Delhi Statehood Bill is a dud: Sonia
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday dismissed the Delhi State Bill, 2003, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha earlier this week, as “worthless” and said the BJP had played a dirty trick on the people.

It was a shame, she said, that the BJP should draft a Bill that conferred no more powers on the elected government than what it already enjoys and chose to introduce the Bill only months ahead of the elections.

Ms Gandhi was speaking at the rally organised in Bawana where she dedicated to the people the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and unveiled a statue of the late prime minister. Unlike her speech at the August 9 rally organised in East Delhi, Ms Gandhi today chose to dwell on local issues also. The NCT of Delhi is going to poll in November.

The Government of NCT of Delhi, she said, had done a remarkable job in the five years the Congress had been in power and appreciated the stand taken by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on the statehood issue. The chief minister has said the Congress could eventually choose to oppose the Bill in its present format as the provisions of the Bill would in no way enhance the powers of the elected government.

The provision, which makes it binding on the government to accept the directives of the Union Government in the event of differences arising between the two, had come in for particular criticism.

Training her guns on the BJP, Ms Gandhi said the BJP-led NDA Government had compromised the security of the nation. “The BJP,” she said, “is a corrupt party, which has played with national security.”

She also accused the BJP of ruining the farmers and spoiling the career of youth. The nation, she asserted, was better off when the Congress was in power. “If now we are in a position to compete with the other nations of the world, it is because of the Congress,” she said and added that the NDA had failed to carry forward the progress recorded by the Congress governments.

The Government of NCT of Delhi had pulled out all stops to make the rally a success, particularly so after the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chose to ‘sideline’ the achievements of the government. Development Minister Haroon Yusuf, Bawana Legislator Surendra Kumar and DPCC leaders were present at the rally besides Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium is built over 14.9 acres at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore. It has a seating capacity of 15,000 and a VIP gallery, which can accommodate 250 persons. The stadium has a separate wrestling hall with changing rooms, shower rooms and a seating capacity of 250. Also, it boasts of a mini outdoor stand with separate courts for volleyball, basketball, kho kho and kabaddi.

Crying foul, the BJP on Saturday said the Congress had turned the inauguration of Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Bawana into a party affair. BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman and member of Parliament from South Delhi Vijay Kumar Malhotra accused the Government of NCT of Delhi of misusing the official machinery and demanded of the Election Commission (EC) enforce the Model Code of Conduct.

Mr Malhotra told mediapersons the BJP would meet Chief Election Commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh and seek the enforcement of the Code of Conduct. He further said the foundation of the stadium was laid by Union Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi but the inauguration function was completely turned into a Congress party affair with flags, banners and posters of the Congress and its leaders.

Hoardings stay put in Mayawati land despite SC ban
Our Correspondent

Noida, August 23
In spite of the ban imposed by the Supreme Court on display of hoardings and billboards on main roads and highways in the NCR, work is in progress for putting up large hoardings at about a dozen places around the Noida Toll Bridge. The Noida Authority has, however, in a letter to the ad agencies, objected to hoardings fixed on land owned by the UP Irrigation Department.

In view of the apex court banning the display of hoardings on the main roads and highways in the NCR, putting up hoardings had been banned in Noida town.

But a number of hoardings still continue to be displayed in the area, those eulogising Chief Minister Mayawati and Union Minister of State and local MP Ashok Pradhan being the most conspicuous ones.

The hoardings atop buildings on the Naya Bans main road were removed under the supervision of Noida OSD Dharminder Pal Singh.

During the special campaign undertaken by the Noida Authority, the OSD had faced some resistance in getting hoarding spots like the one opposite the Bharat Petroleum building in Sector 2 vacated.

The Forest Department had also given contracts on BOT basis for display of hoardings in Green Noida. But the Noida Authority had to reject all bids for the contracts in view of the apex court verdict.

Some outdoor advertisement agencies, however, continue to flout the ban by putting up hoardings.

The Noida Toll Bridge Company is also violating this order. The hoardings of the CM, Ms Mayawati, and Mr Ashok Pradhan continue to be displayed around the city in total disregard of this ban.

The Noida Authority has already sent a notice to the Noida Toll Bridge Company, asking it to immediately remove all hoardings.

Anti-encroachment wing officer Satish Chandra said the Traffic Management Committee had sent notices to all agencies to remove hoardings and billboards in the area, but some of them continued to violate the ban. The hoardings on the bridge are an impediment for the traffic.

Selection Board denies it made no effort to 
ensure zero vacancy
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23
The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board has denied allegations that it made no efforts to stick to the time limit fixed by the Delhi High Court for ensuring ‘zero vacancy’ in Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi schools before the commencement of the academic session this year.

In an affidavit, DSSSB Chairman T. T.Joseph claimed the board had adhered to the time limit but had to withhold the results of SC, ST and OBC candidates and declare results of only 348 and 308 candidates for MCD and State Government (NCT) schools, respectively, in the unreserved category for the post of assistant teacher.

The results were withheld of 1,906 MCD and 409 NCT school candidates in the SC/ST and OBC categories, it said. The issue of whether or not a person, who had migrated to another state/union territory, should be treated as SC/OBC only in respect of the state/UT of his origin and not in relation to the state/UT to which the person had migrated was the consideration of a Division Bench of the high court.

Therefore, the results of as many as 1,707 candidates in the SC/OBC category had been withheld, the affidavit said. The results of the ST vacancies were kept in abeyance awaiting the decision of the Union Home Ministry on whether ST candidates from other state/UT could be considered as no Scheduled Tribe had been notified for the national Capital, it added.

Besides, the results of those candidates whose qualifying exam results were awaited had also been withheld.

In July, Mr Justice Vikramajit Sen had issued contempt notice to the state government and the MCD for not fulfilling the court’s directive of ensuring zero vacancy. The DSSSB affidavit came in response to the show-cause notices issued to Mr Joseph, Director of Education with Delhi Government Rajender Kumar and MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta. The judge was acting on a contempt petition filed by advocate Ashok Agarwal, which alleged that the state government and the MCD had deliberately not taken necessary steps to fill up posts of teaching staff in their schools. The authorities had failed to ensure that there would be zero vacancy position by April 1 in case of Delhi Government schools and July 1 in case of MCD schools, the petition said.

There was a shortage of 2,831 teachers in MCD schools as on August 31, 2002, and a shortage of 2,345 posts in state government schools as on April 22, 2002, it claimed. Such inaction was tantamount to contempt of court, it added.

On December 20, 2001, the high court, disposing of a PIL filed by a NGO, Social Jurist, through Mr Agarwal, against shortage of teachers in such schools had laid down a time schedule for filling up vacancies for 2003 onwards to ensure zero vacancy position. The authorities were directed to adhere to the time schedule. 

UPPC cannot forcibly install electronic meters
Parmindar Singh

Noida, August 23
The District Consumer Protection Forum has upheld the allegation of the Resident Welfare Association of Sector 27 that the UP Power Corporation had been dumping electronic meters on consumers in an autocratic and high-handed way.

Upholding the charge preferred in the suit, the forum has directed the UP Corporation to form a specific plan for installing electronic meters and also ensuring and checking the quality of these meters before installation.

Mr P. S. Jain had in his complaint alleged the Power Corporation was forcibly removing the electric meters installed on the premises of consumers and installing electronic meters instead in a high-handed manner which was in violation of the state electricity board’s rules and instructions regarding tariff.

New meters should be installed only in those places where previous meters had become defective, the forum said. The complaint had called into question the accuracy and reliability of the electronic meters.

The UP Power Corporation had pleaded that the new meters were being installed keeping in view the reforms in the power sector. A total of 92,568 electronic meters had been installed in the Noida circle up to March 2003. This work is being done under the supervision of the state regulatory authority on the instructions of the central and state governments.

The forum has ordered the UP Power Corporation to inform the consumers after getting the defective meters checked within a month.

The corporation should install meters on premises where no meters had been installed as yet or where they were defective, the forum ruled. Details of such plan should be made available to the consumers, the forum added.

LIC told to make amends to widow
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, August 22
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Bhiwani branch of the Life Insurance Corporation to clear the payment for two policies to a widow. The policies were made on the life of her husband. The corporation had earlier refused to make payments against the policy. Following this, she had filed a complaint with the forum. The decision was given jointly by the forum chairman Pradeep Kumar Mehta, members Prem Singh Ola and Raj Bala Sheoran today.

The complainant, Kamlesh Devi, resident of Dhalanwas village of Mahendragarh district, said in her complaint that her husband, Karmbir, had taken three policies of Rs 50,000 each between 1994 and 1998. Karmbir died after a prolonged illness on March 22, 1998. The complainant said that the corporation, however, paid for one policy but refused payment for the other two policies. The corporation argued that the policy holder, Karmbir, was ailing when he had taken the policies and so payment could not be made for the policies furnished during this period. In its decision, the forum said that it was the corporation’s responsibility to get the policyholder medically examined from a doctor on its panel. “A person can fall ill after execution of the policy and so the corporation cannot refuse to pay for it “ it said. The forum ordered payment for the remaining two policies with 10 per cent interest within two months. 

SANITATION MESS
Visit Dadri, see what a pigsty looks like
Our Correspondent

Noida (Dadri), August 23
For the past three months, Dadri town is in a shambles. Heaps of garbage greet people everywhere, on every street and corner. The town has converted into a veritable breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes, exposing the residents to the risk of an epidemic.

Sanitary inspectors and sanitary workers of the Dadri Nagar Palika seem to have forged an unholy alliance. Sanitary workers absent themselves from duty but are being marked present by the inspectors.

The head of the Nagar Palika and the Health Officer are maintaining a studied silence on the subject. Citizens’ complaints to the District Magistrate, the Divisional Commissioner, Meerut, the Secretary, Town Development, seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Citizens like Liaquat Ali and others allege that sanitary workers have not attended to their duties for the past three months. With the all-pervading garbage and squalor, people are falling prey to many viral and other diseases. “Sanitary Inspector Ravinder Kumar Shukla listens to complaints, gives assurances and that is all”, the residents say.

With the sewerage lines choked, the stagnant water at various places makes walking on roads difficult. Though officials turn a Nelson’s eye to all this, mosquitoes are breeding at an alarming rate.

The citizens have, through a letter to the DM and the ADM, demanded an inquiry into the conduct of the sanitary staff who, they allege, are indulging in corruption.

Canal water theft

Bhiwani: Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has directed the police and irrigation department functionaries to intensify patrolling along the canals. Stern action would be taken after registering cases against those who are nabbed while stealing canal water. He was addressing a public meeting at Jatu Luhari village during his two-day tour to this district.

Guga Bhedi wrestling match hijacked out of village on leaders’ whim
Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, August 23
Using official machinery to suit one’s convenience is an in-thing with leaders of the ruling political party of the day. A recent case in Gurgaon gives further credence to this theory.

Since long, residents of Islampur, Naharpur Rupa, Jharsa and Tikri villages, falling within 10 km of the city, used to revere Guga as a ‘peer’ or ‘fakir’. According to a local legend, the ‘peer’ had taken ‘samaadhi’ in Islampur village. Since his death, residents of Islampur and nearby villages used to remember him annually by organising a wrestling match and a fair in the village.

The celebrations were jointly organised by people from all communities every year on a day after Janmashtmi.

The entire ritual of the celebrations is named as ‘Guga Bhedi’. Wrestlers from various parts of Haryana take part in the wrestling competition. The celebrations are also the symbol of community participation and rural bonhomie. However, the last day of the Guga Bhedi celebrations yesterday came as a rude shock to the villagers. Just when the wrestling competition was about to take place, a posse of policemen and civic personnel literally hijacked the competition and shifted it to the stadium in the city. The presence of the police force was to ensure that nobody opposed the move.

The man behind this is alleged to be the Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and MLA from Gurgaon, Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot. While the wrestling competition was shifted to the stadium, the Guga Bhedi fair was allowed to be held in Islampur.

The chief guest on the occasion of the wrestling competition was Mr Abhay Singh, son of Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. Present with him were Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot and leaders of the INLD. Leaders of other political parties were conspicuously absent.

According to reports, the leaders of other parties stayed away because of the interference by the district authorities and leaders of the INLD. The Congress, the principal opposition party in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, criticised Mr Gehlot saying his interference to shift the venue was with an aim to please Mr Chautala and his family members.

The residents of Islampur and nearby villages have also taken umbrage to the manner with which the official machinery was used to make a community affair into a private one. A couple of days prior to the Guga Bhedi celebrations were to begin, the panchayats of these had formally objected to the interference. The use of the police to resist any opposition by the public at the eleventh hour has further enraged the villagers. 

SPECIAL FOCUS ON REWARI
Swabhiman Rally to be a political springboard 
for Rao Narbir Singh?
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

Rewari, August 23
After senior Congress leader Rao Inderjit Singh, deputy leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party Capt Ajay Singh Yadav and HVP general secretary Anil Rao, Ahirwal is trying to make his presence felt as a rally organiser of the region.

Former minister Rao Narbir Singh, who was recently released on bail after 55 days in police and judicial remand in a disproportionate assets case, has declared that he is organising a ‘Swabhiman Rally’ in Rao Tula Ram Park here on August 31. Observers are watching whether this would be a political springboard for Rao Narbir Singh, who has been in the wilderness for sometime, to come back to the limelight.

He asserted that the rally would give a befitting reply to the “indignities” heaped on the people of Ahirwal. It was being organised to vindicate the “honour and dignity” of the people of Ahirwal and it would be the biggest held in Rao Tula Ram Park, he claimed.

It may be mentioned here that Rao Tula Ram Park has witnessed several historic rallies in the past. The Vishal Haryana Party headed by Rao Birender Singh merged into the Indira Congress at a mammoth rally here on September 23, 1978. Similarly, the historic announcement about the creation of four new districts of Rewari, Panipat, Yamuna Nagar and Kaithal in Haryana was made by then Chief Minister Devi Lal at a massive rally here on September 23, 1989 when Rao Narbir Singh too was a minister.

Besides, various other rallies organised in Rao Tula Ram Park in the past were addressed by dignitaries like late K. Kamraj Nadar, M. Hidayatulla, G. B. Pant, N. Sanjeeva Reddy, Giani Zail Singh and a host of others. Now it is to be seen whether Rao Narbir’s ‘Swabhiman Rally’ attains the status of the past historic rallies held in this park.

On the rally, Rao Narbir Singh said that irrespective of party affiliations, all prominent leaders of Haryana and particularly from Ahirwal, who were sick of the “vindictive functioning” of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, had been invited to participate.

He also hinted that an announcement regarding the formation of a new regional political outfit could also be made at the rally. However, the rally would chiefly target the “step-motherly treatment” meted out to Ahirwal by the Chautala government in the matter of power supply, supply of canal water, government jobs and developmental works, he added.

Rao Narbir Singh said that it was common knowledge that Mr Chautala, whose party drew a blank in almost all general seats in Ahirwal during the previous Assembly elections, had been humiliating the people of the region in various ways.

It may be mentioned that Rao Narbir Singh is the grandson of late Rao Mohar Singh, who was a champion of Ahir politics in Punjab state, and the son of Rao Mahabir Singh, who was a minister in the Bansi Lal government. Rao Narbir Singh displayed crowd-pulling abilities when he organised a massive ‘Shradhanjali Samaroh’ on November 24, 2002 at Budhpur, 6 km from here, to commemorate the 45th death anniversary of his grandfather. Observers are keenly watching the kind of success of the Swabhiman Rally now.

FOLLOW-UP
Parties rally behind journalists, condemn assault
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, August 23
Different political parties and apolitical organisations have condemned the barbarous attack on scribes by the police during the elections to the office-bearers of Maharshi Dayanand University Non-teaching Employees Association (MDUNTEA) on Wednesday.

In a statement here today, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former minister and spokesman of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), alleged that the cane charge on innocent newsmen by the police was unfortunate. He said that it was strange that the police did not check the outgoing president of MDUNTEA, Mr Balraj Singh (Balloo), who snatched and threw the ballot papers out of the window in the presence of the returning officer and other candidates for different posts and cane charged the mediapersons and candidates of other pannels.

The Congress leader alleged that there had been a sharp increase in the incidents of violence against scribes during the regime of the Chautala Government. He also alleged that the MDU Vice-chancellor, Maj Gen (retd) Bhim Singh Suhag, had been trying to hush up the incident.

Mr Kultaz Singh, general secretary, youth wing of Haryana Vikas Party and in-charge of party affairs in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts, described the lathi charge as an undemocratic step taken at the behest of the government. He extended the party support to any sort of agitation to be launched by the mediapersons.

Mr Ram Chander Yadav, secretary, district unit of CPI (M), expressed concern over the incident and said such incidents had repeatedly been tarnishing the image of the university in the region. He alleged the university administration had been patronising certain unscrupulous elements and been adopting undemocratic means to curb the voice raised against the ‘faulty’ policies of the university authorities. He urged the employees and officials of university and different sections of society to express solidarity against this ‘injustice’ to safeguard the sanctity and dignity of this premier educational institution.

Mr Jagdish Kapoor, general secretary, Rohtak Traders’ Association criticised the incident and sought strict action against the erring police staff.

Youth festival: Maharshi Dayanand University has started preparations of the forthcoming youth festival. Students’ Welfare office of the university has decided to organise a ‘Talent Search’ programme on August 28.

A spokesman for the university administration said today that the teams for youth festival would be selected and trained on the basis of ‘Talent Search’ programme. Several items, including poetic recitation (Hindi, Urdu, Haryanavi and Punjabi), declamation, folk song, mimicry, solo dance etc, would be performed by the students of various departments.

MDU notice: Maharshi Dayanand University has issued public notices to the private unaided technical/professional institutions not to make admissions on management quota seats.

A university press release said today that the university was in process of preparing the fresh guidelines regarding the said seats in the light of recent apex court decision.

The university has asked such institutions to stop the admission process for management quota seats till the issuance of fresh guidelines in this regard.

SEARCH WITHIN
Human problems are spiritual at their roots

Why can’t men live in peace with one another?” You are bound to ask this question yourself if you happen to visit the corridors of the district courts in Delhi (Tis Hazari). Lawyers in their black coats, litigants, policemen and witnesses besides others associated with the legal profession such as stamp vendors, clerks and typists, are seen hurrying hither and thither, anxiety writ large on their faces. It is almost like being inside a beehive. Perhaps, it is a picture of humanity in miniature.

Barsi of Kripal Singh observed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23
On the occasion of the 29th Barsi Bhandara of Param Sant Kripal Singh Ji Maharaj, thousands of people paid rich tributes to him at Kirpal Bagh today. Social and religious leaders spoke of his vision of spiritually enlightened world society and of a Golden Age, which he had said at the first Human Unity Conference in 1974, at the Red Fort Grounds. He had also taken concrete action and established Manav Kendra for not only man making, but for the service of land and all forms of life, including birds and animals. He was the president of World Fellowship of Religions, for its four conferences, which brought leaders of various religions to a common platform of love, respect and understanding.

He had organised a unique Sant Samagam at the Kumbh Mela in 1974, where leaders of all religions and Mats sat together on a common platform and spoke about the common root of all religions. After bringing out the oneness among religions and the religious leaders, he shifted the attention to individuals in the first Human Unity Conference. This was open to atheists as well as believers.

Speakers said that all humans are members of the same family of the one creator, whether or not, they have faith in God.

The spiritual work, which he started at Sawan Ashram in Delhi in the name of his Master, was carried on after him by Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj, also a disciple of Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj. He taught and manifested spirituality as a perfect science in which a person fulfils the goal of life of self-knowledge and God realisation while also fulfilling his responsibilities towards the family, society, nation, the world community and nature.

He established 550 centres in over 40 countries to spread the message of love, unity and peace through understanding and practising spirituality between 1974-1989. The work is presently being carried on by president Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. 

Ninth Delhi Book Fair opens
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23
The Ninth Delhi Book Fair, with a special focus on children, was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Satyabrata Mookherjee here today. Speaking at the inauguration, the minister called upon the publishers to reduce the prices of books to make them accessible to a vast majority of people. He said the publishers should ensure that knowledge is available cheaper to a vast majority of people who want to read, by reducing prices of the books.

Mr Mookherjee, however, agreed that postal rates on books should also be lowered. The minister expressed hope that it would help in promoting the reading culture among children.

He added that the habit of reading should be inculcated from the very young age and that the school curriculum should incorporate the best of Indian and world literature. The Book Fair, which is being organised at Pragati Maidan, has approximately 280 leading publishers from Asian countries, including China and SAARC nations, besides Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia displaying their books, with 500 titles for children, in more than 560 stalls.

UNESCO has declared New Delhi as the World Book Capital this year. Along with the Book Fair, the second SAARC Fair is also being organised at the same venue.

The fair offers a vast panorama including fiction, non-fiction, academic and technical books, textbooks, reference books, classics, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, children’s and religious literature. Besides books, a wide range of stationery and decoration items is also being displayed by 70 participants in the fair.

Highlights of the fair include an on-the-spot painting competition, a seminar on how to succeed in examinations and a seminar for social scientists on ‘SAARC - Partners in peace and progress’.

Sonepat power pangs persist
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, August 23
Sonepat city and its suburbs continue to be in the grip of power crisis for the past few months. The authorities of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) have failed to maintain regular power supply in the domestic, industrial and agriculture sectors.

According to a report, frequent loadsheddings, breakdowns and low voltage have become a routine and the authorities of the UHBVN were indifferent to the complaints of the consumers in this regard.

The public grievances in this regard have been on the increase, even as the staff posted at the complaint centres have failed to address them.

The areas fed by the essential feeder remained powerless for more than three hours in the evening and again for about two hours in the night yesterday, which caused inconvenience to thousands of residents living in this city and its suburbs.

Similarly, the areas fed by the Subzi Mandi feeder remained without power for about an hour last night.

Meanwhile, the employees of the UHBVN launched an agitation against the shifting of the sub-division office from Model Town to nearby Kabirpur village. The agitating employees alleged that this decision would adversely affect at least 20,000 consumers in the area.

The agitating employees have urged the authorities not to shift the office in the interest of the consumers.

Youth held for eve-teasing: Pawan Singh, a youth of Harsana village has been arrested on the charge of eve-teasing by the Government Railway Police (GRP).

According to a report, the youth, who was under the influence of liquor, entered the bogie reserved for women in the Panipat bound one DPM (EMU) train and started using objectionable words and misbehaving with the women passengers travelling in the bogie.

NCR BRIEFS
Three killed in road mishap
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, August 23
Three persons have been killed in the city and suburbs since yesterday. A person was killed when a jeep hit him at village Khapadwas yesterday. According to report, the deceased, identified as Ramanand, was hit by the jeep owned by a liquor contractor when it was being turned after delivering the liquor to a vend at village Khapadwas. Ramanand died on the spot.

In another incident, a labourer identified as Pal of village Kanwari sustained serious injuries when a heavy stone fell on him during excavation. He was rushed to a private hospital at Hisar, but succumbed to his injuries.

In another incident, one person died and a woman was injured in a collision head-on that occurred between a Santro car and Tata vehicle at Bhiwani-Behal Road yesterday. The driver and cleaner of the Tata vehicle managed to escape after the accident.

According to police, Naveen Bansal, resident of Bhiwani, was proceeding towards Rajasthan border with his wife. The Tata vehicle coming from the opposite side rammed into Santro. The police registered a case and seized the vehicle.

Woman among two crushed

Faridabad: Two persons, including a woman, were crushed to death in separate road mishaps in the district on Friday. A tractor allegedly rammed into a woman riding a cycle on the Sohna road. She died in the hospital. In the other incident, a 40-year-old man, identified as Inderpal, was crushed by a truck near Seekri village on the National Highway yesterday.

Five vehicles stolen

At least five vehicles have been stolen from various parts of the town in the past 24 hours. According to complaints lodged with the police, a scooter was stolen from Sector 46 and two motorcycles were stolen by thieves in the NIT area. One motorcycle was stolen from outside a school in Sector 14 yesterday. The police have also booked a case of stealing of a three-wheeler autorickshaw in the old Faridabad area. TNS

Land inundated

Rohtak: Hundreds of acres of land near Bahu village were inundated following a breach in Kahnaur distributory last night. The breach was noticed by some villagers at around 4 am today who informed the residents of Bahu village about the incident. The matter was reported to the district authorities and subsequently the water was stopped at Ridhana Head. OC

Fire station building opened

Jhajjar: Mr Abhay Singh Chautala, MP and son of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, inaugurated a Rs 20-lakh fire station building in Bahadurgarh today.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr Chautala said that the INLD government was committed to the cause of the people and Haryana was moving fast on the development track. Making a scathing attack on the opposition parties, he said that former chief ministers Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal did nothing except making false promises to the people. OC

Congress leader bereaved

Sonepat: Senior Congress leader and former HPCC president Dharam Pal Singh’s Mother, Chhoto Devi, died of a heart attack. She was 87. She was cremated at Gohana and large number of the people from Gohana and adjoining villages were present at the cremation. Prominent Congress leaders who were also present at the cremation included former minister Shanti Rathi, Shyam Dass Mukhija, Bachan Singh Arya and legislator Daya Nand Sharma.

One killed in head-on train collision

New Delhi: At least one person was killed and five others injured when a passenger train collided head-on with a stationary engine in a West Delhi area on Saturday evening, police sources said. The two engines caught fire after the mishap at Shakur Basti. The train was heading for Rohtak.

The Northern Railway Spokesperson, Mr Devender Singh Sandhu, confirmed one death. The injured had been admitted to hospitals in the area, he added. Senior police and railway officials have rushed to the spot.

Polish commando hospitalised with stab injuries

New Delhi: A Polish national, posted as Commando Security Guard at the Poland Embassy here, was admitted to Aashlok Hospital with stab injuries today. He is reported to be in a critical condition. He was unfit for statement, the police said. The police identified him as Jack Hkitivzepa (40) and said that the incident occurred at 2.45 pm at the mission in Chanakyapuri diplomatic area. The police said that while investigations were still on, the injuries seemed to be self-inflicted and could have been an attempt at suicide. TNS

Team raids hospitals

Faridabad: A high-level two-member team of the Health Department led by the Deputy Director (ESI), Dr Sushma Madan, conducted a surprise raid on certain hospitals and dispensaries of the ESI here today in connection with the theft and sale of ESI medicines in the open market.

The team, consisting of the Assistant State Drug Controller, Mr G. L. Singhal and assisted by district drug inspectors, visited the ESI hospital in Sector 8 and checked dispensaries in Sectors 7, 14, 17 and NH-II of the NIT. TNS

DELHI DIGEST
Goel opens Agrasen Marg
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23
The Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Vijay Goel, unveiled the road name plaque of Maharaja Agrasen Marg at Laxmibai Nagar this morning in a simple function organised by New Delhi Municipal Council.

About one kilometre long road, connecting Aurobindo Marg with Brig Hoshiar Singh Marg, was earlier unnamed. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Goel appreciated the gesture of NDMC for naming a road after Maharaja Agrasen, who was the king of Vaishya Samaj and known as messenger of peace and non-violence. He was the true socialist. Referring to the adoption of the MCD’s Primary School in his constituency, which is now at par with any public school, he urged the members of social and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to adopt community centres of their respective areas, which are under utilisation, maintain and use them.

Welcoming the quests, Mr Ram Bhaj, MLA and Vice-Chairperson, NDMC, said that NDMC has decided to name the unnamed roads after the celebrities of national and international repute.

He said that today we are talking about Bhagidari and socialism, but in fact these words were implemented by Maharaja Agrasen by his farsightedness at that time due to which the business community is always prosperous, he added. Mr Ram Bhaj announced that during next month three more unnamed roads would be named after three celebrities i.e. Veer Hakikat Rai, Data Ram Bhutani and A. K. Roy in his constituency.

Mrs Mohni Garg, Member, NDMC, representatives of Vaishya Smaaj and senior officers of NDMC were also present in the function.

Load-shedding: The North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) today announced load-shedding on Monday due to shut down taken by the Delhi Transco on its 220 KV Incomer Bamnauli Circuit No. 2.

As a result, rotational load-shedding will be carried out by the NDPL in Sadar Bazar, Gopi Nath Bazar, Prahladpur village, Technical Building, Naraina village, Naraina Vihar, Naraina Industrial area, Inderpuri, Pusa Institute, Naraina Loha Mandi, Inderpuri JJ Colony, Krashi Kunj, Mansarover Garden, Ramesh Nagar, Saraswati Garden, Todapur Das Ghera Village, Part of Kirti Nagar, Pandav Nagar, Shadi Khampur village, Part of Rajit Nagar, Part of South Patel Nagar from 6 am to 9 am.

Cardio-pulmonary meet on Aug 24: The Indian Medical Association, East Delhi branch, and Delhi Heart and Lung Institute will organise a national conference on ‘Changing Perspective in Cardio – Pulmonary Emergencies’ on August 24. The conference will be inaugurated by the Health Minister of Delhi, Dr AK Walia.

The conference will provide an opportunity for general practitioners to interact with super specialists, said president of the branch Dr. Narendra Saini. 

Rain catches govt agencies napping

Sonepat: It is feared that wheat worth several lakhs of rupees, packed in gunny bags at various foodgrain markets of the district and lying in the open at the godowns of various procurement agencies, particularly the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Food and Supplies Department, has been damaged due to the monsoon. According to a report, the wheat procured by the state and central government agencies could not be shifted to the covered godowns and got soaked in the rain. Now, it will not be possible to unpack the heavy stocks and dry the wheat. OC

CRIME

Fake notes seized
Our Correspondent

Meerut, August 23
The Meerut police have claimed to have busted a gang engaged in printing fake currency with the arrest of a person, Sharafat. Fake notes of Rs 100 and Rs 50 denominations worth Rs 2,000 were seized from his possession.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Mukul Goel, a team led by Sub-Inspector F. A. Khan was constituted on the basis of a tip-off.

The team laid a trap on the Butchery road yesterday and intercepted Sharafat who was coming on a Yamaha motorbike (UP-15-6063) at 1.30 pm.

During a search, fake notes of Rs 100 and Rs 50 worth Rs 2,000 were found in his pocket. After further interrogation, 26 half-printed notes of the two denominations were seized from him.

Sub-Inspector F. A. Khan told the NCR Tribune that his modus operandi was to scan on a computer scanner the original notes and then print the fake ones. All printed notes bore the some numbers, QEV 402286 for Rs 100 and 4GL336316 for Rs 50. He and his associates used to exchange it at the nearby liquor shops.

A sophisticated HP laser printer and some other items were also seized from his hideout in Raj Nagar at Garh road near the medical college.

His other associate Nain from Deoband (Saharanpur) is absconding.

The police had unearthed a similar racket last month and a big haul of fake notes worth Rs 2,20,000 were seized then.

Blackmailer killed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23
Blackmailing led to the murder of a youth, whose body was recovered from a deserted place in Rohini area in North-West district a few days back. He was residence of Mangolpuri.

In the beginning, he was declared unidentified. During a search, a few papers were recovered from his pocket, which were helpful in identifying the victim and his address. The North-West district police constituted a special team in the leadership of SHO Mangolpuri.

During the investigation, the police questioned his friends Mahesh Pandey, Hansraj, Bhjavan and Balram and arrested them. They all belong to Mangolpuri.

Mahesh was the prime suspect, who confessed to have killed Sonu with the help of his friends. A knife and Toyta Qualis used to commit crime were recovered from their possession.

During interrogation, Mahesh disclosed that a few months back, Sonu had brought a call girl. He got a photograph of Mahesh with her and exploited him. Sonu threatened that he would expose Mahesh by showing his photograph if he was not given Rs 25, 000. Consequently, he had to give the money. Sonu again asked him Rs 5,000. Thereafter, Mahesh disclosed that he hatched a conspiracy with his friends to kill Sonu. He took Sonu in the Toyota Qualis, in Rohini, where he stabbed him to death, police said.

Man killed: In another incident, Abu Talib, a resident of Sarai Kale Khan was hit to death by an unknown vehicle on Ring Road near Veer Hakikat Rai Inter State Bus Terminus. The body has been sent for the post-mortem examination. A case of rash and negligent driving causing death has been registered, the police said.

JE attacked by sarpanch
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, August 23
Mr S.P.Singh, a Junior Engineer with the Public Health Department, was allegedly attacked and injured by the sarpanch and his son at Rohat village, about 5 km from here yesterday.

According to a report, the Junior Engineer was engaged in the laying of pipelines when both the alleged assailants reached the spot and got involved in a quarrel with him over the laying of pipelines in some other streets. Later, the two allegedly beat up the JE.

The JE is reported to have lodged a complaint with the Sadar Police Station in this regard. However, no arrest was made in this connection.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Haryana PWD Mechanical Karamchari Union (Public Health Department) have condemned the alleged assault on the JE and warned that if the alleged assailants were not arrested by the police within 24 hours, the employees would disrupt the supply of drinking water to the village.