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Wednesday,
September 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Poonia murder case: 30 held for violence No takers for zoos’ big animals Rise in cases of crime against
women Resentment ‘brewing’ among INLD MLAs IYC to launch stir against Haryana
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PGIMS ignores CM’s
directive Phalgu fair begins amid stench Pension scheme for school
staff National Award for 5 teachers Education policy dangerous, CPM cautions teachers 2 held for murder of commission
agent
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Poonia murder case: 30 held for violence
Hisar, September 4 Rampaging mobs had set ablaze about 12 buses, including four of Haryana Roadways, a government vehicle and damaged government and private property at Litani village near here during the “pagri” ceremony. A condolence meeting marking the 13th day of the dead in the gruesome murder was also held. Constable Raj Kumar was among the six police officials injured by the stone-pelting mobs and admitted to a hospital at nearby Barwala town. The agitating crowds also damaged government property at Uklana, set on fire two trucks and a fire tender in the grain market. While the police claimed having arrested 30 persons, unofficial sources put the number of arrests at more than 75. The police, besides resorting to a lathi charge, had used tear gas shells and fired in the air to scare away the rampaging crowd. Villagers told visiting reporters that police in its vengeance had even arrested elder people and children. The district police chief assured the agitating villagers that those found innocent would be released after investigation. Meanwhile, the villages of Byankhera have constituted an action committee headed by Bhim Singh to decide the future course of agitation against the police high-handedness. A number of senior political leaders of the area, cutting across the party lines, refuted the police claim that Mr Poonia’s 20-year-old married daughter Sonia had confessed having committed the killings. While paying their tributes to Mr Poonia, they said that Sonia alone could not have murdered all eight persons, including her father, mother, sister and brother. The leaders including Congress legislators O.P. Jindal, Jai Prakash, former Union Minister Selja, Mr Ranjit Singh and Mr Udayvir Punia demanded a CBI probe into the killings. The rampaging mobs took to the streets alleging inactiveness on part of the police in its investigations and bringing the killers to the book. The arrested persons produced in the court of Mr N.K. Singhal, Judicial Magistrate, here today from where they were sent to the judicial custody.
UNI, PTI |
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No takers for zoos’ big animals Chandigarh, September 4 The Haryana zoo authorities have released some birds and animals in the wild, shifted some others to the two existing zoos in the state and even sold small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits to pet owners. But they are saddled with the big animals — the real crowd- pullers at zoos — as the zoos inside and outside the state are declining to accept them. About 30 animals, belonging to various endangered species, are still locked up in their enclosures at the shut-down zoo at Bhiwani. The decision to close down the Bhiwani zoo, in the light of the CZAI directive, was taken in December at a meeting of the State Wildlife Advisory Board, which was chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala . At the meeting the state government decided to upgrade the zoos at Rohtak and Bhiwani to international standards. Earlier, the mini zoo at Abubsahar in Sirsa district, the Deer Park at NFL, Panipat and the mini zoo at Jind were closed down because conditions there were not as per the standards set by the CZAI. There were 153 birds and animals of 11 varieties at the mini zoo at Abubsahar. About 30 birds and animals such as jackals from the mini zoo were left in the wild. The remaining animals were sent to Bhiwani and Rohtak. Similarly, from the deer park at Panipat, animals and birds were sent to the Rohtak zoo and to the deer park at Hisar while five small animals were sold to pet owners. From Jind, too, animals and birds were sent to Rohtak as well as the Hisar deer park, while six small animals were sold. From the mini zoo at Pinjore, 200 birds were released in the wild. Thirtyeight birds and animals were shifted to the Pipli zoo, and nine to Rohtak while 78 birds were given to an environmental society. From the zoo at Bhiwani, 57 animals and birds were shifted to Rohtak, five to the deer park at Hisar and 82 birds were gifted to an environmental society. Fifteen small animals were sold. Nevertheless, there are still 30 animals, three panthers, four Himalayan black bears, three African hippopotamuses, 14 crocodiles and six bonnet monkeys — in the now defunct Bhiwani zoo and the authorities are worried about what to do with them. Recently, the state government brought the issue of the remaining animals of the Bhiwani zoo to the notice of the Union Ministry of Forests and Wildlife . The Union Ministry reportedly expressed helplessness as no other zoo in the country was in need of such animals at present. Apparently, there has been no follow-up on the state government’s decision about the upgradation of the zoos at Rohtak and Pipli except for a move initiated by the Wildlife Department for acquiring 50 acres at Rohtak from the Tourism Department for the extension of the Rohtak zoo. The Tourism Department does not want to part with so much land. Wildlife enthusiasts question the state government’s seriousness about improving the zoos at Rohtak and
Pipli. |
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Rise in cases of crime against
women Jhajjar, September 4 The figures revealed that the number of cases of molestation and dowry during the first eight months this year have surpassed this number during the same period last year. But the reaction of the people as well as authorities concerned to most of such incidents has rather been cold. The recent incident of gangrape of a 20-year-old wife of a migrant labourer at a farm house at Jakhoda village by seven youths of the same village has failed to evoke protest. Although four of the accused have been arrested neither the district administration nor any women organisation has come forward to help the victim. Mr Mohammed Akil, SP said, “ the number of women vis-a-vis men per thousand is 848 in this district, which is 861 statewide”. He said most of the cases of crime against women, especially sex abuse, were the outcome of this widening sex-ratio. The situation would become more grim after six or seven years as this gap in the sex ratio in the lower-age group was even wider, he added. Mrs Shashi Gulati, Deputy Commissioner, while admitting the widening sex ratio as a major problem which was the result of female foeticide, claimed that more such cases were being reported now. She maintained that invasion of western culture had also added to this problem in a big way. Ms Sushila Rathee, district president of the Mahila Dakshta Samiti, stated that dowry system still existed in our society and most of the miseries of women stem from this evil practice. |
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Resentment ‘brewing’ among INLD MLAs Panipat, September 4 While talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Dalal claimed that resentment was prevailing among INLD MLAs in Haryana against the autocratic rule of Mr Chautala and majority of them would leave him for forming an alternative government after the UP assembly elections. Mr Dalal in support of this claim said Mr Chautala had stated at a rally at Mathura that Mr Vajpayee and the BJP were trustworthy. He further stated that in the coming Uttar Pradesh elections, the BJP would not have any alliance with Chautala’s INLD and then Chautala would contest the elections in alliance with other parties like the Samajwadi Party (SJP) of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav. Flaying the Chautala government on the deteriorating law and order situation in the state the Mr Dalal disclosed that opposition MLAs in Haryana had sought an appointment with the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, for submitting a memorandum about the misdeeds of the Chautala government. Criticising the Chautala government for increasing the prices of agriculture inputs and forcibly installation of electronic meters and alleged that these meters were mechanical and not electronic as claimed by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) authorities. Mr Chautala has been neglecting the interest of farmers by not taking up the SYL issue with the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal despite Supreme Court’s directions, he added. |
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IYC to launch stir against Haryana
Government Sonepat, September 4 This was announced by Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, President of the All-India Youth Congress while addressing a press conference at Kanak hotel, about 10 km from here, last night. Mrs Sumitra Chauhan, a member of the HPCC, Ms Monika Malik, district president of the Mahila Congress, and Mr Krishanpuri Ranjha, president of the district Youth Congress (Urban), were also present on the occasion. Mr Surjewala disclosed that rallies would be held at Yamunanagar on September 18 at Sonepat, on September 22 at Kaithal on September 24 and at Sirsa on September 29. He said the Chautala government had failed on all fronts and the people were being victimised by the state government on various issues, including demolition drive in the name of removing encroachments, replacement of electricity meters, unemployment and imposition of taxes. Mr Surjewala said the Youth Congress would oppose tooth and nail the repressive measures being adopted to harass farmers and general public. He also lambasted the Chautala regime for encouraging corruption and said recruitments were being made for a price rather than on merit. The youth Congress leader also expressed his concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He said the cases of loot, murder, kidnapping, rape and extortion were rising and the police had failed to curb the activities of criminals patronised by the ruling party leaders. Earlier, Mr Surjewala addressed a public meeting at nearby Shahzadpur village in the evening. |
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PGIMS ignores CM’s
directive Rohtak, September 4 This is evident from the decision of the Department of Surgery to hold its international seminar on “Current trends in Oncology (cancer surgery)” at Panchkula despite directions of the Chief Minister to hold it in the PGIMS at Rohtak. The seminar is scheduled to be held at Panchkula from September 21 to 23. The Professor and Head of the Surgery Department, on May 9 had sought permission of the government to hold the international seminar at Panchkula, which has a better hotel and entertainment facilities besides its location. The Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Medical Education vide memo no: 9/17/97-3HB-IV dated June 21 told the Head of the Surgery Department that “the venue (Panchkula) has been suggested without any good logic or reason. Even from the point of view of connectivity to Delhi,
Rohtak is better for participants.” The letter said “in Rohtak the participants (Indian and foreigners) will see the institute and equipment and interact with our faculty as a result of which we may get benefit of preparing proposals for bilateral exchange of faculty with other countries”. The Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Mrs Veena Eagleton had told the Head of the Surgery Department that the “Chief Minister has desired that this conference should be held at Rohtak instead of Panchkula on the proposed date at your own cost”. This would also help us in exploring the possibility of getting assistance for equipment and research, Mrs Eagleton had advised. But when the proposal to hold the seminar was mooted the then Director, PGIMS had told the Head of the department to follow the guidelines formulated for organising such conferences or seminars. The guidelines stipulated opening of a “joint account in the State Bank of India in the name of the local Organising Secretary of the conference and Accounts Officer (Compulsory)”. These guidelines were issued on September 29, 1995 following complains of corruption and misuse of funds collected for organising conferences in PGIMS. The then Director, PGIMS, Dr S.S. Yadav, in consultations with the then Secretary, Health, Mr Raghbir Singh, had felt that the money was collected in the name of the institutions (PGIMS) for academic pursuits and if misused, it brings a bad name to the institution. The guidelines, insiders, believe did not suit the organisers of the seminar and they decided to hold the seminar at Panchkula instead of Rohtak. The members of the faculty here fail to
understand that how a conference of this institution can be held at Panchkula and in what way it will benefit the faculty and Postgraduate students of the PGIMS. Interestingly, the then Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Mr G. Madhavan, had granted permission to hold the conference at Panchkula but he was replaced by Mrs Veena Eagleton on April 18. She brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister who had ordered that the conference be held at Rohtak only. Ignoring the orders of the Chief Minister, the organisers have decided to hold the conference at Panchkula on the plea that it was not possible to shift the venue at this stage. Incidentally, Mr Madhvan has again been transferred back to the Health and Medical Education Department and this has encourage the organisers to ignore the orders of the Chief Minister. |
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Phalgu fair begins amid stench Kaithal, September 4 The 17-day fair which enjoys the same importance in Hindu mythology as the fair at Gayaji in Bihar will end on Amavas on September 17. The administration had expected that about a million persons were likely to take a holy dip in the tank named after Rishi Phalgu. The mela has fallen this year after a gap of over a decade. The state government has, however, allocated only Rs 35 lakh for the fair. The administration had demanded Rs 62 lakh for making the arrangements. Because of financial constraints, the mela administration has failed to ensure hygiene around the tank and the village. Heaps of garbage could be seen along the streets through which the pilgrims will pass to reach the holy tank. Water puddles line both sides of the road leading to the tank and foul smell is emanating from dung heaps along the main road. The administration has made efforts to fill the tank but a green layer has emerged on the surface. The pilgrims would perforce take a bath in the tank before offering “pinds” to their ancestors. They would converge at the site from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and even as far as Mumbai. Sikhs from the Malwa region of Punjab are likely to come in large numbers. The administration says that before the main bathing day it will clean the surroundings and fill the tank. So far no safai karamchari had been deployed on 24-hour duty, the villagers say. Pandas are already here and have hiked up their rates. Although the mela started yesterday, no special bus service or other means of transport is available from the Dhand bus stand which is located about 4 km away. The authorities say that special bus service will start after the rush of pilgrims begins. Another problem is the non-availability of tented accommodation for the pilgrims. |
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Pension scheme for school
staff Ambala, September 4 The principal of the school Mr M.L. Bansal, said, the school is the first government recognised aided school in Haryana to start the pension scheme which will benefit the staff members. A total of Rs 50 lakh has to be deposited with the government as part of this scheme and we have already deposited Rs 15.58 lakh yesterday,” he said. He said the scheme will be based on a pension formula according to a gazette notification. “We have a staff strength of 62 out of which 13 staff members are going to retire within 2003. Three staff members have already retired but they are also going to benefit,” he said. Mr Bansal said there are 237 government recognised aided school in the state out of which 41 are in Ambala and Panchkula. “We deposited Rs 12.24 lakh with the District Education Officer and Rs 3.33 lakh with the District Primary Education Officer,” he said. Following the implementation of this pension scheme at the government recognised aided schools, teachers and other employees retiring after May 1998 will benefit from it. The District Education Officer, Mr Dharam Pal Sharma, said the pension scheme would benefit the school employees. However, a teacher with a government aided school expressed dissatisfaction over the difference between their pension scheme and the pension scheme meant for government school teachers. |
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National Award for 5 teachers Chandigarh, September 4 They are Mr Puran Chand, Head Teacher, Government Primary School no 4, Sirsa, Mr Ram Bhaj, Head Teacher, Government Girls Middle School, Barhana (Jhajjar), Mr Brij Mohan Gupta, Lecturer, Hindi, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Model Town, Panipat, Mr Surmukh Singh, Science Teacher, Government High School, Bhatauli (Yamunanagar) and Mr Om Prakash Garg, Lecturer, SM Hindu Senior Secondary School, Sonepat. These teachers will be honoured by the President of India in Delhi on September 5 on the occasion of Teachers Day. |
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Education policy dangerous, CPM cautions teachers Rohtak, September 4 The party, in an appeal on the eve of the Teachers Day, exhorted the teachers to sense the danger of poor masses being deprived of their fundamental right to education and the retrograde education policies of the BJP-led Central government. The state secretariat of the party has expressed concern over the erosion of university autonomy, neglect of primary education and selling of seats for admission. The CPM has welcomed the resolution adopted at the conclave of 11 state Education Ministers and Chief Ministers rejecting the imposition of astrology, purohit courses and vedic mathematics and ‘distortion of history’ at the instance of the Vajpayee govt. |
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2 held for murder of commission
agent Kaithal, September 4 Talking to mediapersons, the SP, Mr A.S. Chawla, said here today that two out of the three accused had been arrested near Balu village. The two had been identified as Rajinder Singh, alias Bachi, of Kithana and Vijender Singh of Badhana villages in Jind district. They had confessed to having murdered the commission agent. The third accused, Manoj, of Pillukhera was absconding. Mr Chawla said a notorious criminal, Satbir Jhabbal, lodged in the Hisar jail had asked some members of his gang to extort Rs 5 lakh from the commission agent. When the latter refused to pay the amount, Jhabbal directed his men to eliminate him. Jhabbal paid Daya Nand, a resident of Kithana, native village of the victim, Rs 20,000 and asked Rajinder to arrange two more boys to accomplish the task. The accused also purchased a second hand motorcycle from Jind to be used in the crime. The two accused shot the agent dead while he was sitting outside his shop. The third kept the motorcycle ready and drove them to safely. Mr Chawla said Rajinder was already facing charges of murder and robbery. Manoj was also involved in cases of murder and dacoities. The SP said a case of criminal conspiracy had been registered against Satbir Jhabbal, Dharmpal, alias Pappu, Daya Nand and Nage Singh, father of Daya Nand. |
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Soldier cremated Ambala, September 4 Naik Ram Phal of 2 RR had died at the Military Hospital, Srinagar, due to “medical reasons”. The message of his death reached his village on Sunday. He is survived by his wife and two children. |
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Servicemen rally Chandigarh, September 4 The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will preside over the function, according to an official release issued here today. |
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