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Wednesday,
August 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Bhajan takes over Haryana Cong reins Rain damages Mandewala bandh Deaddiction camp at poppy husk centre Tortured in custody on false charge Dist officials attend IT seminar |
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Protest by students at HAU
8 get life term for murder
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Bhajan takes over Haryana Cong reins Chandigarh, August 6 However, the AICC formula to bring unity in the faction-ridden Haryana Congress has failed to click. The party is as divided as it was before the AICC ordered the swapping of places by the state unit chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and the Congress Legislature Party chief, Mr Bhajan Lal. The deep-rooted factionalism in the Haryana Congress came to the surface once again at the function. Led by the new CLP leader? Mr Hooda, 11 party MLAs stayed away from the function, which, otherwise was well-attended by supporters of Mr Bhajan Lal. Among the absentee MLAs were all the six Jat MLAs of the party and three Ahir MLAs. The party high command was obviously not happy at the absence of Mr Hooda. The AICC General Secretary, Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, and the AICC Secretary, Mr Hanumantha Rao, did not mince words when they said that Mr Hooda should have attended the function. However, Mrs Kidwai covered up for Mr Hooda’s absence by saying that he had been held up by “some incident” in his family. Mr Bhajan Lal also claimed that a bereavement in Mr Hooda’s family was responsible for his absence though Mr Hooda had extended him his cooperation over the telephone. However, sources close to Mr Hooda deny any bereavement in his family. It is learn that Mr Hooda sent a fax message that he could not come to Chandigarh because he was running high temperature. Though happy over the turnout at the function, Mrs Kidwai seemed perturbed over the factionalism. She told Mr Bhajan Lal that the presidentship was “a crown of thorns” and it was his duty to carry everyone with him. A former Chief Minister and veteran leader, Mr B.D. Gupta, too cautioned Mr Bhajan Lal that the biggest challenge before him was to unite the party. Mr Bhajan Lal, who had a sour throat, assured the AICC leaders that he would not discriminate against anyone. “Had any party MP or MLA complained against me while I remained Chief Minister for 12 years?” he asked. He said a pro-Congress wave was sweeping Haryana and the party would win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the next parliamentary elections. The ruling INLD would not get even five Assembly seats. Accusing Mr Om Prakash Chautala of having destroyed democracy, Mr Bhajan Lal said all powers had been centralised in the Chief Minister and his two sons. Among those who were present were Mr Lachhman Singh, Mr Tara Singh, Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma and Mr Ramji Lal, all former MPs; Mrs Anita Yadav, President of the Haryana Mahila Congress; Mr Satwinder Singh Sandhu, Haryana Youth Congress President; Mr Pawan Valecha, Youth Congress General Secretary; and several former MLAs and ministers. Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former minister expelled from the Congress, was also present. Among the notable absentees were a former Haryana Congress President, Mr Birender Singh, and the MLA from Hisar, Mr O.P. Jindal, who themselves were contenders for the party presidentship. |
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Rain damages Mandewala bandh Yamunanagar, August 6 The Mandewala bandh, which had been a bone of contention between Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, had been hanging fire due to the non-cooperative attitude of the Uttar Pradesh Government. Mrs Renu Phulia, Subdivisional Magistrate, Jagadhri, said 70 per cent of the bandh work was done by the state government and even the demarcation work of the land was completed some time ago, but the Uttar Pradesh Government did not cooperate with the Yamunanagar District Administration. She said with the construction of the bandh people of 50 villages of Haryana would be benefited whereas people of 20 villages of Uttar Pradesh would be benefited. Mrs Phulia said now with the heavy rains on last Sunday night, about 35 per cent of the bandh had been damaged. Mr Vijayender Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, said the damaged part of the bandh would be constructed shortly with a minor change in direction of the dam. He said the district administration had deputed the Subdivisional Magistrate, Jagadhri, and the DSP, Jagadhri, to look into the matter. |
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Deaddiction camp at poppy husk centre Kaithal The occasion was the organisation of a deaddiction camp and a seminar by the district police, as part of its campaign to create an awakening among the people about the ill-effects of drugs and other intoxicants. Another target, set by district police chief A.S. Chawla, was to convince the residents of this village to understand the effects of this trade on the social set-up and complications on the family life of those indulging in the illegal trafficking of poppy husk and consumption of opium, alcohol and other intoxicants. After listening to the Superintendent of Police and doctors, about dozen persons from the audience came to the stage and vowed to stop using poppy husk and any other intoxicants in future. They said that they had enough and wanted to start a new life. The authorities claimed the camp was a grand success as Baljeet Singh, Beda Ram of Hansu Mazra, Sukhvinder, Azmer Singh, Rehmat, Kashmir of Daban Kheri, Mukha Ram, Pyare Ram, Parma Nand of Kharoudi vowed to shun intoxicants. The main speaker at this camp, the Kaithal SP exhorted village residents to give up their involvement in the poppy husk trade or be ready to face the strong arm of the law. He reminded them that even during the past years, a large number of residents had to face the trauma of remaining in jails for a number of years after their conviction. Though the number of persons associated with this trade had come down considerably after police raids and arrests, but still many villagers could not leave this illegal trade. He reminded them of the suffering their family members, including women and children, underwent when they (bread-winner) remained in jail. He told them that ill-gotten money could provide them neither peace nor a respectable life. Not only this, the younger which was supposed to become good citizens after getting their education, were likely to follow in their foot steps. He also warned his staff that if any one of them was found conniving with the poppy smugglers and showed any sympathy with them he would not be spared. The choice was theirs. Mr Sivach Kavi Raj, a young IPS officer, who recently took charge as ASP at Guhla, warned that his men would foil any attempt to smuggle any contraband under his jurisdiction and assured the people of cooperating with all those who wanted to be good citizens. Dr J.C. Bhatla, a psychiatrist from Karnal, told about the ill- effects of intoxicants. The use of opium, poppy husk, drugs and even alcohol on a regular basis would make them fall prey to these bad habits. Those consuming intoxicants for the sake of enjoyment in the beginning would use them in huge quantities later and become addicts. They not only lost appetite and gradually get weak and lost interest in life. Dr Bhatla told them to change their life-style, strengthen their willpower and leave this bad habit by take help from the drug de-addiction centres. He also urged the members of the society to love the drug addicts and not hate them and try to bring them on the right path. At the camp’s conclusion, the SP announced that those who had announced their decision not to use intoxicants if they kept their word would be honoured on Independence Day or at any other function by the administration. The SP was honoured by the village panchayat and his efforts were highly appreciated by one and all. |
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Tortured in custody on false charge Ambala, August 6 Lying on a hospital bed in Civil Hospital of Ambala, the 26-year-old businessman, Vijay Kumar, recounts his harrowing experience. The beating has made his right hand immobile and, he can barely move his left hand. There is, now, a constant numbing pain in his shoulders and stomach. Worse, his legs were forcibly parted, which has led to unbearable pain in the groin. The Superintendent of Police at Ambala, Mr Manoj Yadava, said. “The investigation officer involved
Mr Yadava said that a complainant based at Barara had misled the police. “There was a old dispute between the complainant and the businessman,” he said. Vijay Kumar said, from Barara, he had shifted to Amritsar less than a month ago. “On August 2 at about 6 a.m., a police team led by an ASI reached my house along with the complainant who said I was involved in a robbery. I was brought to Ambala in a Tata Sumo and beaten up on the way. They wanted me to admit that I had committed a robbery in the house of the complainant,” he said. “I was taken to a place at Paraw, where, a couple of policemen pounced on me, tied my hands behind the back and dragged me on the ground. My legs were parted. The police beating has led to pains all over my body. Later, I was dropped off at my house in Barara and told I was not at fault. I was told to report at the police station the next day. I did go to the police station, even though the pain from the beating of the previous day was unbearable. This lauded me in the hospital,” said Vijay Kumar. After the Superintendent of Police was apprised of the matter, the DSP, Mr Ashok Sabharwal, met him and both officials assured that justice would be done. |
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Dist officials attend IT seminar Ambala, August 6 The Financial Commissioner, IT Department, Mr Dharamvir, presided over the seminar. Among others, the IT Director, Ms Shashi Gulati, the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr D.D. Gautam, the SP, Mr Manoj Yadava, the Joint ETC, Mr D.P. Sirohi, and the SDMs, Mr M.K. Ahuja and Mr Maheshwar Sharma, were present. Mr Dharamvir said a call centre would be established here where students would be imparted training in IT and the centre would be employment oriented. He said the state government was laying stress on IT to bring about transparency in functioning. He said under a programme, all information concerning different departments would be available at a single window. He said under the Haryana Registration Information System, the revenue records was being fed into computers and soon this record would be available on the Internet. Any person can access the Internet and know the relevant details. The person would be saved the trouble of going to government offices. Following the computerisation of revenue records, there has been a 40 per cent increase in revenue. |
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Protest by students at HAU Hisar, August 6 They removed the lock after the Dean intervened. The students also held a demonstration in front of the office of the Vice-Chancellor. A spokesman for the students said the course would have to be scrapped if the qualification was raised. There were a few students who studied beyond plus one in villages. They would thus be deprived of the opportunity. |
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One killed in accident Ambala, August 6 The accident took place near Saha when the truck coming from the Jagadhari side collided with the truck laden with wood. A truck driver, Shamshad, was killed, while another truck driver, Kaka, sustained injuries on a leg. Two others namely Rakesh and Pramod were also injured. |
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8 get life term for murder Kaithal, August 6 Giving this information, the SP, Mr A.S. Chawla, said today that the accused were nursing a grudge against their neighbour Naurang because he had disclosed their involvement in a theft case. The accused Zile Singh, Puran Teja, Gughu, Romesh, Amrit, Shish Pal and Raja had attacked the victim, thereby seriously injuring him. He had subsequently succumbed to his injuries at PGI, Chandigarh. In another case, Kishan Chand of Rohtak district both was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh. the NDPS Act. |
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Order on official vehicles Chandigarh, August 6 A circular issued to this effect by the Chief Secretary said that any officer using more than one staff car or vehicle should surrender the additional car or vehicle immediately. |
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No Teej celebrations at Raj Bhavan Chandigarh, August 6 |
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