H A R Y A N A

Treason case against agitating villagers
Narnaund, June 2
Even as the state government is looking for an amicable resolution of the Kandela farmers’ stir, it continues to take a tough stance against agitating farmers. The district police late last night registered a case of treason against more than 1,100 agitators at the local police station here, about 40 km from Hisar.

Sampat open to suggestions
Chandigarh, June 2
“We have an open mind and any suggestion which is in the interest of the State, the farmers and the people will be welcome ,” says Prof Sampat Singh, chairman of the four-member committee set up by Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala to defuse the farmers’ crisis at Jind .

100 villages face water shortage
Bhiwani, June 2
As the mercury has been rising due to summer season villages of the district are facing the problem of drinking water. Sub divisions like Charkhi Dadri and Loharu are the worst hit. Reports say at least 100 villages of Loharu subdivision are facing acute shortage of drinking water and several families may migrate from drought prone areas.

• Village faces water, power shortage

Police drive against quacks
Bhiwani, June 2
The police has launched a drive against quacks and booked nearly 200 such practitioners. The drive was launched on a complaint of such practitioners. 8 were arrested and have been sent to judicial custody by the court. The Health Department has issued notice to private doctors to show registrations.

Mittal elected Bar chief
Hisar, June 2
Mr Subhas Chander Mittal and Ms Shalini Atre were elected yesterday as president and secretary respectively of the Hisar Bar Association. According to Mr S.S. Dangra, presiding officer, Mr Mittal secured 214 votes while his nearest rival Mr Chhaju Ram got 185 votes.

Science Centre timings changed
Kurukshetra, June 2
Considering flow of tourists to Kurukshetra and hot summer months, the Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre authorities have decided to extend opening timings in the month of June 2002.

Treason case against agitating villagers
Raman Mohan

Narnaund, June 2
Even as the state government is looking for an amicable resolution of the Kandela farmers’ stir, it continues to take a tough stance against agitating farmers. The district police late last night registered a case of treason against more than 1,100 agitators at the local police station here, about 40 km from Hisar.

However, only three persons have been named in the FIR. They were Mai Chand, a former sarpanch of Mirchpur village, Balbir Singh and Rajesh. The FIR said they were accompanied by a mob of nearly 1,100 persons.

The case has been registered on the complaint of Mr Balwan Singh, SHO of the local police station. He had stated in his complaint that the agitating farmers axed a large number of trees and blocked the Barwala-Jind road at Mirchpur village. A police party reached there and on orders of the Duty Magistrate, Mr Brij Bhushan, it attempted to clear the blockade. At this point, the mob raised anti-government slogans. Their leaders declared that they had raised an army against the government and it would not allow the lifting of the blockade.

The FIR stated that more agitators came there from the nearby villages and prevented the police party from performing its duty. The mob attacked the officials many from among the mob fired at the police party. The police officials and the duty magistrate had a narrow escape. The police then resorted to a lathi charge, tear gassing and firing of rubber bullets to disperse the mob. However, when the mob did not withdraw, the police opened fire at it.

A case has been registered under Sections 124A, 307, 148, 149, 332, 353 and 186 of the IPC. No arrests have been made as yet.

Meanwhile, peace prevailed in the troubled areas bordering Jind district. The Haryana Kisan Sangharsh Samiti met here and expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in many parts of the state. Samiti leader Col Ram Partap Malhan and CPM leader Prithvi Singh Gorakhpuria said they welcomed the constitution of the four member panel headed by Finance Minister Sampat Singh by the Chief Minister. They said the farmers’ problems could only be solved through talks and not by use of police force. They regretted that the comments made by the Chief Minister about the farmers’ leaders and those who had died in the police firing had only complicated the situation.

Sampat open to suggestions
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 2
“We have an open mind and any suggestion which is in the interest of the State, the farmers and the people will be welcome ,” says Prof Sampat Singh, chairman of the four-member committee set up by Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala to defuse the farmers’ crisis at Jind .

Talking to The Tribune on his return from New Delhi this evening, Prof Sampat Singh said the four-member committee was expected to hold its preliminary meeting here tomorrow or the day after as Mr Surinder Singh Barwala, MP, was currently away to the South as part of a parliamentary delegation. Modalities would be worked out for holding negotiations with individuals and organisations.

“He is expected to return tonight or tomorrow. A message has already been conveyed to him to return immediately,” he said, maintaining that the committee would welcome any individual or organisation to make any suggestion for resolving the crisis immediately. “There is no mandate given to us. Our endeavour will be to listen to everyone and suggest a solution which is in the interest of the state, the farmers and the people,” Professor Sampat Singh said, holding that “non-payment of electricity dues is no more the issue. It has been relegated to the background.”

“We have extended an open invitation to everyone to make a suggestion or contact the committee,” he said, maintaining that no individual or specific invitation had been extended to anyone. “We are a party of farmers. They are of utmost importance to us. We have been always working for the welfare and well-being of farmers, who are the real backbone of the Indian National Lok Dal. Unfortunately, the current agitation has been hijacked by certain anti-social elements,” said.

“I have nothing to comment on the Congress. It has always been looking for someone’s shoulder to fire its gun. It has lost its base in Haryana. See what happened at the CLP meeting yesterday. Only eight of 20 MLAs turned up. This speaks of the seriousness the party has on kisan andolan,” remarked the Finance Minister. “The endeavour of the committee will be to find a solution to the whole crisis in the shortest possible time through negotiations. We are looking at the whole problem with an open mind and hope that solution will not be difficult ,” he concluded.

100 villages face water shortage
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, June 2
As the mercury has been rising due to summer season villages of the district are facing the problem of drinking water.

Sub divisions like Charkhi Dadri and Loharu are the worst hit. Reports say at least 100 villages of Loharu subdivision are facing acute shortage of drinking water and several families may migrate from drought prone areas. Drinking water schemes announced by the state government are still to take shape.

Drinking water problem in nearly 100 villages like Jhumpa Khurd, Baralu, Samsawas Gothra, Dhani Kumaharan, Patharwa, Mitthi, Matani, Morka Garwa, Sidhanwa, Hariawas, Bardu Jadwa, Shyampura, Bitthan Leelas and Siwani is one decade old. Inhabitants of the villages say water table has dipped from 400 feet to 1200 feet during this period and tubewells have very low capacity to work out hitting the farmers.

Women have to go miles to fetch drinking water. Animals too can be seen wandering in search of water. Ponds of the villages have dried and canals which provide water to these areas are running without water.

Besides villages, Bhiwani city, Charkhi Dadri and Loharu towns are also in the grip of drinking water problem. Bichla Bazar, Naya Bazar, Hanuman Dhani, Jain Chowk, Sarai Chaupta, Bharat Nagar of Bhiwani town had to go without water for several hours daily.

The residents have to use stored water for many days. The residents of Bichla Bazar and surrounding areas had resorted to agitation and blocked traffic for at least three hours few days back. They had lifted agitation after an assurance of regular supply, but the residents allege now situation has taken the same turn and there is no supply for several days. Political leaders have alleged that the state government was meting out step-motherly treatment to this district.

Village faces water, power shortage
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, June 2
The residents of Paldi village under Charkhi Dadri sub division have been facing acute power shortage in the village for the past many days. Repeated complaints bore no fruit. The villagers complained that power was particularly discontinued in night and water schedule goes haywire. Women have to walk miles to fetch water. Undeclared power cuts in summer have left electric appliances useless. The villagers have threatened an agitation if power supply was not restored to the village.

Police drive against quacks
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, June 2
The police has launched a drive against quacks and booked nearly 200 such practitioners. The drive was launched on a complaint of such practitioners. 8 were arrested and have been sent to judicial custody by the court. The Health Department has issued notice to private doctors to show registrations.

According to reports Charkhi Dadri police has registered cases against 15 persons practising without valid degree at Fatehgarh,. Sahuwas, Ghikada, Charkhi, Kheri Bura and other villages besides arresting two fake doctors working at Fatehgarh village. Cases have been under sections 15/2, 15/3 of the Indian Medical Council and section 420 of the Indian Penal Code. The arrested doctors were produced before the court which remanded them in judicial custody yesterday. Earlier, three doctors arrested by the Dadri Police were sent to the judicial custody for 14 day. So far nine out of 11 booked persons have been arrested by the police including one woman practitioner.

The sources disclosed that several such practitioners went underground after the drive was launched.

The police, registered cases against 12 doctors running hospitals, nursing homes and clinics illegally under the Bond Kalan police station. According to a report 38 persons have been booked for having bogus degrees. 

Mittal elected Bar chief
Our Correspondent

Hisar, June 2
Mr Subhas Chander Mittal and Ms Shalini Atre were elected yesterday as president and secretary respectively of the Hisar Bar Association.

According to Mr S.S. Dangra, presiding officer, Mr Mittal secured 214 votes while his nearest rival Mr Chhaju Ram got 185 votes.

Mr Atre defeated her nearest rival Mr Baljit Chahal by 56 votes. She secured 256 votes.

Science Centre timings changed
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, June 2
Considering flow of tourists to Kurukshetra and hot summer months, the Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre authorities have decided to extend opening timings in the month of June 2002.

Stating this here yesterday, the Centre, Project Coordinator, Ms S. K. Kumar said that the Centre would remain now open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from June 1 to 30 and the admission tickets would be sold upto 6.30 p.m.