N C R   S T O R I E S


 

Three DSGMC leaders quit SAD
Likely to create a New party
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29
Three influential Sikh leaders today parted company with the beleaguered Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, accusing party chief Parkash Singh Badal of religious neglect and step-motherly treatment to the community in the Capital.

Senior Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) leaders Manjit Singh Greater Kailash, who won last year’s general elections to the religious administration with the highest polling of 98.5 per cent, Jatinder Singh Sahni (89 per cent) and Dalvinder Singh Ayur quit Mr Badal’s party barely a month after it lost DSGMC annual executive elections to the Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi, led by former DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna.

They told a news conference, attended among others by Youth Congress leader Raghbir Singh Jaura, that Mr Badal had ‘failed’ to address the issues facing Delhi’s large Sikh population.

Mr Manjit Singh indicated the floating of a new Sikh grouping, saying talks were on with sacked Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, whose whip turned the tide against the SAD in the last month’s DSGMC executive elections.

“We do not rule out creating a new party of our own—a party different from Mr Sarna’s or the SAD,,” he added.

Echoing the electoral stand of former DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna, the man who ended SAD’s sway over Sikh religious affairs in the Capital, Mr Manjit Singh said he would throw his weight behind only ‘good’ Sikh candidates irrespective of their party affiliations in Delhi Assembly elections.

“We will support Sikh candidates fielded either by the Congress or the BJP, taking into consideration their commitment towards the community,” Mr Manjit Singh, son of the slain Akali leader Jathedar Santokh Singh, said.

He, however, regretted that the BJP had always offered ‘weak constituencies’ to Sikh aspirants unlike the Congress. “In the 1998 elections, for instance, all five Sikh candidates fielded by the Congress emerged winners while those who fought on the BJP ticket gave a poor show. However, we feel satisfied with the administration of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.”

This time, four SAD aspirants are likely to contest elections on the BJP ticket. Asked to comment on Punjab’s Congress government crackdown on Mr Badal over charges of corruption against him, Mr Manjit Singh remarked that the law should take its course if there was sufficient evidence to support the charges against the former Chief Minister.

Ruling out any compromise with Mr Sarna, Mr Manjit Singh, however, expressed satisfaction with the working of new DSGMC president Prehlad Singh Chandok, a close associate of the then President Giani Zail Singh.
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MCD reports 30 dengue deaths
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi today notified 30 cases of death of dengue patients. Of these, 26 are from Delhi, three from Uttar Pradesh and one from Bihar.

The Chairman of Standing Committee, Mr Ram Babu Sharma claimed that dengue fever was completely under control as no fresh case of the disease was reported to the corporation. A total of 2,066 dengue cases were notified today. These are all old cases and almost all these patients have already been discharged from the hospitals.

He said that the results of 168 serology test cases were sent to the MCD by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases yesterday. Out of which 15 were duplicate cases, which had already been reported to the MCD. Only nine cases were tested positive of dengue fever and they were submitted to the corporation yesterday.

Meanwhile, in view of the dengue menace in the national Capital, the ESI Corporation would conduct four Special Dengue Diagnostic and Prevention camps from October 31.

The two-day camps would be held at four ESI hospitals located at Basaidarapur, Okhla, Rohini and Jhilmil. Besides the 22 lakh ESI beneficiaries, general public could also avail themselves of the facilities. Special drugs for the dengue positive cases would be made available to the ESI beneficiaries from their dispensaries while urgently required common drugs would be provided on the spot, ESI Director General Ajay Dua told reporters here today. He said test for blood platelets counts would be done at these camps and those needing transfusion would be given the facility. A blood donation camp would also be held at the camp site.

“In case of an emergency, hospitalisation facilities would also be provided to the general public,” Mr Dua said. As many as 825 suspected dengue cases were referred to the ESI hospitals by the 33 ESI dispensaries located in Delhi during the past five weeks. About 200 cases were diagnosed as dengue positive, of which 40 were of serious nature, he informed.

“However, all referred cases were managed professionally and not a single dengue death was reported from even a single ESI hospital. Maximum 40 per cent of dengue cases were referred to ESI hospital Jhilmil and Basaidarapur in East Delhi and West Delhi respectively, ” Mr Dua added.

He said due to the awareness campaign launched by the ESI hospitals, the spread of dengue could be checked within the ESI beneficiaries and not a single death occurred. While in 1996, 10,000 dengue cases were reported in Delhi, of which 427 people had died.

He said all ESI hospitals and dispensaries have been declared dengue diagnostic/treatment centres.
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Prince charmed by right royal Metro ride
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29
Prince Charles on Wednesday took a ride in the Delhi Metro which, he was to say later, ranked as one of the most modern Metros in the world. The Heir to the British throne was also impressed to learn that the level of pollution in the NCT of Delhi will drop by 50 per cent after the Phase I of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was completed in 2005.

The Prince boarded the train at Kashmere Gate and travelled to Welcome, taking five minutes.

DMRC Chairman and Managing Director E Sreedharan, who presented a memento to the Prince, told media persons that the Prince signed the visitors’ book before leaving.

Mr Sreedharan also gave him a hardbound book on the DMRC, titled “A Dream Revisited”.

The Prince was shown around the Kashmere Gate station. Before the journey, the DMRC officials explained the details of the project to him and showed him the underground phase of the project overlooking the work on the Central Secretariat–Delhi University corridor.
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Chhath fest politics
Leaders set to do their share of pressing the flesh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29
Political parties are making elaborate arrangements for the festival of Chhath to woo the voters hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The festival, starting tomorrow, is celebrated on the sixth and seventh days after Divali.

The migrants from the two states are estimated to form about 35 per cent of the electorate. There are at least 15 constituencies where there is a significant presence of the migrant population from the two states.

The constituencies are Nasirpur, Palam, Hastsaal, Najafgarh, Nangloi, Bawana, Tughlakabad, Badarpur, Mandawali, Yamuna Vihar, Salempur, Jahangirpuri, Rajendranagar and Patel Nagar.

The festival has assumed a political tinge this year with the parties going overboard to provide facilities to the devotees to appease this crucial vote bank at the hustings.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has put up welcome arches and signboards on the banks of the river and localities predominated by the migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The Indian National Congress (INC) says the Government of NCT of Delhi has spent about Rs 80 lakh on sprucing up the banks of the river. It also declared the festival a restricted holiday in 2000.

The party says 25 tents have been pitched on the banks of the Yamuna. Also, special arrangements have been made to improve the condition of the Yamuna ghats where devotees offer prayers.

The government has formed a committee to ensure basic amenities, including tents, for the convenience of the worshippers. Police personnel would be deployed on the banks of the river.

Last year, the Haryana Government had released 100 cusecs of water into the Yamuna so that there was enough water for the devotees. This year, the monsoon has ensured adequate water level.
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CEASEFIRE
Fazilpur, Raipur villagers bury the hatchet
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, October 29
Tension between the people of Fazilpur and Raipur villages over the murder of a youth, Raj Kumar of Fazilpur village, has come to an end following the settlement between two rival groups at a specially convened meeting of the mahapanchayat of more than a dozen villages around the area. According to a report, the panchayat also constituted an 11-member committee headed by Mr Hoshiar Singh of Shahpur village to finally dispose of the issue. The meeting of the mahapanchayat asked both the groups to withdraw the FIRs lodged and get the damaged building of the ‘akhara’ repaired.

It also asked Mr Suraj Mal Antil, MLA of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), to take up the case for seeking employment for the widow of Raj Kumar. The members of the rival group agreed to accept the verdict of the mahapanchayat and stated that they would abide by the settlement arrived at the meeting of the mahapanchayat. The 11-member committee includes the names of Mr Om Parkash Saroha of Bayyanpur village, Mr Ram Diya and Mr Raghubir, Lambardar of Murthal village, Mr Om Parkash, Sarpanch of Fazilpur village, Mr Sanjay, Sarpanch and Mr Raghbir of Raipur village, Mr Sube Singh, president of Khatri Khap, Mr Mahabir Singh and Mr Prithvi Singh.

Representatives of Khatri Khap, Saroha Khap, Antil Khap and Jatrana Khap also took part in the meeting of the mahapanchayat. The meeting of the mahapanchayat was earlier held on October 19 but failed to settle the issue. Raj Kumar, it may be recalled, was beaten up mercilessly by some wrestlers on October 11 and he was rushed to a Delhi hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Thereafter, an angry crowd of Fazilpur village took revenge by burning the building of the akhara and other goods valued at Rs 10 lakh. This had caused tension among the people of both the villages.

Industrialists get notice for running CPP ‘illegally’

Gurgaon: The industrial community is aghast at the notices sent by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) for running captive power plant (CPP) in the units without the permission of the commission.

Hundreds of units, spread across the city have received the notices in which the HERC has mentioned “you are operating the captive power plant (generators either run on diesel or gas or any other fuel) in your organisation. You have not even cared to apply for the consent of the commission for setting up/operating the CPP, which contravenes the provisions of Section 44 of the Indian Electricity Supply Act 1948.” OC
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Panipat textile industry cries for a fair deal
Tribune News Service

Panipat, October 29
Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala’s much-publicised foreign visits to woo the investors notwithstanding, the world famous textile industry, which earned a revenue of Rs 1,450 crore this year, is crying for attention with the Haryana Government looking the other way.

The recent dose of central excise duty, poor infrastructural facilities, lop-sided government policies, continuous recession and the spiralling crime graph are only a few of the things that ail the industry. A spurt in the daylight crime is giving the jitters to the industrial community.

Despite the fact that the industry pays heavy taxes, the basic amenities continue to elude it. “The exporters prefer to meet the foreign clients at Delhi hotels as they may lose business if the visitors see Panipat’s unsanitary conditions and bad roads,” rued a top exporter.

Pointing out the lop-sided policies of the government, he alleged that the developmental charges on the land purchased by the industrialists outside the specified area were exorbitant, putting hurdles in the way of the expansion of the industry.

Despite all claims, the power scenario continued to be dismal. It is said that if you want to set up a unit here, you should first install a generator set as you never know when the Power Department may decide to leave you “powerless”. “The problem is more acute in the areas fed by the rural feeders.

A visit to the Old Industrial Area, the Industrial Area in Sector 25 and 29, Sanoli Road and Gohana Road, can be a nightmarish experience. In several areas, there are no roads worth the name. In the Old Industrial Area, the entrepreneurs constructed a road at a cost of over Rs 2 lakh about a year back as the district administration failed to do its job.
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Retd postal official writes to Prez on graft 
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 29
A retired official of the Postal Department here has written to the President of India, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, on the alleged corruption and irregularities in the local post office. He has demanded a probe by the Vigilance Department into the sorry state of affairs.

In his letter, Mr Narendra Pal Gupta, a retired Sub-Post Master, has alleged that an official of the Accounts Department here had cheated the department out of Rs 12,800 by wrongly getting an increment in 1998, but the authorities concerned, instead of taking action against the accused, had tried to shield him and got the audit objection overruled in an illegal manner.

He said although the audits were still pending in the office of the Senior Post Master, the accused managed to settle the 'paras’ without any proper procedure.

He said neither any sanction from the top authorities was taken nor any inquiry was carried out in this matter.

According to the complainant, as a faithful citizen, it was his duty to highlight such irregularities as a loss had been caused to the state exchequer

He further stated that the official pointed out in the case had also got a claim of Rs 80,000 as medical bill illegally.

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POLITICS
 

STATE OF AFFAIRS
Haryana being governed by pvt firm: Cong leader
Our Correspondent

Rewari, October 29
Vaidya Kishan Vashishtha, a prominent Congress leader and former general secretary of the Haryana unit of the All India Youth Congress, has taken strong exception to the style of functioning of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, whose acts of political vendetta, he asserted, had transgressed all limits of propriety and decency.

At a crowded press conference here yesterday, he said if the sordid state of affairs prevailing in the state was any indication Haryana was virtually being governed by a private firm called “Chautala and Sons” and not by any Constitution abiding conglomerate of elected representatives of the people.

Highlighting the long list of the victims of political vengeance unleashed by the ruling INLD chief, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, he said the former Union Minister and sitting Congress legislator, Mr Jai Prakash, was its latest victim while the cases of former ministers Vinod Kumar Marya, Dharam Vir Yadav, Rao Narbir Singh and a host of other political opponents were also fresh in public memory. He further said this showed that democratic norms had been thrown to the winds and no political opponents of the ruling INLD were now safe in Haryana.

Condemning the implication of Mr Jai Prakash Barwala in an allegedly false case of dacoity, Mr Vashishtha asserted he was constrained to say that Mr Barwala’s arrest would eventually prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the Chautala regime in Haryana.

He further said it was a matter of grave concern that heinous crimes like murder, rape, loot and dacoity had become a routine affair in Haryana which, if something drastically tangible was not resorted to immediately, could lag behind Bihar and UP too in criminalisation.

Making a specific mention of the tribulations being faced by farmers of South Haryana, Mr Vashishtha said it was true that the Chief Minister had instructed Hafed and other government agencies to procure bajra at the minimum support price of Rs 505 per quintal but the sorry state of affairs prevailing in the mandis clearly showed that it had failed to benefit the bajra growers of South Haryana. He alleged the procurement was politically motivated and was proving beneficial to farmers of Rajasthan where the INLD was all set to enter the electoral fray in a big way.

Demanding the unconditional release of Mr Jai Prakash Barwala, he also urged the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanad, to dismiss the Chautala government immediately in the interest of the public as well as democracy.
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Faridabad, Gurgaon cattle in grip of epidemic: MLA
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 29
A former Haryana Minister and the firebrand MLA from Palwal, Mr Karan Dalal, has claimed that thousands of cattlehead had perished in Faridabad and Gurgaon districts in the past two months due to an epidemic. He has alleged the Animal Husbandry Department and the officials concerned have failed to take cognisance of the deadly foot and mouth disease prevalent in the region.

In a statement here today, Mr Dalal said during his recent tour of the villages of the district and especially the Mewat area he had come across hundreds of complaints about cattlehead perishing due to foot and mouth disease.

He said the officials had neither toured the affected areas nor conducted any survey. He said thousands of people were already in the grip of viral and malarial infection and dozens of them had succumbed to these.

He charged that the majority of the district officials were busy in collecting funds required for the Rajasthan elections. He said this amount was for the ruling INLD, which was contesting elections in Rajasthan.

He said he had come to know that the transport authorities had started collecting Rs 2,000 per truck without issuing a receipt slip as the truck operators were being told that funds were charged from each truck for one month for allowing them overloading.

He alleged no basic amenity was being provided to villagers and the promise of constructing and repairing the roads in the district had failed. He added the movement on the roads had become difficult as these had been rendered useless. Stating that the CM and his sons had been misleading the people with false claims, he charged nepotism and corruption at all levels.

He said it seemed that holding melas, meetings and matches had become the top priority for authorities here.
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THE ACHIEVERS
This policeman is not afraid to take risk of any kind
Nalini Ranjan

New Delhi, October 29
For the three hard core criminals from the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the night of July 15, 2003, was like any other night. They were out to loot late night commuters on the isolated part of the ITO Bridge. Armed with a foreign-made gun and knives, the trio were riding a motorcycle, waiting for a prey. At around midnight, they spotted a victim and in a bid to loot him, fired a shot at him. The person, however, managed to escape, though the gun shot alerted Constable Ram Dayal and his colleague, Constable Mohammed Ali, both from the Shakarpur police station, who were on patrolling duty on the bridge.

Unmindful of his personal safety, Constable Dayal and his partner, Head Constable Ali, rushed towards the site and saw the three suspects trying to speed away on their motor cycle.

In their haste, however, they made the mistake of speeding towards the two constables who stood like a rock in their way. The inevitable happened. The motor cycle collided with the two constables, knocking all of them down. Head Constable Ali was injured in the collision.

One of the suspects, who was driving the motor cycle, abandoned his vehicle and tried to run away, with Constable Dayal in hot pursuit.

As luck would have it, a police control room (PCR) van also arrived on the scene. Emboldened, Constable Dayal grappled with the armed suspect and pinned him down. The other suspects were also over powered.

Had it not been for the courage and dedication of the 31-year-old constable, the criminals would well have made their escape. This is not the only incident in the career of the brave Delhi Police constable. He has been in the forefront in many raids conducted to nab criminals in the area.

Dayal joined the Delhi Police in 1998 despite stiff opposition from his family who wanted him to become a teacher. But Dayal, a physical fitness freak, had already made up his mind. After one-year basic training and seven months specialised commando training, he was deployed for VIP security. He had the unique distinction of being the only one to be selected for the tough Commando training from his battalion.

He was finally posted to the East district after serving in the security of the Deputy Prime Minister Mr L. K. Advani and Mr Farookh Abdullah, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.

Due to his physical fitness and smart turnout, Dayal was chosen as a member of the Delhi Police contingent for the Republic Day and Independence Day parades. “When I joined the police force, I was well aware of the difficulties of policing and the risks involved. But I like to take up challenges,” he told the NCR Tribune.
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SPECIAL FOCUS ON PANIPAT
With unkept promises, model village cries for attention
Our Correspondent

Panipat, October 29
Resentment prevails among residents of Machhroli village, stated to be an “ ideal and model village” in the records of the district administration on account of not fulfilling the promises made by the present Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in his Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme held in Samalkha last year on October 22, 2002, and also due to lower rates fixed for paddy procurement by the purchasing agencies, imposing VAT on paddy by the state government during the current session.

Machhroli village situated on National Highway 1, 12 km from the district headquarters and having a population of around 5200, is stated to be an “ideal and model village”. As per government records, it was a part of Samalkha subdivision and assembly constituency and was rehabilitated about 80 years ago.

When the village was submerged in the Yamuna waters during the floods the villagers left that place and requested the district authorities for proper rehabilitation.

The district administration decided to rehabilitate them in a proper planned way and the foundation of this model village was laid as per Jaipur (Pink City) plan. In this plan, a plot measuring 38.25 feet by 78 feet was carved with a provision of three lanes each in vertical and horizontal level with a chowk in between.

The village panchayat has an annual income of about Rs 2 lakh and possesses 46 acres of land out of which 23 acres were given on contract at the rate of Rs 1,40,000 per annum. The balance 23 acres of panchayat land of Gau Charan were leased on a small amount of Rs 40, 000 only.

A resident of the village, Ishwar Singh, sitting besides the Sarpanch, alleged there was shortage of drinking water in the village. Ground water was available at a level of 90 feet and even agriculture was totally dependent on these tubewells as there was no other source of irrigation except rainwater. Another person said the Yamuna was quite far off from their place and water could not be brought to these agricultural lands in the absence of a water channel.

Scarcity of electricity was another problem but the villagers were happy with the existing power. According to them, more power would fetch more water and the underground water level would further go down.

Sarpanch Dharam Singh told NCR Tribune that last year in Samalkha in a Sarkar Aapke Dwar held on October 22, 2002, the Chief Minister Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, accepted nine demands of “Machhroli Model Village” but hardly any of them had been met except the construction of a Mini Cooperative Bank building, payment for which had been received a couple of days ago.

The Sarpanch confirmed that at present this mini bank was working in a rented house.

Speaking about other demands, the Sarpanch said they urgently needed a vridh ashram for old people of the village, a mahila ashram, Harijan Chaupal, a sports stadium, boundary wall and shed for the cremation ground. Even after a year the demands of the villagers were still pending.

The district authorities had not taken any action about fulfilling the promises and accepting the demands made by the present state government even after the lapse of a period of one year and that too for that village which was described as a “model” village of the district.

However, the Sarpanch confirmed that the local Member of Parliament (MP), Mr I. D. Swami, had released a grant for construction of two rooms which were ready but still needed white wash.

A sum of Rs 50, 000 was provided by the local MLA, Mr Kartar Singh Bhadhana, and three hand pumps for drinking water were installed. All three pumps were not in working order at present, alleged one of the old persons sitting in front of the Sarpanch.

A farmer, Ram Singh, said the absence of channel water had resulted in diversion of major paddy crop to sugarcane but the non-cooperation of the sugar mill authorities by not making timely payment was another problem which the farmers were facing. Some of the farmers alleged that about 25 per cent of their sugarcane payments were still pending even though supply of the cane crops was made by the end of March 2003.

Moreover, the villagers sitting there along with the Sarpanch bitterly alleged the present government had ruined them by imposing VAT on paddy and as a result they were losing about Rs 300 and more per quintal on a particular “Muchhal” variety of paddy in comparison to the previous year’s purchase. When asked whom they found guilty for their huge losses the entire gathering of people of this “ model village” cursed the Chautala government.

But the village Sarpanch was in a defensive mood all the time and told NCR Tribune that it was their ill fate. At the Sarpanch’s defensive mood and supportive attitude towards the present state government, the people around started making fun and accused him of bluffing on this particular issue.

The Sarpanch was little bit worried over the Gau Charan land of around 23 acres in which the contractor to whom the land was given on lease had dug out deep trenches to sell the earth.

He said the district administration should intervene and their interest was either to construct a college or a gurukul or any other public utility programme should be started for the benefit of the public.
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Rafting expedition on Alaknanda by Garhwal Rifle
Our Correspondent

Meerut, October 29
A white water rafting expedition launched by the 3 Garhwal Rifle was flagged in by Lt-General G. D. Singh, General Officer Commanding, 2 Corps here today, to commemorate the battalion’s 88th year of raising. The 3 Garhwal Rifle is also celebrating its 50th year since its participation in the United Nation peace keeping mission in Korea.

The white water rafting expedition was flagged off from Rudarpryag and was received by Brigadier B. L. Poonia at Rishikesh. Aimed at promoting team spirit, cohesiveness and to instil a sense of adventure amongst the officers and men, the team undertook the four-day rafting expedition, navigating treacherous rapids on the Alaknanda river in two inflatable rafts. Such expeditions also helped officers, JCO’s and jawans achieve their operational task in the field.

Beginning at the confluence of Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers, the expedition team, including one officer, two JCO’s and 18 other ranks, finally ended its expedition at Rishikesh.

The glorious past of the 3 Garhwal Rifle was also remembered during the ceremony. Since its inception in 1916, it has proved its mettle in numerous operations, including the third Afghan War in 1914, World War II and active service in Sudan, Eritrea, Iraq, Cyprus and Italy.

The battalion also took part in some of the bloodiest battle at Gallabat Keren, Berento, Massawa and Amba Alagi. In the post independence period, the battalion saw action in 1948 and in the 1965 operations.
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NCR BRIEFS
JE caught red-handed taking bribe
Our Correspondents

Sonepat, October 29
In a raid carried out by the officials of the Vigilance Department in the office of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Ganaur, a Junior Engineer, Mr Azad Singh, was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 yesterday.

In the surprise raid headed by Mr Anil Sharma, City Magistrate and Mr Tara Chand, an inspector of the Vigilance Department, the Junior Engineer was caught accepting the bribe from Mr Rohtas of Shiv Shakti Cooperative Society of Dhaturi village for clearing a bill of Rs 1 lakh.

According to a report, the officials recovered the signed currency notes from the possession of the Junior Engineer during the raid and a case under the Anti-Corruption Act has been registered against him. Reportedly, the action of the Vigilance Department has caused panic among the employees of the marketing board.

Lok Adalat

The Haryana State Legal Aid Society has decided to hold one-day Lok Adalat on November 9 next in connection with the ‘Legal Service Day’ on the premises of the judicial complex, Sonepat.

According to a report, cases relating to civil, criminal, Hindu Marriage Act and Motor Vehicles Act would be decided in the Lok Adalat. The District and Sessions

Judge, Mr B. L. Singhal, has directed all the judicial and executive magistrates and the officials of the Revenue Department to submit the cases for the settlement in the Lok Adalat.

Freedom of press

Rohtak: Veteran journalist Prabhash Joshi advised mediapersons to approach constitutional institutions to safeguard the freedom of the press and to ensure safety of scribes working in the field.

Talking informally to newsmen at a programme organised by the Rohtak Journalists’ Front (RJF) here today, Mr Joshi expressed serious concern over rising incidents of attack on mediapersons in various parts of Haryana and attempts to curb the freedom of the Press.

The journalists in Haryana should write to the Chief Minister to remind him of his constitutional duty to ensure freedom of expression and safety of the lives of mediapersons working in the state. Joshi also advised the scribes to approach other constitutional institutions including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Supreme Court of India in case the state government failed to respond to their plea.

Seminar at MDU

The Maharshi Dayanand University will organise a seminar on “Current issues of India” on October 31 to commemorate Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel Jayanti. The seminar is being organised jointly by the Political Science Department and the Students Youth Welfare Office. Prof. Subroto Mukerjee of University of Delhi, Prof Ashwani Ray from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Prof O.P. Goyal, retired professor from MDU, will be among the speakers in the seminar.

LoadShedding Announced

The New Delhi Power Limited has announced load shedding on October 30 in BN block substation in Shalimar Bagh due to revamping from 10 am to 6 pm. TNS
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DELHI DIGEST
Jamia students demand union elections
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29
Even as the authorities tried hard to keep the foundation day celebrations from being disturbed, protesting students in Jamia Millia Islamia took out a black flag march on the campus.

A large number of students carrying black flags and badges gathered to register their protest against the university’s order prohibiting elections to the students’ body.

“A large number of students gathered near the Ghalib’s statue and went around the campus,” said a student activist, unwilling to be identified.

He added, “we tried to go into the venue where the celebration was being held but were stopped by the authorities. Since we wanted to keep it peaceful, we did no resist and instead went around the whole campus.” The students are now awaiting the meeting with the Vice-Chancellor.

“Yesterday, we were assured by the VC that he would meet us, but we have not been told the time of the meeting. It is likely to happen tomorrow is all that we can say for now,” the activists pointed out.

Despite the VC’s word, the agitating students have decided to continue with their protest. “We will keep the black flag march on till the VC meets us. Even tomorrow we will carry out the march in the morning before the VC meets us”.

The students are optimistic and confident that the authorities will agree to their “legitimate demand”. “The students are not asking for something which is unlawful, seeking the formation of a students’ body is legal and democratic and we are confident that the authorities will agree to our demands,” said the activist.

Promotion of youth entrepreneurship

Diageo Foundation presented a cheque of 55,000 UK pounds to Prince Charles, who received it on behalf of the BYST today. The donation was made during the Asian Summit on Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment organised at Parliament House Complex.

The cheque was jointly presented by Mr Geoffrey Bush, director, Corporate Citizenship, Diageo Plc and Mr Amar Singh, managing director, India and South Asia, Guiness UDV India during the function.

Diageo has entered into a partnership with BYST through the ‘Keep Walking Fund’ to promote youth entrepreneurship in rural and urban India. The programme provides end to end support to disadvantaged young and dynamic mico-entrepreneurs by providing loans, business mentors, training, networking and marketing support.
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Goods worth Rs 2.50 lakh gutted in Kharkhauda
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, October 29
A variety of goods worth about Rs 2.50 lakh were burnt in a devastating fire that broke out in a tent house in Kharkhauda town, about 19 km from here last night.

According to a report, the burnt goods included 100 quilts, 75 mats and 100 foam mattresses. The fire was brought under control by the local people, much before the arrival of the Municipal fire brigade from Sonepat. A short-circuit is stated to be the main cause of the fire.

Freedom Fighters cremated with honour

Mr Chander Bhan Paliwal, a veteran freedom fighter died in the Civil Hospital here last night after a prolonged illness. He was 88 and is survived by his two daughters.

According to a report, the body was taken to his native village of Jataula, about 25 km from here, where he was cremated with full honour. Large number of people paid homage to the departed leader. Mr Paliwal joined the freedom struggle at the age of 15 and was imprisoned a number of times by the British Government.

According to another report, Mr Lakhi Ram, a sepoy of Azad Hind Fauj and a freedom fighter, also died in his native village Ferozpur Bangar, about 25 km from here yesterday. He was 97 and had fought against the British regime during the freedom struggle.

The body of Mr Lakhi Ram was cremated with full honour in the presence of a large number of people of the village. Mr S. S. Phogat, Tehsildar Kharkhauda, laid a wreath on the body of Mr Lakhi Ram on behalf of the state government.

Free eye operation camp from Oct 31

The Sonepat unit of the Jain Milan, Mahila Jain Milan and the Lions Club are jointly organising a free eye operation camp from October 31 to November 2 on the premises of the Shiva Hospital (Shiva Shikhsha Sadan), Dev Nagar, near the Hindu College in this city.

According to a report, noted eye surgeons of the Multan Sewa Samiti Eye Hospital, Delhi, namely Dr B. N. Khanna, Dr Rajinder Khanna and Dr Sanjay Khanna will perform the eye operations during the camp.
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CRIME
 

Two criminals held, nine cases of snatching solved
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29
With the arrest of two persons, including a juvenile, the East district police today claimed to have solved nine cases of snatching and stereo theft. The police also claimed to have recovered three car stereos from their possession.

Acting on a complaint from one Urmila that three persons moving on a scooter (No DL-4-SS-3422) had snatched her gold chain while she was travelling with her husband on October 25, the police formed a team to investigate the case.

Consequently, the accused identified as Sajid, resident of Turkman Gate along with his 16-year-old associate were nabbed by the police.

During investigation, the police found that the scooter used in the incident had been sold by its owner, Manoj Kumar Goyal, resident of Hari Nagar, to one of employees, Sajid, resident of Turkman Gate.

Later, when Sajid was apprehended, he confessed to have committed the crime along with his associates. He told the police that he had also committed eight other such cases along with Raja Ram alias Raja. Efforts were being made to trace the whereabouts of Raja.

Fake traffic police personnel held

The New Delhi district police today claimed to have arrested two persons who used to pose themselves as traffic police personnel and extort money from auto drivers.

The accused, identified as Mahender Kumar (36), resident of Faridabad and Rakesh (45), a discharged home guard from Uttar Pradesh and a resident of Bulandshahr, were arrested following a complaint from one auto driver.

The two accused were nabbed while they were buying alcohol from a shop in the Connaught Place area. Posing as traffic police personnel, the accused told the police, that they used to hire autos and threaten the driver to part with the money.
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Trader arrested in Azadpur murder case
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, October 29
The Rai police have arrested a trader, identified as Surinder of Azadpur (Delhi) vegetable market, in connection with the alleged murder of Mr Harish Sharma, another fellow trader in the same market on October 24.

The police have also launched a massive hunt to apprehend the other accused involved in the case.

According to a report, the main culprit, Surinder, was produced before a judicial magistrate here yesterday, who remanded him to police custody for two days for further interrogation.

The main culprit is stated to have confessed to his involvement in the murder and given the names of his other associates, who had allegedly kidnapped Mr Harish Sharma and later shot him dead.

Even though the Rai police have carried out a number of raids at the possible hideouts of the culprits, they have failed to arrest them.

Mr Harish Sharma, it may be recalled, was allegedly kidnapped by the culprits, who later shot him dead. Later, they threw the body on the G T Road along side Sector 7 near Bahalgarh Chowk on October 24. Professional rivalry was stated to be the main cause of the murder. The police believe that a notorious criminal is behind this gruesome murder.
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