H A R Y A N A

Kashmiri students under close watch
Chandigarh, December 31
While in Delhi persons of Kashmiri origin are now under scrutiny in the wake of the December 13 attack on Parliament House, the Haryana Government, too, has started keeping a close watch on students of Kashmiri origin as well as Kashmiri migrants staying in the state.

Four of family shot dead
Jind, December 31
Four members of a family at Jajwan village in the district were murdered last night. They were shot dead by some persons. The victims include two sons of Mian Singh, Rajesh Kumar and Pawan Kumar, his daughter Murti Devi and his wife Kitabo Devi.

3rd phase of DHBVN campaign begins
Hisar, December 31
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has selected 67 villages of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar and Fatehabad districts for the third phase of the campaign to provide on-the-spot regular domestic and non-domestic connections in the rural areas from tomorrow.

Subedar cremated with full honours
Ambala, December 31 The body of Sub Mam Chand of 12 Jat Battalion was cremated at his native village, Saontly, 30 km from here, today with full military and state honours. He was deployed in the Gamanewla border region, near Jaisalmer in Rajsthan.	Villagers carry the body of Subedar Mam Chand at village Saunthli, Ambala, on Monday. — Photo N. Chopra

Jawan cremated with honours
Rohtak, December 31
The body of Army jawan Suneel Kumar, who was among several Army personnel killed in an anti-tank mine blast near the Indo-Pak border at Laungewala in Rajasthan on December 28 was cremated with full state and military honours at his native Reetoli village in Rohtak district, about 15 km from here, today.

Miglani is Principal Secy to Chautala
Chandigarh, December 31
Mr Mandhir Kumar Miglani, Financial Commissioner, Cooperative Department, Haryana, was today appointed as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Public Relations and Civil Aviation Departments.

Five dacoits arrested
Yamunanagar, December 31
The police yesterday arrested five members of a gang of dacoits. According to police sources, on a tip-off, the police gheroaed the Suh jungle and captured five dacoits. However, three dacoits managed to escape.

• Joint Director retires

Kashmiri students under close watch
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 31
While in Delhi persons of Kashmiri origin are now under scrutiny in the wake of the December 13 attack on Parliament House, the Haryana Government, too, has started keeping a close watch on students of Kashmiri origin as well as Kashmiri migrants staying in the state.

“It is unfortunate that we have to keep vigil on the students. But the situation is such that nothing can be left to chance”, a senior state government official said. The state government, sources said, had drawn up a list of students of Kashmiri origin residing in Haryana. While the total number of such students, according to figures compiled by the Home Department, is close to 150, the largest batch is in Yamunanagar, where more than 45 are said to be enrolled in educational institutions. Sonepat, Faridabad and Kurukshetra are stated to be the other places where a sizeable number of Kashmiri students are staying. Ambala, Panchkula, Hisar, Jind, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Panipat, Kaithal and Gurgaon also have such students, though their number is stated to be insignificant.

The police, officials here said, had been asked to check the “antecedents” of each students.

The officials said that there were nearly 130 Pakistani nationals legally present in Haryana now and their movement was also being closely watched. While more than 70 Pakistanis were currently in Ambala, the next biggest number, nearby 50, was in Yamunanagar. Rohtak and Karnal were the two other places where some Pakistani nationals are staying on visa. There were instances of Pakistanis overstaying without formal extension of the visa, the sources said, adding that a list of such persons was being compiled by the state government.

Incidentally, more than 200 Pakistani Hindu refugees are now camping in Sirsa district. The records of the state government mention them as “Pakistanis residing illegally in Haryana”, These persons are not regarded by the security agencies as potential saboteurs.

There are also more than 1,100 Kashmiri migrants in the state — most of them being in Faridabad and Gurgaon, two Haryana cities which are adjacent to Delhi. Ambala, Karnal and Jhajjar are the other places where a considerable number of Kasmiri migrants have been reported.

The state government has also drawn up a list of Afghan refugees in Haryana. Such refugees, numbering more than 1,100 as per government records, are primarily based in Faridabad.

Four of family shot dead
Our Correspondent

Jind, December 31
Four members of a family at Jajwan village in the district were murdered last night. They were shot dead by some persons.

The victims include two sons of Mian Singh, Rajesh Kumar and Pawan Kumar, his daughter Murti Devi and his wife Kitabo Devi.

The victims were sleeping in their house when the killers forced the door open and shot them dead.

In the morning when villagers found the door of the house broken, they got suspicious and checked inside. They found all four persons dead.

The police has registered a case under Sections 302, 380, 147 and 148 of the IPC and under the Arms Act.

3rd phase of DHBVN campaign begins
Our Correspondent

Hisar, December 31
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has selected 67 villages of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar and Fatehabad districts for the third phase of the campaign to provide on-the-spot regular domestic and non-domestic connections in the rural areas from tomorrow.

A spokesman for the DHBVN said here today that the third phase of the campaign would be completed during January next. In the first two phases of the campaign, the nigam had organised camps in 240 villages during September and November and released about 8,400 domestic and non-domestic connections.

Under the campaign, which has been launched to check theft of power and dissuade people from using ‘kundi’ connections, a team comprising a Subdivisional Officer, a Junior Engineer, a lineman, a clerk and a representative of the district administration, will visit the villages on fixed days and release new connections in domestic and non-domestic categories on demand at the doorsteps of the people, he added.

Subedar cremated with full honours
Our Correspondent

Ambala, December 31
The body of Sub Mam Chand of 12 Jat Battalion was cremated at his native village, Saontly, 30 km from here, today with full military and state honours. He was deployed in the Gamanewla border region, near Jaisalmer in Rajsthan.

The tall and strong Mam Chand died in a powerful blast while protecting the borders on December 28. Son of a village, he is survived by his parents, wife and four children. He joined the Army in his early 20.

The aged parents could not believe their eyes when the coffin carrying the body of their son reached the village this morning. Her wife, Puspa Devi, was inconsolable. Hundred of villagers gathered there as soon as they aware of the arrival of the body.

The pyre was lit by his elder son, Sanjeev Kumar. Police and Army jawans fired several rounds in the air and reversed their arms as mark of respect to the departed. The Social Welfare Minister, Mr Rasal Singh, laid a wreath on the body of the martyr on behalf of the Haryana Government.

Deputy Commissioner D.D. Gautam, Superintendent of Police Sandeep Khirwar, District Sainik Board, Secretary V.S. Narwal and SDM Maheshwar Sharma also paid their respects to the martyr by laying wreaths.

Jawan cremated with honours

Rohtak, December 31
The body of Army jawan Suneel Kumar, who was among several Army personnel killed in an anti-tank mine blast near the Indo-Pak border at Laungewala in Rajasthan on December 28 was cremated with full state and military honours at his native Reetoli village in Rohtak district, about 15 km from here, today.

Wreaths were laid on the martyr’s body by the local MP, Capt Inder Singh, and MLA Balwant Singh Mayna on behalf of the state government and by Deputy Commissioner Anil Malik and SSP A.S. Ahlawat on behalf of the district administration.

A large number of people, including leaders of political and social organisations, government officials and villagers from neighbouring villages, took part in the funeral procession.

A Haryana police contingent saluted the martyr by firing in the air and paid respect by reversing their arms. The bugle was sounded to bid farewell to Suneel Kumar of 12 Jat Regiment, who joined Army on September 13, 1999, before the body was consigned to flames. UNI

Miglani is Principal Secy to Chautala
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 31
Mr Mandhir Kumar Miglani, Financial Commissioner, Cooperative Department, Haryana, was today appointed as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Public Relations and Civil Aviation Departments.

Mr Miglani has succeeded Mr S.Y. Quraishi who left for Delhi to become Director-General of the Doordarshan. Mr Miglani, a 1967 batch IAS officer, is among the senior-most officers serving the Haryana Government. He will also continue to hold the charge of Cooperation Department, a press note said.

Five dacoits arrested
Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, December 31
The police yesterday arrested five members of a gang of dacoits. According to police sources, on a tip-off, the police gheroaed the Suh jungle and captured five dacoits. However, three dacoits managed to escape.

The sources said the arrested persons were involved in several dacoity cases in the district. They have been identified as Shardhanand, Tony, Naseem, Rajinder and Phurkan. The police seized a gun, two pistols and other lethal weapons from their possession. Two members of the gang had been arrested earlier, the sources said.

Joint Director retires
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 31
Mr Som Nath, Joint Director (Press), Department of Public Relations, Haryana Government, retired today after 38 years of service. He was given a warm farewell by his colleagues.