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Saturday,
July 5, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Lucky escape for train passengers
Arrest of Sharan
shocks
bureaucrats Police rescues magistrate’s son College at ‘foundation’ stage after 35 years
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Stories from Haryana towns falling in the National Capital Region are put in NCR Tribune.
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Fake currency racket: 2 held
DD to telecast ‘Geeta’ soon KU former professor, kin booked in murder case Body of LIC manager recovered Fake
currency racket: 2 held Haryana puts off cops’ recruitment
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Lucky escape for train passengers Sonepat, July 4 According to a report, the fire was noticed when the train halted at Rathdhana railway station. It caused panic among the travelling passengers. They immediately started getting down from the train and many of them sustained injuries as there was no footboard outside the entrance gates of the bogies. Almost all bogies were overcrowded and packed to capacity and the passengers jostled with each other before getting down. Two women fell unconscious but regained consciousness after co-passengers offered water to them. The Railway authorities stopped the Amritsar bound superfast at Rathdhana railway station to enable the passengers of 1 DPM train to travel on it to Sonepat, Panipat and other stations. The driver of the superfast train was directed to halt at all stations between Sonepat and Panipat. The New Delhi-bound Barauni Express passed through Rathdhana railway station and the passengers were asked to clear the railway track. Some other trains, including mail, express and passenger trains were also delayed on account of this incident. |
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TRIBUNE SURVEY-I Chandigarh, July 4 Though the state governments as well as the district administrations in Punjab and Haryana claim that flood control machineries have been activated with control rooms becoming operational from July 1, little has been done to solve the problem of draining out rain water from low-lying areas in the two states. The Yamuna, the
Ghaggar, the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi, which are basically the lifeline of the two states, also bring misery here during the rainy season. While a number of schemes have been prepared and publicised for taming the
Ghaggar, which wreaks havoc in parts of Patiala, Ambala, Sangrur, little has been done on the ground. The Ghaggar floods in 1993, 1997 and 1999 were devastating. Last year, the region virtually went through a drought-like situation. With the meteorologists predicting an average-to-vigorous monsoon and a good start to the rainy season may be giving the authorities concerned sleepless nights as most rivers have started rising. Since reservoirs, including Gobind
Sagar, Ranjit Sagar, Pong Dam and others, have comfortable water levels, rain in the catchment areas would mean heavier discharges in these rivers, thus making the flood-control machineries on their toes in the coming months. The Tribune undertook a survey to find out how well prepared are the districts administration to cope up with the monsoon and flood-related situations. In
Ambala there is always a serious threat of floods in the Naggal area due to incomplete the SYL canal in the Punjab area, which is just 300 m upstream from the Punjab-Haryana border. There is a breach there which has been left unplugged by the Punjab authorities, thereby causing a considerable damage to villages in the Naggal area, reveal official sources. To check further damage to villages, 10 new schemes worth Rs 173.73 lakhs have been approved by the Haryana State Flood Control Board in February. In
Karnal two areas — one along the Yamuna river and Assandh — always remain flood prone because of their topographic location. As many as 34 villages along the Yamuna river are always under the fear of flash-floods because of the discharges from the Tajewala headworks. The worst affected-villages are Garhpur Tapu, Nabiabad, Nabipur, Khalrajpur, Jammu Khala, Mustafabad, Dakwala, Laupura, Sadarpur, Munda Garhi and Bahera etc. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr
R.S. Doon, told The Tribune that flood control order has already been promulgated in the district. Besides, the Epidemic Disease Act has been enforced. Seven medical teams with 105 health workers had been constituted. As many as 12 villages in the
Panipat area are highly prone to floods. A sum of Rs 52 lakh had been set apart for the flood control measures to deal with any emergency in Panipat district. Last year, the ring bundh on the Yamuna near Bilaspur, had breached inundating several hundred acres. The administration started planning for the rainy season very late. It was on June 25 that district officials toured the flood-prone villages, including Gola
Khurd, Bilaspur, Rana Majra, Pathargarh, Mirzapur, Nanheda, Navada Par, Nagla Par and
Rakseda. An amount of Rs 20 lakh was being spent on the repair of the existing studs and the construction of two new ones. Besides, Rs 10 lakh was spent on the strengthening of the Yamuna embankment from Ranamajra to
Pathargarh. As many as 5,000 sand bags, 100 labourers and 47 diesel pumps had been kept ready to meet any eventuality. Officials said the Irrigation Department had completed the cleaning and desilting of drains and strengthening of the embankments of the ring
bundhs. In Faridabad the Yamuna, which passes on the eastern fringe of the district, is the main danger for dozens of villages on its banks. Flooding of the agricultural land of several villages of Ballabgarh and Palwal subdivisions is a common development in the rainy season. The district authorities claim to have constructed bundhs around the residential areas of at least four villages in Faridabad subdivision, two villages in
Ballabgarh, 12 villages of Palwal, six in Hodal and two villages in Hathin subdivision. Although Gurgaon and Agra canals are mainly for irrigational purposes, they also carry additional water in the rainy season. A shortage of pumps and machinery can pose a problem. Moreover cleaning of these canals had not been done regularly. Work on various schemes to check floods was nearly over. These projects include the construction of a ‘stud’ at Kirawali village located on the right bank of the Yamuna. In Chhainsa village, 12 RCC wells have been constructed. The flood control board has also taken up a similar plan at Mewalipur village. District officials had toured all sensitive areas. About 250 employees have been trained in swimming and flood rescue work. In
Hisar floods are caused not by rain but by cuts made in drains by residents of the adjoining villages of Jind district in a bid to save their own villages. A team of officers headed by Deputy Commissioner Deepti Umashankar visited all flood-protection works in the district on May 12. Mrs Umashankar says all 169 pumps installed there have been checked and these are in working order. All drains have been desilted and cleared of vegetative growth. There are 18 big and small ring bundhs around villages prone to floods. These bandhs were strengthened last year. The flood-prone villages include
Lohari, Garhi Ajima, Moth, Pali, Rajpura, Bhaklana, Badala, Baas and
Petwad. Mrs Umashankar says the flood control order has been issued. The police authorities have been asked to make their wireless communication available for transmission of information and orders to different areas. Officers of the irrigation department as well as the SDMs of the two subdivisions have been directed to ensure round-the-clock patrolling of all canals and drains passing through their respective areas. In
Fatehabad several areas are flood prone. The Ghaggar creates havoc in the district. The Commissioner of Fatehabad, Mr R.N.
Prashar, has directed Public Health Department officials to remain prepared for maintaining potable water supply in the eventuality of floods. He has reviewed flood-control measures. In
Yamunanagar, a flood control room at the Dadupur headworks has started functioning to get information from the Paonta and Dakpathar control rooms situated in Himachal. Thirtyone pumping sets have been arranged to meet the threat of floods. Work on the Mandewala Bandh started only on June 27. Six ring bandhs have been constructed in the district. — To be concluded With inputs from Rahul Das (Ambala), K.G. Dutt (Karnal), Pardeep Sharma (Panipat), Brijendra Ahlawat (Faridabad), Raman Mohan (Hisar), Sushil Manav (Fatehabad) and Ashwani Dutta (Yamunanagar). |
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Arrest of Sharan shocks
bureaucrats Chandigarh, July 4 IAS officers, who once headed the financial institutions or are doing so now are more scared. They feel that the decisions taken as the heads of commercial organisations are always dicey. Even if they are taken in the best interests of the institution under a given situation, the decisions can go wrong. The interference by the SVB in such matters can become a precedence for the future governments also. Politicians in power have now got a very potent weapon to settle scores with bureaucrats. Despite being described as “one of the most powerful trade unions”, the Haryana unit of the IAS Officers Association has so far avoided a formal discussion on the issue. What to talk of convening a meeting of the association, its office-bearers are even avoiding giving an opportunity to their colleagues to formally or informally discuss Mr Sharan’s arrest. According to sources, the association had arranged a lunch for its members on June 30. However, the lunch was cancelled as the office-bearers feared that at least some members might ask them to take a stand on the issue. Officially, it was said that the lunch was being cancelled because the wife of the Chief Secretary, Mr A.N. Mathur, was not well. Mr Mathur is the President of the association. Many officers express surprise at the way Mr Sharan has been remanded in police custody. Normally, the accused is remanded in police custody in “descending order”. After the first remand, the period of remand reduces subsequently. In Mr Sharan’s case, he was first remanded in police custody for two days, then for three days and then for four days. However, the law does not put any restriction on courts how an accused person is to be remanded in police custody, except that no person can be remanded in police custody for more than 14 days in one criminal case. A few officers pointed out that during Mr Sharan’s tenure as the MD, the HFC advanced about Rs 1200 crore of which Rs 97 crore, which included interest, turned out to be bad debt, which was about 6 per cent of the total advances made by the corporation. This percentage, the officers said, was not excessively high, particularly when the HFC had already recovered almost half of the bed debts. Interestingly, the IPS lobby in Haryana is enjoying the discomfiture of their IAS colleagues, who, seem to be afraid of their uniformed brethren. An IPS officer remarked that in the past whenever any police officer went to jail, more IAS officers used to adopt an uncharitable attitude towards them. Now, for the first time, they are tasting the same bitter medicine. A senior IAS officer said how come the SVB never probed cases of disproportionate assets or other corruption charges against police officers. |
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Police rescues magistrate’s son Jind, July 4 As soon as the police was informed of the abduction of Abhitegh Singh by his father Gulab Singh, a Senior Division Civil Judge here, it swung into action. After a chase the police engaged the kidnappers in an encounter near a village. One of the kidnappers, identified as Sandeep, who suffered three bullet injuries was overpowered, while the other escaped taking advantage of the darkness. District police chief Manjit Singh Ahlawat said today that during interrogation Sandeep identified his accomplice as Ajmer. He also confessed having kidnapped Abhitegh for a ransom of Rs 15 lakh. He further confessed having stolen the car, used in the crime, from medical college, in Rohtak on July 2. The car, a country made pistol and some cartridges were seized. A massive hunt had been launched to nab the escaped kidnapper. Mr Ahlawat said Sandeep further confessed to having served as a leave reserve servant with Additional Sessions Judges A K Raghav and J B Sharma in the D C Colony here. Sandeep and Ajmer were residents of Jasiya village in Rohtak district. The incident took place last evening at around 8 p.m. when Abhitegh was playing with other children in front of the Additional CJM’s residence. After kidnapping they fled towards Gohana but were nabbed by a police party led by the SSP himself near Bhambewa village after an encounter. Mr Ahlawat further said that both the kidnappers were around 20 years of age, had no criminal background. He said that some villagers of Bhambewa helped the police party in nabbing the kidnappers. The SSP said that the villagers who extended their help to the police would be suitably rewarded. The District Bar Association today called a meeting under the chairmanship of Mr Virender Singh Lather in
which the association condemned this incident and praised the Jind police for recovering the child within short period. —
OC, UNI |
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College at ‘foundation’ stage after 35 years Lakhnapur Sahib (Ambala) July 4 The foundation stone was laid nearly 35 years back and today, even the words on the foundation stone are barely legible. The area earmarked for the college has fallen into disuse and trees and shrubs dot the area. Incidentally, Lakhnaur Sahib is historically important as Guru Gobind Singh’s maternal grandparents belonged to the village. The foundation stone states “Shri Guru Gobind Singh College, Lakhnaur Sahib. Foundation stone laid by HH Maharaja Sahib Patiala Sri Yadavindar Singh ji Rajpramukh on Tuesday 1, October, 1968.” Although the foundation stone was laid by the then Maharaja of Patiala Yadavindra Singh, the villagers are of the opinion that he is not to be blamed for the college having been failed to be established in their village. A village elder Ajmer Singh recalled that when the proposal for the college was put up to Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, he had tried to dissuade the villagers regarding this project. “Instead, the Maharaja told us to take up some other project. The Maharaja explained to us that a college in the village would face a host of difficulties, particularly as it was away from an urban area. However, a group of villagers were keen for the college so he agreed to their demand,” he said. He stated that the then Maharaja of Patiala Yadavindra Singh was keen to develop the areas of 17 historically important Gurdwaras. “The Lakhnaur Sahib Gurdwara was seventh on that list and as part of that effort, the Maharaja had asked the locals for some project which they needed. Despite Maharaja Yadavinder Singh’s good advice, the villagers wanted the college,” he said. Another village elder stated “I vividly recall that it was a grand day when the foundation stone for the college was laid by the Maharaja. A large number of people had gathered there to witness the foundation stone laying ceremony.” The village had earmarked 14 `qilas’ of land where the college would come up. The land was on the village outskirts and it was accessible by road. The villagers had collected money so that the work on the college building could begin on right earnest. The plinth of 10-12 rooms was laid but then the construction stopped. The remnants of the structure can still be seen in the village. A panchayat member said the village twice lost out on opportunity of having educational institution of repute. “While the first was the Shri Guru Gobind Singh college not coming up, the second was the Navodaya school not being established in our village,” he said. He pointed out that recently, there was a strong possibility of Navodaya school being set up in their village. “The authorities concerned carried out an assessment and they seemed to be satisfied. Rooms in the Gurdwara were to be given so that the school could start. But, we later learnt that the school has been shifted to a different place,” he said. “Even today we are keen that some educational institution should be set up in our village so that the local children can get good education,” he added. It’s been 35 long years since the villagers have seen their dream of a college gather dust. Now, the villagers just hope that their village will get some educational institution of repute soon.  |
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Fake currency racket: 2 held Sirsa, July 4 According to information received today, the police had received a tip regarding the whereabouts of this gangster involved in circulation of fake currency notes. A team under a DSP was constituted to trap him in Mattu village in Rania. Last night the police raided the village and cordoned the house of Guljar Singh. Though he tried to escape the police arrested him and recovered about 80 fake currency notes of the denomination of Rs 100. During the past few days the police had recovered fake currency notes to be tune of several thousand rupees. Yesterday the police had arrested person Jeet Singh and recovered Rs 21,000 in fake currency notes. During interrogation Jeet Singh had disclosed that he had received this fake currency from Guljar. Guljar was arrested last night and produced in court by the police from where he was sent into police custody for two days. |
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Mango mela begins today Panchkula, July 4 The cultural fair at the mela this year will include a fashion show on the night of July 5 and a Punjabi pop show presented by Romi Gill and Hardeep Kohli on the night of July 6. Both days will also have fireworks at night. Addressing a press conference, the Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Tourism, Mr Bhaskar Chhatterjee and the Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture, Mr K.S. Bhoria, said the mango mela would be inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, Mr A.N. Mathur on July 5. The closing and the awards presentation ceremony on July 6 would be presided over by the Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu. Mr Chatterjee said mango occupied a prominent position in Haryana and was grown on one quarter of the total area under fruit cultivation. The estimated area under mango was 7,728 hectares with a total production of 41,289 tonnes. Yamunanagar district had maximum area under mango cultivation followed by Panchkula, Ambala and Kurukshetra. Mr Chatterjee said the mango mela was always celebrated with great enthusiasm. This year mangoes in the competition categories would start arriving on July 5 and the entries would be received from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The judging of the mango mela entries would be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mr Bhoria said stalls for popular snacks, cold drinks, coffee and mango products would be set up with a section selling consumer goods in the garden. The fountains would be run each evening with special lights to make the mela a memorable event. He further said display and competition sections were divided into four categories this year. The commercial varieties of mango fall in Category A, which is open to institutions, departments and universities. Category B is reserved for commercial varieties of mangoes, which is open to individuals. Category C comprised mango products and is open to institutions, manufacturers and government departments while Category D was reserved for commercial mango products and is open to individuals and housewives. |
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DD to telecast ‘Geeta’ soon Kurukshetra, July 4 After offering floral tributes on the samadhi of former Prime Minister of India Gulzari Lal Nanda on the occasion of his birth anniversary today, the Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, said the telecast of ‘Geeta” on Doordarshan would spread the message of Bhagvadgita all over the world. Mr Arora said Nanda’s ideals and principles would remain a source of inspiration for all and his dream regarding Kurukshetra development, had been fulfilled with the cooperation of the state as well as the Union Government. He said because of this the holy town of Kurukshetra had gained recognition as a tourist centre. The Health Minister of Haryana, Dr M.L. Ranga, also offered floral tributes on the samadhi and highlighted various development works carried out by the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) under the dynamic guidance of its founder president Gulzari Lal Nanda. He said Nanda had not only contributed towards the restoration of ‘tirthas’ in and around Kurukshetra, but had also helped in uprooting social evils. KDB Chief Executive Officer, Ms Hema Sharma, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr Narhari Singh Bangar, Mr Satprakash Rosha and Mr Vijay Sabharwal, associates of Mr Nanda and the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) district president, Mr Pawan Garg also spoke on the occasion. Ms Hema Sharma informed that school students’ competitions had been organised by the KDB for the past two days and as many as 300 school students had participated in painting competition, here today. |
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KU former professor, kin booked in murder case Kurukshetra, July 4 According to the police, a former KU professor Dr J.S. Yadav, his wife Kamla, three sons and a daughter-in-law, had been named in the FIR and a case under Sections 302 and 120B of the IPC had been registered against six of them. The police said Sanjay(18) was found dead in Brahamsarovar on January 16, 2000, and a case of suicide was registered. But the father of the deceased, Mr P.S. Yadav, appealed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court to order reinvestigation of the case, upon which a case of murder was been registered against the professor and his family members. —
UNI |
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Body of LIC manager recovered Kurukshetra, July 4 Mr Arora was allegedly shot dead by the assailants on July 1 when he resisted their attempts to kidnap him for ransom. His car was found abandoned near Jind with blood stains on the back seat and used and live cartridges. The Pehowa police had registered a case of kidnapping on the complaint of his brother Mr Sudarshan Arora yesterday. The police said Mr Vinod Arora, who recently was transferred here, received a call on Tuesday from his hometown Hisar that his mother was ill and he should reach home soon. Mr Arora, after informing his brother, set off in his car but did not reach home till yesterday when his brother reached here in his search. —
UNI |
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Fake
currency racket: 2 held Sirsa, July 4 According to information received today, the police had received a tip regarding the whereabouts of this gangster involved in circulation of fake currency notes. A team under a DSP was constituted to trap him in Mattu village in Rania. Last night the police raided the village and cordoned the house of Guljar Singh. Though he tried to escape the police arrested him and recovered about 80 fake currency notes of the denomination of Rs 100. During
the past few days the police had recovered fake currency notes to be
tune of several thousand rupees. Yesterday the police had arrested
person Jeet Singh and recovered Rs 21,000 in fake currency notes.
During interrogation Jeet Singh had disclosed that he had received
this fake currency from Guljar. Guljar was arrested last night and
produced in court by the police from where he was sent into police
custody for two days. |
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Haryana puts off cops’ recruitment Chandigarh, July 4 The recruitment process for 350 men constables for the Railway Police and 150 men constables for the Haryana Armed Police would now start on August 20 instead of July 15. The recruitment of 1,600 men constables would start on September 1 instead of August 1, the spokesman said. |
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Educationists’ US visit rescheduled Karnal, July 4 |
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HUDA officer remanded Sirsa, July 4 |
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Woman poisoned to death Sirsa, July 4 He said she was beaten up and told to leave the house. However, later the matter had been resolved. The police has sent the body for an autopsy. |
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A
clarification Fatehabad, July 4 |
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3 bodies found Yamunanagar, July 4 |
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