feels that accident victims and their relatives can be saved from harassment if private hospitals are allowed to have blood banks, just like in Delhi.

Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, blood banks have to follow rules and regulations and operate under strict supervision and regular inspections, adds Dr Kochchar.

Keeping in view the AIDS and hepatitis menace, strict vigil is required, but doctors add that in emergency cases like an accident, a private hospital should be allowed to bleed the donors. They lament that blanket laws are being followed in case of blood banks. “In cases where fresh blood is required, it will be criminal to let a patient die just because the only blood bank in the city has closed doors for the day,” they add.

Private practitioners are expecting an improvement when the five-crore private blood bank set by the Blood Bank Society in collaboration with Rotary International in Sector 37 becomes operational. As per Dr Kochchar, the IMA is also planning to invite institutions to start a blood bank in the IMA complex.

COMMUNITY

Water consumers in no-win situation
MC panel’s proposals on meters
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
It is a no-win situation for the consumers. They will still have to pay for replacing the water meters, now to be installed by the civic body. If the recommendations of the Finance and Contract Committee are accepted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the consumers will continue to be burdened.

Hopeful of getting their faulty meters replaced free of cost following intervention by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the residents were today disappointed to learn that they would still have to pay the cost of the meters to be installed by the corporation. They would also have to pay Rs 65 as installation charges and testing fee.

In their petition, the Consumer Forum, Chandigarh, had pointed out that the MC, vide its notification issued on June 5 last year, had asked the consumers to purchase ISI-marked meters and get these tested. Further, double the average bill was to be charged from those consumers who failed to get the meters replaced by the cut-off date.

Now no water for cattle also
35 of 39 ponds dried up
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 19
While water problem seems to be omnipresent in the entire district, the paucity of water is taking a toll on the cattle as well. As many as 35 of the 39 water sources meant for cattle in Pinjore have been declared dry.

This has forced the villagers to store water in buckets for the cattle to see them through the day.

According to a report submitted to the Administration, a survey of the entire area was conducted by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer to ascertain the extent of the problem. During the survey, it was found that while 35 ponds had dried completely, four were on the verge of drying up.

Residents of the villages in the area, which were recently plagued with drought problem are now faced with the arduous task of getting water not only for themselves but for their cattle as well. The only ponds in villages containing water being Khoi, Mallah and Dhanisui where as Tagra, Mahimpur and Jatan Majri are being fed with water tankers.

A villager said water shortage in the block was a chronic problem, especially in the interiors, and they expected trouble on this front year after year. He said though help from the Administration does come eventually, it is usually delayed.

The villagers opined that the recurrence of the problem every year should be reason enough for the Administration to devise a contingency plan to meet water shortage.

However, according to sources the district Administration had initiated the work of laying water pipelines from the nearby tubewells to the ponds with the help of the Public Health Department. This is being done to meet the requirement of the cattle by refilling the ponds with water till the advent of the monsoon season.

The department has also began desilting the ponds and tapping the ground water sources to augment the supply. The process has been on for just about a week and is likely to take a couple of weeks to yield results. The Administration is also supplying water by tankers to the worst-affected areas.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Jyoti Arora, said a survey of the entire district had been conducted and the Public Health Department had been asked to construct ‘haudis’ (tanks) for the cattle where laying of pipelines was not feasible.

Besides, panchayats have been instructed to make ‘kuccha’ channels from the tubewells to the ponds to cater to the “dry’’ villages as supply through water tankers was an expensive proposition. Ms Arora added that while the Administration was doing everything to meet the requirements, it was also working to build up water resources for the next year.

2 BJP councillors’ houses gheraoed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
Activists of the Chandigarh Vikas Manch today “gheraoed” the houses of two BJP councillors for their role in stalling the proceedings of the House of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC).

The activists, led by the president of the manch, Mr Harmohan Dhawan, first marched to the house of Ms Ranjana Shahi in Sector 40 but could not make to her house on account of the heavy police ‘bandobast’. Various speakers alleged that Ms Shahi had been neglecting her ward. A memorandum was also submitted to Ms Shahi urging the councillor not to disrupt the proceedings of the House.

Later, they went to the house of Mr Kanhya Lal Sharma in the same sector and urged him to let the House function properly so that the developmental works could be undertaken in the city.

Meanwhile, the internal wranglings in the local unit of the BJP came to the fore again as councillors, owing allegiance to the Satya Pal Jain faction, including Mr R.L. Arora, Mr K.K. Adiwal, Mr O.P. Goyal and Ms Kamla Sharma, were present at the house of Mr Sharma, a councillor owing allegiance to the Jain group. On the other hand, none of these councillors was present at the house of Ms Shahi at the time of “gherao” there. Only Mr Des Raj Tandon, a councillor owing allegiance to the Gian Chand Gupta faction, was present at the house of Ms Shahi. The house of Ms Shahi is not far-off from that of Mr Sharma. Interestingly, Mr Tandon was also present at the house of Mr Sharma.

Protest forces HUDA to cancel draw
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, May 19
Following objections raised by the applicants the HUDA authorities have cancelled the draw of lots for plots and decided to re-conduct it on May 28, here today.

A number of applicants who came here from far away places gheraoed the HUDA Administrator and raised slogans against holding the draw for lesser number of plots than those mentioned in the information brochure.

The irate applicants raised objections against holding a draw of only 29 plots whereas 37 had been advertised by the authorities.

According to sources, the HUDA had already allotted eight plots to the oustees, but this had not been mentioned in the information book. Reacting to it the applicants objected to it and even disconnected the wires of mike and climbed on the stage to protest.

They even chased the Administrator to his office and demanded that the draw should be held again for 37 plots.

HUDA officials, however, said eight plots had been allotted to the oustees as per the ruling of High Court.

The authorities have received 7,557 applications for 37 plots for general category.

Mini bus donated to institute for blind
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 19
In a function held at the Institute For the Blind, Sector 26, the local MP Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, handed over the keys of a mini bus to the Adviser to the Administrator , Ms Neeru Nanda, here today.

The bus was donated under the Member Parliament Local Area Development Fund Scheme . Talking to this correspondent, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, said the total cost of the mini bus was Rs 6 lakh.

The bus will be helpful in transporting the blind from their homes to the institute and vice versa.

The vice-president of the institute, Mr Rajendra Nath said, “the Chandigarh Administration has donated a 5 kanal plot free of cost for the construction of a hostel for the blind girl students. Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal has assured financial help to the committee of the institute for the construction of the hostel’’

The institute presently has two buses for 35 students who are day scholars.

The Director Public Relations, UT, Mr Vivek Atray, Honorary Secretary, Col J.S. Bindra and Headmaster of the institute, Mr J.S. Joyara were also present on the occasion.

Plea to fill vacant posts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
A former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, has urged the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, to fill the 300 vacant posts of teacher in government schools in the city.

This demand was raised when Mr Jain met Dr Joshi in Delhi recently. He also demanded that the employees of private schools should be paid pension on the Punjab pattern.

The situation had become more acute following the start of the night schools in the city, Mr Jain said.

FENG SHUI TIPS
Structures to watch out for

Sometimes, architects and interior designers, in order to create something new and different, unknowingly make structures that are a curse in disguise. Everybody, who plans to build a house, wants to make it attractive. The desire of making his abode look beautiful, results, many a times in structures that affect the life of the occupants. Pillars, for instance, are nowadays being incorporated in most building designs in a large number. Mostly, it is observed that pillars are put upfront just to give the house a mansion like appearance. These are okay to a certain extent, but square pillars, that block doors, are always bad. If you have one, plant a creeper to block off the sharp edges. Pillars, no doubt offer rigidity and structural stability to the building, but they should only be erected wherever necessary. Sometimes one confronts pillars supporting a foyer in a large building. Round pillars are not as harmful as square or rectangular ones, but are equally harmful when present in the foyer or directly in front of the main door. To reduce their effect, place screens between the pillars and the main door. 

Harshna

Address your Feng Shui queries to:
E-mail: fengshui@tribuneindia.com 
Postal address: C/o F.S. TIPS
The Tribune, Sector-29, Chandigarh-160020

FILM REVIEW
A family entertainer
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

‘Ek Rishta’ (Neelam) is a story of relationships undergoing a change with the changing times. Akshay Kumar supports Amitabh Bachchan in a quality performance for the family entertainer.

Suneel Darshan has, in a commendable way, trimmed the role of the super-actor.

After a long struggle, Bachchan has found a role to suit his age and character.

Bachchan simmers with rage at times but emotions never overflow. The story line is simple and minus undue twists and turns.

A controlled presentation of emotions is beautifully depicted in this family drama.

Amitabh is a business tycoon is a happy man with wife Rakhee and children. Juhi Chawla, one of his daughter, falls in love with Mohnish Behl, his secretary. Mohnish presents himself before Bachchan as a self-made man. The family accepts this decent man as Juhi’s husband.

Akshay Kumar, the son, lands home after completion of his education abroad. But he soon leaves home following differences with his father. Mohnish was waiting for this opportunity.

One fine day, he walks away. Bachchan discovers that he had fraudulently forged papers to make him bankrupt.

Bachchan is bedridden. Akshay leaves his wife after a fight differences and walks back home. But Amitabh Bachchan would not open up to him easily.

Sameer has penned commendable lyrics for lilting tunes by Nadeem Shravan.

Robin Bhatt and S.M. Aahle have done the screenplay for the cinematography by Sameer Reddy. Saroj Khan and Raju Khan are the choreographers.

CRIME

Fake bus tickets found
Our Correspondent

A case under Sections 506 and 323 of the IPC has been registered.

KHARAR

House burgled:
Household goods and cash were stolen from the house of Mr Ram Lubhaya when thieves broke into his residence in Govind Colony at about 11 a.m. here today. Mr Lubhaya told mediapersons that he left his house at about 10 a.m. and he was informed on telephone about the theft, about which he had informed the police.

SAS NAGAR

Alleged criminal arrested:
The police has arrested an alleged criminal who had escaped when he was produced for a hearing at the Kharar courts last year.

The police said today that Jarnail Ram, alias Jaila, was a member of a gang of criminals. He had shifted to Ganganagar after the Ropar police stepped up pressure on criminals in the district. He changed his name and began living in the house of a son of a former sarpanch.

The police alleged that Jarnail Ram was involved in cases of car theft. Criminal cases had also been registered against him in Chandigarh, SAS Nagar, Anandpur Sahib, Kharar.

Two booked:
Two persons running a video parlour here have been booked for allegedly showing obscene movies in a cabin behind their shop in housing board flats in Phase 1 here. According to the information available, an First Information Report (FIR) was registered under the Cinematography Act, 1952.

Three injured:
Three persons were injured when a truck driver, Vikramjit Singh, lost control of his vehicle, which rammed into three vehicles. The injured persons, Jagmohan, Harvinder and an unidentified cyclist, have been admitted to the Phase 6 Civil Hospital. the IPC has been registered.

Boy succumbs to injuries
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 19
An eight-year-old boy who was hit by a scooter on Thursday afternoon died in the PGI late in the evening yesterday. The boy had reportedly received severe head injuries.

According to the information available, Uday Sharma, along with his elder brother, Sahil Sharma, was returning from his school when the accident took place. Mr Sanjeev Sharma, father of the deceased, said Uday was crossing a dividing road behind the school when a speeding scooter hit him.

Mr Sharma said he was told by an eyewitnesses that the impact of the accident was so strong that Uday was thrown at least 10 feet away from the place of accident. He added that Uday was immediately taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, but the doctors advised them to take the boy to the PGI.

“Before taking him to the PGI, I got the CT scan of my son done at a private hospital”, said Mr Sharma. He said the doctors at the PGI did their level best to save his son, adding that his son was in coma before succumbing to the injuries.

Mr Sharma blamed the reckless scooter driver for the death of his son. He appealed to all the vehicle drivers to be careful while driving on the road. He also advised that the traffic police should depute its personnel on the roads around schools during the opening and closing hours of schools.

A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code had been registered. However, no arrest had been made till the filing of this report.

Murder accused surrenders
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, May 19
Sant Lal, the alleged paramour of Preeti, a 25-year-old woman who was reportedly strangulated to death by her husband, Santosh Yadav, in Rajiv Colony on May 13, surrendered before the police, here today.

According to the police, the accused, Sant Lal, reported to the police and surrendered in the Sector 16 police station. He confirmed that Santosh brutally beat Preeti on that particular night, which resulted in her death.

Sant Lal had been absconding from the colony since the incident occurred. During interrogation, he admitted that he remained in Chandigarh and in Panchkula.

Meanwhile, the police was still clueless in the Preeti murder case and had failed to trace the main accused. Her illicit relationship with Sant Lal was stated to be the reason behind the murder. 

Five hurt in clash
Our Correspondent

Lalru, May 19
As many as five persons including two girls, were injured in a clash between two families of Sangautha village near here today.

According to sources, members of two families clashed over the construction of a boundary wall in the presence of Sarpanch, Ram Swaroop and other members of the panchayat. They pelted stones on each other and even used batons and sticks in the fight.

Jaspal, Roshan Lal, Gurpal Singh (55) his two teenaged daughters — Champa Devi and Santresh , sustained injuries in the clash. The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Lalru for medical treatment. The Lalru police has registered a case against seven persons — Gurpal Singh, Champa Devi, Santresh, Jaspal, Roshan, Pala Ram and Malkait Singh.