The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	CM’s engagements delay IG’s suspension Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 16 The formal suspension of Harish Kumar, an IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, is believed to be getting delayed due to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala’s preoccupation with various engagements. Mr Harish Kumar, an IG rank officer posted with the Government of India in Delhi, was arrested by the Delhi police on September 5 on the charges of the violation of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA). Sources in the Haryana police said they had acquired a report regarding Mr Harish Kumar’s status from the Delhi police and recommended action against him on the basis of that report. Almost a week had passed since the police gave its report to the State Home Department. However, no action has been so far taken by the Home Department. When contacted an official of the Home Department said as per the service rules for government officials, if a government personnel spent 48 hours or more in police custody, he would be considered deemed suspended from the day he was arrested. “ Mr Harish Kumar’s suspension from service is a mere formality. The order will be issued in one or two days”, the official told TNS today. He explained that when the IPS officer was arrested in Delhi, the Chief Minister was in Delhi and it was not possible to issue the suspension order in Mr Chautala’s absence. Even after Mr Chautala’s return to the state on Saturday, he had kept himself busy in a number of programmes, including a visit to Rajasthan today.
	Flood situation serious: Hooda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 16 The CLP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has expressed concern at the flood situation in the state. In a press statement issued here today, Mr Hooda said that water from the Yamuna had inundated large tracts in Yamunanagar, Karnal, Sonepat and Panipat districts and damaged the matured paddy crop grown by the farmers. He accused the the state government of failing to take steps in advance to prevent the situation from deteriorating. Not only crops sown on thousands of acres got destroyed by the gushing water, the flood situation was also posing threat to the lives and properties of the farmers, Mr Hooda said. He said it was surprising that there had been no respite from floods despite the state government’s claim that it had been spending large amount of money to control floods. The farmers were at first dealt a blow by drought and now they were facing the challenge of floods, Mr Hooda said adding the state government had turned a blind eye to the problems of farmers. He also claimed that the farmers were resorting to distress sale of paddy as a result of the delay in the announcement of the minimum support price for paddy by the Centre. He demanded that farmers must be paid at least Rs 700 for per quintal of paddy as MSP as well a special bonus for the damaged crops. The farmers, whose crops had been affected by floods, also should be given adequate compensation, Mr Hooda said and warned that if the government did not address the problems being faced by the farmers, he would raise the issue in the Assembly as well as outside.
	1 IPS, 4 HPS officers shifted Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 16 The Haryana Government today issued posting and transfer orders of one IPS and four HPS officers. Mr K.S. Venkaiah Kumar, IPS, awaiting posting orders, has been posted as ASP, Assandh. Mr Jagdish Nagar, DSP, Panchkula, has been transferred as DSP, Commando wing in place of Mr Bhup Singh who has become DSP in the 2nd HAP Battalion. Mr Ratan Singh, DSP, Assandh, has been posted DSP, Kalka. Mr R.K. Duggal has been posted DSP, Anti-extremist Cell, Panchkula.
	Pradeep Principal Secy, Irrigation Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 16 The Haryana Government has posted Mr Pradeep Kumar, IAS, awaiting orders, as Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Irrigation, relieving Mr N Bala Bhaskar of the said charge. Ms Monica Malik, HCS, SDO (Civil), Panchkula, has been posted as Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Panchkula relieving Ms Ritu. Mr M.S. Yadav will work as SDO (Civil), Panchkula.
	Child’s death leads to road blockade Tribune News Service Ambala, September 16 The death of a five-day-old child at a private children’s hospital in Ambala Cantonment today led to irate local residents blocking the Jagadhari road for a short time. The road blockade threw traffic out of gear and the police had to intervene to get it removed. The protesters were demanding the arrest of the doctor who they alleged was responsible for the death of the child. Mr Vijay Kumar, father of the deceased boy, said that twins were born to his wife at a local hospital. “The lady doctor attending to my wife told her that a single child was born. My wife protested and told her that she was aware that two children were born. Later, there was an altercation over this matter and the doctor finally admitted that two children were born,” he said. He stated that the doctor told him that one of the boys was not well and he needed to be given proper care at a private children’s hospital. “My son was shifted to the children’s hospital located on the Jagadhari road. He had been admitted there for the past five days,” he said. “In the meantime, the doctor attending to my son offered me money so that he could keep my baby,” he alleged. Mr Kumar stated that he refused to part with his son. “The doctor told me that I already have four children and these twins would take the number to six children and I would face difficulty in looking after them. So, I should hand over my son to him but I refused,” he alleged. “This morning, when I went to the hospital, my son was fine. The moment I reached home, I got a call from the hospital stating that my son was no more. I feel that there is something fishy about the whole matter,” he claimed. The doctor, who attended to his son, could not be contacted for his comments and repeated calls to his mobile this evening stated that either it was out of range or turned off. An office-bearer of the Indian Medical Association stated that they had not yet been apprised of the matter. The Haryana Vikas Party district youth president, Mr Jaspal Singh, demanded immediate arrest of the doctor. “The police must get to the bottom of this incident. It is a serious matter and a thorough investigation is needed”, he said. The Civil Hospital doctors said that an autopsy would have to be performed to find out the exact cause of death. “We will forward it to Rohtak for the autopsy,” a government doctor said.
	Helicopter lifts MiG-21 wreckage Rahul Das Tribune News Service Ambala, September 16 “It has taken off from the base”. This message put on alert all the Air Force officials and personnel who were present at Chor Mastpur village for the retrieval of the MiG 21 wreckage. Within minutes, a huge helicopter appeared as a dot on the skyline. All eyes turned towards the helicopter whose powerful rotors could be heard at quite a distance from the spot. The Air Force personnel had already taken up position near the MiG 21 wreckage. While three of them were at the MiG 21 wreckage site, three more were crouching nearby to give precise directions to the helicopter pilot. Besides them, a number of Air Force personnel looked on from the narrow village road. The chopper, which had taken off from Ambala Air Force base, first flew over the wreckage and then returned to the fighter aircraft lying on the paddy field. The helicopter pilot slowly inched forward even as the paddy crop was flattened by the powerful rotors. The men, who were positioned at the MiG 21 wreckage, caught hold of a line which had been released from the helicopter and fastened it to a network of lines on the fighter aircraft. Then a signal for lift up was given and the powerful chopper picked up the MiG 21. The whine of the helicopter was significantly increased when it was picking up the wreckage. Soon thereafter, the helicopter flew off towards the Ambala Air Force station with the MiG 21 dangling below. The whole operation for retrieving the wreckage lasted barely a few minutes. However, a lot of preparation had gone into the effort to remove the wreckage from the paddy field. Since morning, there had been hectic activity at the wreckage site. To partially lift the wreckage from the ground so that lines could be put underneath it, a large tube had been used. The tube was filled up with gas from a cylinder and space was created to put on the lines. The line used for harnessing the MiG 21 seemed to be heavy since atleast nine labourers were required to take a line from the vehicle to the fighter aircraft. Also, the lines harnessing the MiG 21 were checked and re-checked to ensure that there are no problems while picking it up and carrying it to the airbase. The preparation for retrieving the wreckage seemed to have been going on ever since the crash took place. Air Force officials had undertaken reconnaissance of the spot from helicopter on a couple of days besides regular visits being paid by the Air Force personnel to carry out jobs like placing of sand bags near the wreckage. By early afternoon today, the Air Force personnel were ready to carry out the job. At about 2.50 pm, the message that the helicopter had taken off reached the spot. On hearing the loud noise of the helicopter, a large number of local villagers gathered near the site but they couldn’t come close as the road was blocked by the policemen and the Air Force personnel. The sight of the giant helicopter hovering so close to the ground overawed many of the onlookers. “It is a phenomenal sight. I have never seen anything like this before. Although helicopters are a common thing but to actually see one in action is an overwhelming experience. I feel that the ‘raw power’ of Air Force was evident today,” a villager said. For tenant farmer Ashok Kumar, the process of seeking a compensation is going to be begun now. He said “Thankfully, the MiG 21 wreckage has been cleared from my field. Now, I will be able to assess the exact damage to my field.” “I have been told to approach the patwari, who would forward my case to the BDO, who in turn will recommend it to the Deputy Commissioner. From there, my compensation case will go to New Delhi. I don’t know when I am going to actually receive the compensation amount,” he observed.
	Rajesh tops Haryana plus II exams Our Correspondent Bhiwani, September 16 Rajesh, a science student of Sarvodaya Senior Secondary School, Khanpur Khurd (Jhajjar), has been declared first in the state in the senior secondary annual examinations-2002 conducted by the Haryana Board of School Education. He secured 447 out of 500 marks aggregating 89.40 per cent. This was stated by the secretary of the board here today. Manjeet Dudi of the same school has stood second in science stream securing 430 marks (86 per cent). She has got admission at AIT, Pune. Rekha Sharma of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Gharonda (Karnal) has stood third securing 426 marks (85.20 per cent). She wants to be a computer engineer. Deepika of Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, Kurukshetra has stood first in art stream securing 439 out of 500 marks (87.80 per cent). She wants to be a math teacher. Anu Rani of S.D. Senior Secondary School, Jind, has secured second position in art stream. She got 438 marks (87.60 per cent). Seema of Vivekanand Girls Senior Secondary School, Sonepat has stood third securing 430 marks. She wants to be an administrative officer. Sangeeta of S.S. Bal Sadan Senior Secondary School, Kaithal, has stood first in commerce stream securing 428 marks (85.60 per cent). She wants to be a chartered accountant. Poonam Mohta of Takshshila Model Senior Secondary School, Ballabhgarh (Faridabad), has stood second in commerce stream securing 421 marks (84.20 per cent) while Ruchi Jindal of Hindu Girls Senior Secondary School, Sonepat, has stood third securing 416 marks (83.20 percent). Ruchi wants to be a lecturer.