The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Roll numbers for PMT being issued by
hand on exam eve
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, June 4
Thousands of boys and girls, who intend to appear in the combined pre-medical entrance test (PMT) tomorrow, had to travel in severe heat wave conditions to the MDU campus to collect their roll numbers. In fact, they were seen collecting their admit cards even today, the eve of the exam.

This is perhaps the first time in the history of MDU that roll numbers of candidates were issued across the counter, instead of being dispatched through post or by courier. The last PMT was conducted by MDU in 1998. It is after nearly five years that the university has been asked to hold the entrance test. All these years, the PMT was conducted either by the Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, or Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.

According to the MDU Registrar, Dr A. K. Rajan, approximately 7,200 candidates are taking the PMT. Roll numbers had been issued to nearly 4,700 candidates till reports last trickled in on Tuesday. The university has set up 12 counters to distribute the admit cards in the teachers’ common room.

Dr Rajan said that this system had to be adopted owing to shortage of time. Otherwise, the university could have sent the roll numbers by post as was done in the past. He, however, refused to specify the reasons for the “shortage of time”. The last date for the submission of application forms for PMT was May 23 and the result has to be declared by June 15, as directed by the Medical Council of India.

The entrance test is being conducted for admission to MBBS, BDS and BAMS courses being run by various government and private institutes in the state. The state has only two medical colleges, including the PGIMS, Rohtak, which has 200 seats for MBBS. Fifty seats out of these are for Maharaja Agarsen Medical College, Agroha. The five dental colleges in the state have 160 seats. This does not include Baba Mastnath Dental College, Asthal Bohar. No admissions are being made to this college this year. There are also 310 seats in the six ayurveda colleges.

The Registrar said that the fee structure for the medical courses had not been finalised. The government had constituted a committee with the Director of the PGIMS as its convenor to decide on the fee structure. The committee had submitted its recommendations to the government but the university was not aware of the proposed changes, he said.

Total sell-out in DU on first day
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4
It was a sell-out in Delhi University today: 14 lakh forms were sold to applicants seeking admission to various undergraduate courses. ‘‘This is unprecedented. Within hours of opening the counters, the post offices and the schools sold the four lakh forms that we had issued to each of them,” said the Dean of Students Welfare (DSW), Dr Hema Raghavan.

The university has already placed an order for printing an additional three lakh forms to meet the burgeoning demand. By noon today, the university counter outside the DSW office was left with just 40,000 forms.

“We have already asked for more forms and by today evening we should have them ready,” said Dr Raghavan. Asked whether she suspected black marketeers to be responsible for the shortage, she said, “We have been telling students and the parents that there are counters at various places in the university, besides schools and post offices, where they can buy the forms.”

She added, “The forms can also be downloaded from the DU website and each form costs Re 1. We are constantly telling people that even if someone charges Rs 1.50, don’t buy the form.”

While the post offices gave only two bundles per head, unlimited number of forms could be bought at the counters in the university. Some students complained that they had been approached by people selling forms at higher prices. “I have been standing in the queue for the last one hour and have been approached by two persons. While the first person offered to sell 10 forms for Rs 45, the second one brought the price down to Rs 30,” said Manish Kumar, who had come from Punjab.

Interestingly, while the forms were sold out within hours, the university also saw a decline in the number of students queuing up for forms. “This year, the number of applicants who turned up on the first day is less compared to the numbers we have had in the previous years,” said Dr Raghavan.

She attributed this to the counters that were set up in post offices and schools. “With forms being available in post offices and schools, many people, especially those who come from far-off places, did not have to make the journey to the university,” the Dean pointed out.

Meanwhile, an orientation programme for reserved categories and handicapped students was also organised today. The last date for the receipt of admission forms in all colleges is June 18; the first admission list will be announced on June 25 followed by a second list on June 30. For those seeking admission to the school of correspondence, the receipt of applications will begin on June 26 and will continue till October 31. For the non-collegiate women’s education board, the sale of handbooks for information will begin on June 8 at the Teaching Centre.

Chemists told to slash prices of generic drugs
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Panipat, June 4
After becoming the first state to implement VAT, the Haryana Government is keen to rein in hundreds of chemists who are allegedly making a killing on the sale of generic drugs.

An ultimatum to this effect was given to the chemists by the Health Commissioner, Mr Raj Kumar, here today. He asked the chemists to reduce the prices of drugs, especially generic drugs, the profit margins of which range between 600 and 1000 per cent.

In fact, high drama was witnessed at a meeting between the chemists and the Health Commissioner here with the latter ordering them verbally to reduce the prices immediately, or “face action”. While the representatives of Haryana chemists were ready to oblige the Commissioner, Mr Sandeep Nagia and Mr J. S. Sindhi, office-bearers of the all-India body of the chemists and druggists, objected to it.

There was a virtual showdown between Mr Raj Kumar and Mr Nagia with the latter terming the commissioner’s order as “arbitrary and impracticable”. After a lot of din, an understanding was reached that the chemists would do “something” to reduce the prices of the generic drugs.

The profit margin in the sale of generic drugs, as against that in the sale of branded drugs, is huge, almost 1000 per cent. And the chemists had allegedly been taking the consumers for a ride all this while.

A leading chemist conceded that they were making a killing through the sale of generic drugs. For instance, an anti-allergic tablet, Cetrogene, which costs the chemist Rs 2, is sold in the open market for Rs 25.

The chemists demanded at the meeting that an exhaustive list of generic drugs should be prepared and their rates displayed at public places for the convenience of consumers. “We are not averse to selling generic drugs at nominal prices,” said a leading chemist here, adding that the problem would arise in the case of branded drugs.

Observers feel that the commissioner’s verbal orders may reinforce the drug inspector’s raj. Already, Haryana drug inspectors are infamous for their ‘under- the-table’ settlements.

The question is whether the verbal orders of the Commissioner will have any effect on the prices of these essential drugs after July 1, when VAT comes into force.

Rebuffed lover had killed sales girl
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4
Two persons were arrested by the South district police in connection with the murder of a 21-year old girl, Sapna, on the night of May 28 in the East of Kailash area.

The motive lies in a love affair between the deceased and one of the accused. As the deceased had refused to marry the accused despite repeated pleas, the latter and his cousin decided to kill Sapna.

The accused, Ashish (23), and his cousin, Sandip alias Buddha (20), both residents of Lajpat Nagar, have been arrested. The crime weapon and blood stained clothes were recovered from the accused.

The police said that after Sapna’s body was found with a stab wound in the neck in D-block, East of Kailash, the police contacted the friends and relatives of the deceased and found that the accused Ashish was missing ever since the murder took place. The police also drew a blank in the latter’s home town Bulandshahr.

As the belongings of the deceased were found intact at the murder site, the police ruled out robbery as the motive.

The accused finally decided to surrender before the police as he could not withstand the pressure. Under interrogation, he told the police that he wanted to marry the deceased but she had rebuffed him. On the fateful night, he and his cousin had met Sapna and again exerted pressure on her; however, Sapna refused to relent. Enraged, Ashish stabbed her in the neck.

DOWRY VICTIM
Greedy in-laws inject poison into pregnant woman
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, June 4
A pregnant woman was allegedly murdered with the help of a doctor, who administered her an injection of poison, in Hathwala village under the Murad Nagar police station for not meeting the dowry demands. Nine persons, including her husband, were arrested when they were taking the body for cremation. The incident happened on June 2. Preeti, daughter of Baleshwar Tyagi of Hathwala village under the Samalkha police station in Haryana’s Panipat district, was married to Ajay, son of Malkhan of Shahpur in Murad Nagar on June 17, 1998. Though Baleshwar Tyagi had given dowry and gifts even beyond his means to her daughter, Preeti had allegedly been ill-treated and beaten up often by her husband and in-laws.

They had been pressuring Preeti to bring a motorbike and Rs 50,000 in cash from her parents. When Ajay went to Hathwala on May 20 to bring Preeti back to his house, her mother Bhagwati, her brother and the elder brother of her father had pleaded with him that they would meet his demands as soon as the funds were arranged, as they were poor people.

On the morning of June 2, her relatives came to know about her death. Her maternal grandfather Jai Prakash Tyagi informed the Murad Nagar police on phone from Rawali Kalan village that Preeti had been murdered. The police swung into action and arrested Ajay and eight others who were taking Preeti’s body on a tractor across the Hindon for cremation.

The arrested included Ajay, his father Malkhan, brother-in-law Pappu and Munish, Indraj, Uday Ram, all residents of Shahpur village, and tractor driver Chander Mani.

The police have taken the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem examination.

The Murad Nagar SO, Mr R. K. Sharma, said that Preeti was pregnant and her husband had paid Rs 15,000 to a doctor, who had given her the lethal injection.

Dowry demon snuffs out another life
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, June 4
A dowry-hungry man, a resident of Prashant Vihar Colony in Loni, killed his wife by hitting her on the head with an iron rod. Anil Kumar, s/o late Chuni Lal of Tilak Ram Colony, said that he had married his sister, Poonam with Santosh Kumar, s/o Radhey Shyam of Budh Bazar, Loni a year ago.

Santosh Kumar used to harass his sister for more dowry, Anil Kumar alleged.

Even yesterday, Santosh Kumar had demanded Rs 10,000 from Anil Kumar. However, he was given Rs 5000 and told that the remaining sum would be arranged within a few days. But it did not satisfy the man. On reaching home, Santosh is alleged to have beaten up Poonam mercilessly.

She died after being hit with an iron rod on the head. The police have arrested Santosh Kumar and sent the body of Poonam to Ghaziabad for a post-mortem.

Trade chamber averse to mixed land use
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has said the recent proposal to allow mixed land use in NCT of Delhi should not be encouraged. The chamber has said that mixed land use with a minimum width of 13.5 metres in authorised colonies and nine metres in unauthorised colonies should not be encouraged as it would lead to greater congestion in colonies, parking hassles and greater burden on civic infrastructure. It would also generate more encroachment of public space and create security problems, the PHDCCI said.

In a representation to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the PHDCCI has said the new Master Plan should earmark more areas for commercial activities. The list of household industries under the Master Plan for 2021 is also being enlarged to allow more industries in residential areas with a liberal and pragmatic definition. Thus, allowing mixed land use in residential areas would be contrary to encouraging usage of such planned commercial areas.

POLITICS

Chautala accused of misusing funds
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, June 4
The Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U) president, Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, has accused the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, of misusing the funds given by the Central Government for various development works in rural areas.

In a signed press statement issued here today, he pointed out that the state government had set up development committees and nominated members affiliated to the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in villages for undertaking development works. This, he alleged, has caused friction among the elected representatives and the government sponsored development committees.

Mr Vidrohi urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to direct the Union Rural Development Ministry to send the funds directly to the gram panchayats for carrying out development works, and said that the state government should not interfere in the utilisation of such funds.

Referring to the defeat of the Congress nominee in the Fatehabad assembly by-election, the Janata Dal leader criticised the Congress Party for blaming the Chautala Government for misusing the official machinery and said that the Congress party has lot the election on account of infighting among the party fold and indifference of some political big wigs of the party.

Mr Vidrohi alleged that the Chautala Government was pursuing anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-employee policies. Referring to the unprecedented drought conditions in the state, Mr Vidrohi accused the Chief Minister Mr Chautala of adopting a discriminate attitude towards the southern parts of the state in providing canal water and relief.

Regarding the SYL canal issue, he blamed all the political parties for creating a mess on the issue of completion of the SYL canal in the Punjab territory. He said that all the leaders of the political parties were trying to blame each other for not sincerely safeguarding the interests of the state. He said that the completion of the SYL canal in the Punjab territory had been held up only on account lack of a united struggle by all the political parties of Haryana. Mr Vidrohi also criticised the new educational policy of the Haryana Government which, he said, has threatened the existence of many privately-managed educational institutions in the state.

He alleged that the new educational policy was politically motivated and it was not in the interest of general categories of the students.

The state government should restrict tuition fee hike and other charges being taken in the privately-managed schools and colleges of the state, he added.

PUBLIC INTEREST
DDA to launch Rohini HIG Housing Scheme 2003
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4
The DDA is going to launch Rohini HIG Housing Scheme 2003 for allotment of 526 two-bedroom ready-built flats in Sector 18 (I) Phase III Rohini. The registration will be open on June 16 and will end on July 15.

The flats offered under the scheme are four-storeyed flats constructed on group housing pattern in the vicinity of green areas developed around this pocket.

The applicant wanting to register a flat here must not own any residential flat or plot in full or in part on leasehold or freehold basis in Delhi/New Delhi/Delhi Cantonment.

However, if the individual share of the applicant in the jointly owned plot or land under the residential house/flat is less than 66.9 sq metres, he/she can apply under the scheme.

But, anyone who has already been allotted house/flat constructed by the DDA or any other land owning department, even if it is less than 66.9 sq metres, shall not be eligible for another flat under the scheme.

Allotment will be made through a computerised draw based on random number indicated technique. Allotment can be made cash down or hire purchase basis depending on the preference of the applicant.

Allotment will be made freehold in the case of cash down allottees. The hire purchase allottees will have the status of hirer, as prescribed in the DDA (Management and Disposal of Housing Estates) regulations.

The registration amount is Rs 75,000. The tentative cost inclusive of conversion charges, service charges, etc, will be between 12 lakh and 14.25 lakh. The variation in cost is due to variation in plinth area of flats, which varies from 91 sq metres to 107 sq metres excluding area of scooter garage. Allottee can avail themselves of housing loan by mortgaging the house to the listed institutions without the approval of the DDA.

Possession of the days will be made within 165 days of the allottee completing all the formalities. Refund to unsuccessful applicants will be made through fully computerised banks.

Wages of brick kiln workers ‘frozen’ for the
last eight years
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, June 4
The wages of more than 2 lakh-odd workers engaged as labourers in the brick kilns operating in Haryana have not been revised for the last eight years. Even though a tripartite body was formed by the state government way back in the 1980s to work out a revision mechanism, it has had no effect on the wages of the brick kiln workers in the past eight years. Obviously, the brick-kiln owners have been free to exploit the workers, particularly in regard to the revision of their wages.

According to a report, the government is to announce the wages or new rates of labour charges and a maximum rate of bricks by the end of June, as the new season begins in September. Presently, there are about 2,000-3,000 brick-kilns operating in the state. The majority of the labourers employed in these brick kilns are migrant workers, mainly from states such as Rajasthan, UP, Madhya Pradesh and Chandigarh. As these workers are mainly uneducated and unorganised, exploitation is quite common. The labour laws and the Minimum Wages Act are hardly enforced in the state. The owners of the brick kilns hardly care to provide any kind of basic amenities to the thousands of workers, who live far away from their homes for several years at a stretch. Often, even basic amenities like supply of clean drinking water, power and educational and health facilities are denied to them. One of the reasons stated to be behind the deplorable conditions at the brick kilns are the powerful lobby of politicians and their relatives working against the interest of the workers.

The wages paid to the labour are mostly based on the agreement between the owners and the agents or brokers responsible for bringing these workers from other states, who themselves receive ‘hefty commission’ for being part of the exploitation racket. Although some Leftist organisations, including Lal Bhatta Mazdoor Union claim to represent the interests of such workers, these union have also proved ineffective due to its limited base or ‘personal interests’ of the leadership.

Even though the Haryana Government had announced the implementation of the inter-state Migrant Labour Act 1986, the working conditions that prevail at the various brick kilns continue to be ‘inhuman’. The family members of the workers have no permanent accommodation, their children are not provided any educational facilities and health and medical facilities are non-existent. The fact is that there is nobody to supervise or check the conditions prevailing at the brick kilns, said a Sonepat-based social activist. Despite earning meagre wages, workers are asked to shell out contribution fees upto Rs 200 per person for their welfare, either by the brick kiln owners or the union. Successive governments in Haryana have failed to pay proper attention towards this issue, as the brick kilns labour was unorganised and illiterate. The Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U) president, Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, has demanded the revision of the wages and a proper notification about the labour laws applicable to the brick kilns in the state.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the brick kiln owners have been selling their bricks at higher prices than fixed by the district administration. Certain officials of the Food and Supplies Department are said to be in league with unscrupulous brick kiln owners, and are overlooking the irregularities for a “price”.

The district administration had fixed the rate of Rs 1,450 per 1,000 bricks (first quality), but the brick kiln owners were selling at the rate of Rs 1,750 per 1000 bricks or even more, to the residents here. Moreover, in violation of the ban imposed by the government, bricks were being transported to Delhi to be sold at the rate of Rs 2,000 or more for 1,000 bricks.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON PANIPAT
Three-year-old NHRC directive ignored, new mortuary nowhere in sight
Rakesh Bhardwaj

Panipat, June 4
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had instructed the Haryana Government three years ago to frame appropriate rules and guidelines for the proper maintenance of mortuaries after the body of a 14-year-old boy had “disappeared” from the Panipat mortuary. The NHRC had said that the preservation and due identification of the bodies kept in the mortuaries was to be done in a way that recurrence of such incidents could be avoided in future. The Commission had sought a compliance report within two months.

However, even after 30 months of the order of the NHRC, the status of the mortuary remains unchanged. The people in the district had hoped that the 33-year- old mortuary in the Civil Hospital of Panipat would be renovated. Reportedly, even though the state government had sanctioned Rs 43.44 lakh for the job, no work has been initiated in the last two years.

A detailed scheme was prepared and sent by the Medical Superintendent to the state government for the expansion of the 33-year- old mortuary. After receiving the government’s approval, the project was sent to the architect, who expeditiously prepared the project plan and got it sanctioned. The plan included the installation of air conditioning system with separate AC rooms to keep the bodies. However, little progress has been made as far as the construction work is concerned.

The mortuary continues to consist of two small rooms and the stinking atmosphere around the mortuary provides the staff “excuse” to neglect their work. In the current summer season, the bodies start stinking within hours, making the task of the staff as well as relatives extremely unpleasant, said a person waiting to collect the body of his relative.

It is alleged that the class IV employee working in the mortuary, who often perform the postmortem examination in the absence of doctors, are paid at the rate of Rs one per body. As an incentive, a bottle of liquor and some ‘tips’ are provided by the ‘troubled’ relatives to the staff of the mortuary to undertake the unpleasant task. When the Executive Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD) was approached for his comments
on this issue, he was ‘not available’.

However, one of the staff, on condition of anonymity confirmed that the project plan for the construction of mortuary, accompanied by estimates, was sent to the government two years back.

It is for the Health Ministry to sanction and release the funds for its implementation, he added. The Chief Medical Officer of the Civil Hospital refused to express his view on the plea that he was busy with the ongoing pulse polio drive.

It is reliably learnt that district administration has passed on the responsibility for the construction of the mortuary on the shoulders of Panipat Refinery. The authorities at the Panipat Refinery have agreed in principle, but the terms and conditions are still unclear.

Use of illegal pumps adds to water woes
Tribune News Service

Panipat, June 4
With the mercury soaring, the city is reeling under a severe water crisis. However, the authorities appear unconcerned as water crisis is being reported from new areas every day.

Though officials claim that the problem of scarcity is being faced due to increase in demand in summers, independent enquiries by the NCR Tribune revealed that despite demand having increased manifold over the years, supply has remained stagnant. In fact, the ongoing power crisis has a direct bearing on the water shortage in the city.

Since the water supply to the majority of the areas is linked to the power situation in the area, the regular disruptions in the electricity supplies ensures that the residents continue to face shortage of water. Moreover, as most of the tubewells do not have the back-up generators, the power and the water crises go hand in hand.

To compound the problem, the use of unauthorized ‘tullu’ pumps by the residents is only adding to water scarcity, to remove which, the authorities are yet to start a drive. Residents complain that shortage of water even at public places such as the Railway Station, the Bus Stand, the civil hospital and the other government houses, forces them to buy the expensive package water bottles, which is not affordable by all. Meanwhile, in the wake of the water shortage certain enterprising youths have started the home delivery of the 5-10 litres of water in the water cooler at a cost of Rs 10.

Man crushed to death by train
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, June 4
Mr Rajesh Kumar (32), a resident of Bindrauli village was crushed to death by a goods train at Rathdhanna railway station about 8 km from here last evening. According to a report, Rajesh Kumar, suffering from some mental disease, reached Rathdhanna railway station and sat on the railway track. On seeing a goods train, he stood up and apparently tried to stop it by waving his hand. The driver did not notice his attempt. The man was crushed to death.

On receiving the information, the Government Railway Police arrived on the site and seized the body for a post-mortem.

It is stated that the victim had been suffering from a mental disease for the last few years.

Three injured: Three persons were injured when the scooter they were riding was hit by a three-wheeler on Sonepat-Gohana Road near Barwasni village about 5 km from here last evening.

According to a report, the injured persons were coming on a scooter from Gohana to Sonepat when their scooter was hit by a three-wheeler. The injured were identified as Sumer Singh and Sukhbir of Shahzadur village and Kanwarpal of Malikpur village. They were immediately hospitalised and stated to be out of danger.

Khet Mazdoor meeting: The 7th annual conference of the Haryana Khet Mazdoor Union will be held on June 21 and 22 at Asandh in Karnal district.

Mr Daryao Singh Kashyap, general secretary of the union told mediapersons here today that 200 delegates from all over the state will take part in the conference. Mr Bhan Singh and president of the All India Khet Mazdoor Union will address it.

NCR BRIEFS
Four killed in Bhiwani road accident
Our Correspondents

Bhiwani, June 4
Four persons were killed and one was injured seriously in a road accident that occurred near Charkhi Dadri town, 30 km from here last night. The injured was later referred to PGIMS, Rohtak.

According to report, a Maruti Esteem car No. HR 26E 6660 heading towards Kalanaur rammed a parked truck No. HR 45-2969 at about 11 pm last night. The car belonged to the owner of a private school being run at Kalanaur.

Intravenous fluid seized

Sonepat: The District Drugs Inspector, Mr Padam Singh Rathi, conducted a surprise raid on a medical shop here last evening and seized as many as 11 bottles of intravenous fluid, manufactured by the Core Health Care pharmaceutical company of Gujarat.

According to a report, Mr Rathi also sealed the stock of such bottles at the wholesale shop of Sunrise Pharmaceuticals till further orders.

The drugs inspector also seized one bottle in which fungus was found and sent it to the government laboratory for testing.

This action followed the complaint of Dr Ravinder Dahiya, a private medical practitioner, alleging the manufacture and sale of substandard bottles of intravenous fluids in the market.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Ram Avtar Gupta, took a serious note of the complaint and directed the District Drugs Inspector to take necessary action in the matter.

Cloth bales stolen

Cloth bales worth Rs 15 lakh were stolen from a transport godown by the thieves last night. The transport owner has registered a complaint with the police.

	CBI books MCD officials for causing losses to civic body Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 4 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against M/s Green Line Advertising Company, and some unnamed officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), who allegedly caused a loss of crores of rupees to the civic body. Incidentally, the FIR was lodged last year, but it came to light only today during a discussion in the Standing Committee of the corporation. The issue was raised by Opposition Leader in the committee, Vijender Gupta. According to the FIR, in year 2001, some officials of slum department of the corporation had awarded contracts, on experimental basis to M/s Green Line advertising company, for putting up advertisements on 10 garbage dumping stations on Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. However, they awarded the contracts without conducting any survey or observing proper formalities for awarding the contract. The advertisements were put for three years with the condition that an enhancement levy of 10 per cent per annum will also be payable. This alleged negligence, of some officials, caused substantial losses to the MCD. The FIR also said that some officials of the PWD and MCD, in 1999, committed irregularities in the matter of giving advertisement rights on kiosks and electric poles on outer and inner ring roads to the M/s Green Line Advertising Company. The FIR further said that no advertisement could be put up without the permission of the MCD. But officials concerned of the corporation, without calling any tender, allowed PWD to have a contract with the company for the ads. It is alleged that the advertising company, in violation of the term and conditions of the agreement executed with the PWD, used a major portion of kiosks for commercial use and only a small portion for social messages.
	Criminals clash in Tis Hazari courts Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 4 The premises of Tis Hazari courts this afternoon witnessed violence after two criminals who had been brought to the court clashed, using surgical blades. The accused Prithvi and Parminder lodged in Tihar Jail No 4, were brought to the court in connection with a fight earlier, in which Privthi was a witness and Parminder, an accused. While Prithvi, who was taken to the Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital with excessive bleeding, was admitted to the hospital, Parminder escaped with minor injuries. The accused Parminder was convicted in a rape case. The incident created a panic on the court premises as the security has been tightened only recently when a eunuch was shot dead on the premises on April 28, in the presence of dozens of policemen and hundreds of people. The incident had led the bar association to strike work over lack of security. Today’s incident again took place in the presence of several policemen, at around 11.30 am, when the prisoners were brought to the court for hearing. The police were investigating as to how the accused managed to have surgical blades in their possession. There was, however, confusion over who attacked whom. While some witnesses claimed Parminder attacked Prithvi, police officials said Prithvi attacked Parminder before inflicting wounds on himself to take revenge against him as Prithvi had allegedly exposed him in a wrongdoing in the prison.
	This doctor would outdo Natwarlal! Our Correspondent Sonepat, June 4 The Ganaur police arrested Dr Satya Dev Khatri, a resident of Chatia village on the charge of cheating people. This doctor would out-Natwarlal Natwarlal in the con games. He sold hopes to unemployed people. Gave them admission in courses in a fake institute run by him. He was produced before a judge at Ganaur yesterday, who remanded him in police custody for two days. It is stated that Dr Khatri had taken a building on rent at Ganaur and started Mohanlal Charitable Hospital. He gave an advertisement in the newspapers about the NNM course in the Indian Medical Institute, BST Road at Ganaur, saying that the institute was affiliated to the Indian Medical Institute, Jalandhar. A girl, Seema of Bhandari village in Panipat district, alleged that Dr Khatri had received Rs 40,000 from her for admission in the course. Similar complaints were made by two girls of Kasandi village and another from Panchi Gujran village. Master Satya Narain of Panchi Gujran also alleged that he had purchased a car for Rs 35,000 from the owner of Mohanlal Charitable Hospital, which turned out to be stolen. When he complained to the owner Dr Khatri, he took another Rs 15,000 from Satya Narain. The man was told that he would instead be given an ambulance. Thereafter, Dr Khatri fled from Ganaur and opened a clinic in Rohini (Delhi). It is said that Dr Khatri had also given a cheque of Rs 40,000 to the owner of the rented building which was dishonoured. Mr Balbir Singh, sarpanch of Ahulana village, alleged that Dr Khatri had used his telephone but failed to pay the bill. Similarly, Mr Dayanand Garg of Narela (Delhi) also made a complaint to the police alleging that Dr Khatri had received Rs 75,000 from him on the pretext of a job offer.
	Five girls forced into prostitution Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 4 Five girls including two minors who were forced into prostitution by five persons were rescued by the Crime Branch at Amar Colony in Kalkaji. The accused have been identified as Meena, alias Kamlesh, her husband Sunder Singh, both in their early forties and residents of Sangam Vihar, Amardeep Rathi (33), Rishi Pal (36), both residents of Sangam Vihar and Kamlesh (53), resident of DDA flats Kalkaji. The police on receiving an information that young girls were forced into the flesh trade, swung into action and found the racket was on from the DDA flats, Kalkaji. Since two of the five rescued girls were minors, the police have sent them to the Prayas Home for rehabilitation. All of them wanted to visit their native places. The accused Rishi Pal, Amardeep and Sunder Singh used to negotiate with the prospective customers and had customers in Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgoan. They charged Rs 1,000 and above depending on the customers. Spurious diesel: The Crime Branch sleuths have arrested two persons Prakash Chand (34), resident of Hathrash and Ashok Kumar (33), resident of Haryana for supplying spurious Mobil oil and diesel prepared from the burnt engine oil in the Bawana area in North-West district. Pornographic CDs: The Economic Offences Wing has seized more than 12,165 pirated softwares, VCDs and pornographic CDs worth Rs 5 crore and arrested one person Joginder Singh. The sleuths have seized the huge quantity of pirated softwares after raiding different places like Connaught Place, Jama Masjid, Geeta Colony, Uttam Nagar, Prasad Nagar and Kalkaji.