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Chargesheet filed against Bhadana in illegal mining
case
Merger with HVP to intensify Cong
infighting
Protesters wave black flags at Bhajan
Lal
Minor raped, murdered by
cousin
Centre justifies NSG’s VIP protection
role
Medical teachers’ time-bound promotions
favoured
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Kalam to open thermal plant unit today
Justice Kapoor tipped to be next Lok
Ayukta
‘Mentally sick’ woman kills her
child
One killed in
accident
Medical camp
organised
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Chargesheet filed against Bhadana in
Chandigarh, October 15 Informed sources say besides Mr Bhadana, the persons whose names figure in the chargesheet include two officers of the Haryana Mining Department. The premier investigating agency of the country filed the charge-sheet yesterday after about three-year-long investigations. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the CBI to investigate into the allegations of illegal mining in the entire Faridabad district on April 20, 2001. The allegations were levelled in a public interest litigation writ petition filed by a Faridabad-based journalist, Mr Subhash Sharma. The CBI registered a regular case on September 12, 2001, in this regard. Mr Bhadana was then the Cooperation Minister in the Chautala Government. Before the last Lok Sabha elections, Mr Bhadana quit the Cabinet as well as the Indian National Lok Dal and joined the BJP. He also unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections on the BJP ticket against Mr Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan. His brother, Avtar, is the Congress MP from Faridabad. Since there were certain deficiencies in the charge-sheet, the court has asked the CBI to submit all the relevant documents along with the chargesheet before it on November 22 next. In the FIR, the CBI had named Mr Bhadana, Messrs Ram Kishan Poorni Devi and its partner, Mr Ram Kishan, other unnamed mining lessees operating in Faridabad district and officials concerned of the Mines Safety Department, Ghaziabad, Haryana Mining Department and the local administration. The FIR stated that Mr Sharma alleged in his petition that Mr Bhadana and Mr Ram Kishan, who is closely related to Mr Bhadana, were unauthorisedly carrying out mining in the Ishq Mandi area of Faridabad district in connivance with officials. The High Court appointed a Chandigarh-based advocate, Mr R.S. Bains, as the local Commissioner to visit the site and submit his report. His report established that illegal mining was going on in the area alleged in the petition. The CBI registered the case under Section 279 of the IPC, the Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) Act, 1957, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The investigation was entrusted to Inspector Ajit Singh. The Bhadanas were earlier close to the Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhajan Lal, when he was the Chief Minister. Later, when differences cropped up between the two, Kartar joined the Haryana Vikas Party of Mr Bansi Lal. He became HVP MLA from Samalkha in 1996. However, he withdrew support from the Bansi Lal Government in 1999 and joined hands with Mr Om Prakash Chautala, INLD supremo. He was among a few former HVP MLAs, who were nominated by the INLD in the 2000 Assembly elections. |
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Merger with HVP to intensify Cong
infighting
Rohtak, October 15 This lobby is upset for two reasons. One, the merger will strengthen the Bhupinder Singh Hooda camp, as the Rohtak MP has close family ties with Mr Bansi Lal. Mr Hooda is also known to have played an important role in getting the Congress doors reopened for Mr Bansi Lal. The Bhajan Lal camp feels that within the party it will now have to reckon with the combined strength of Mr Hooda and Mr Bansi Lal. The other reason is both personal and political. Mr Kuldip Bishnoi currently represents the Bhiwani Lok Sabha constituency which has been a Bansi Lal bastion for long until Mr Surender Singh was defeated in the last Lok Sabha poll. Though there is no immediate threat to Mr Bishnoi’s political survival in Bhiwani since Mr Surender Singh can only contest an assembly seat as and when the Vidhan Sabha elections are held in the state, he could be a potential candidate next time. With elections round the corner, the merger of the HVP with the Congress will result in intense competition for securing party tickets. Over the years, the HVP has worked hard in all assembly segments to project its own candidates. These potential candidates will now be competing for party ticket along with the original Congress aspirants. In this scenario, the chances of rebel candidates entering the fray could damage the Congress in many a constituency. In this respect, those HVP leaders who preceded Mr Bansi Lal into the Congress last month find themselves better placed. Already, the second-rung leadership of the Haryana Congress is making shrill noises over the HVP merger. Almost everywhere, this section of Congressmen have been publicly expressing their opposition because they see many of them being sidelined by former HVP men especially in the areas where Mr Bansi Lal and his erstwhile party enjoyed influence. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) too, stands to gain from the merger. Not all Jat supporters of Mr Bansi Lal will like to follow him in to the Congress. Thus far Jats who were opposed both to the Congress and the INLD had the HVP as an alternative. With this platform gone, this section of the community has little choice but to shift loyalty to the INLD. The number of such Jat families is substantial. The BJP faces the same predicament. Its Haryana leadership will have to rework its political strategy. With the HVP on the scene, it could always make a choice between Mr Chautala’s INLD and Mr Bansi Lal’s HVP should need be. Post-merger, if it decides to have a political alliance in Haryana, it has just the INLD to look up to. As things stand today, tall claims by the BJP leaders to field its own candidates in all 90 assembly segments in the coming poll and pose a serious challenge to the Congress and the INLD in a majority of these, appear to be a shot in the dark. However, in the long run the BJP stands to gain from the merger. In case the INLD fails to return to power in the next year’s elections, the BJP will find a large number of INLD men knocking at its doors in the post-poll scenario. This could strengthen the party’s base in rural areas where it is still trying to gain a foothold. With the HVP becoming extinct, both the Congress and the BJP would try their best to disintegrate the only other family-dominated political party in the state — the INLD — provided it fares badly in the forthcoming assembly poll. It suits both these parties to prepare ground for the two-party system in the state. |
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Protesters wave black flags at Bhajan
Lal
Ferozepur Jhirka (Gurgaon), October 15 The agitators raised slogans saying that Mr Bhajan Lal as Chief Minister was responsible for riots in Mewat in 1992, in the wake of Babri Masjid demolition. However, Mr Bhajan Lal while addressing the rally clarified that he had no role in the breakout of riots. He also tendered apology for the sake of those persons who felt that he played a negative role in spite of his clarification. Mewat area spreads over in Gurgaon and Faridabad districts and is dominated by Meo Muslims. Reacting to the merger of the HVP with the Congress, he said the Congress would be further strengthened by the development. He further clarified that the president of the District (Mewat) Congress Committee was the party MLA from Taoru, Mr Zakir Hussain, and not Mr Azad Mohammad, a former minister. Mr Azad Mohammad is considered to be opposed to the Bhajan Lal camp and he was made the district president when Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda was the party Referring to the creation of a separate district by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, he said it was a political gimmick. In case the INLD government was serious it should have created the district four years back. The creation of the district now has been run in rough weather due to objection raised by the Commission for Reorganisation of Constituencies, he added. He asserted that if the Congress come to power, it would rechristen the new district “Mewat”. The present name of the district is Satyamev Puram. He further said that he would push the candidatures of the former minister Sakrulla Khan and Mr Zakir Hussain as Congress nominees, from Ferozepur Jhirka and Taoru Assembly constituencies, respectively, for the coming Assembly elections Mr Bhajan Lal said the next Congress government in the state would construct the Mewat Canal and also re-instate the employees whose services have been dispensed with by the INLD government. The main organiser of the rally was Mr Sakrulla Khan, who had earlier represented Ferozepur Jhirka assembly in the Haryana Assembly. According to many, the show did not fuffil the expectation of large turn-out. The Bhajan Lal camp also received a jolt due to the absence of the General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee and in charge of Haryana Affairs, Mr Janardan Diwedi. In fact the factionalism in the Haryana Congress once again came to the fore with the supporters of Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, including Mr Azad Mohammad, being conspicouos by their absence. The organisers had claimed that Mr Diwedi would attend the rally. |
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Minor raped, murdered by
cousin
Pipli (Kurukshetra), October 15 Mr Sita Ram, ASI, told The Tribune that the girl, Kamla, alias Kammo, after coming from the school went out in the fields to collect fodder for cattle on Tuesday afternoon but did not return. As the tension brewed among the family members, a complaint was lodged in the Pipli police station late in the evening. On Wednesday morning, the family members got information that the body of the Kamla with stains of blood was lying in the sugarcane fields of Sanjiv Kumar, a local resident. The body of the girl was recovered in a naked condition with clothes lying nearby. The police has also recovered few bricks with stains of blood from near her body that might have been used to murder the girl after raping her. When Kamaljit Singh, a cousin of the deceased, suspiciously tried to interfere in the process of police investigation, a group of villagers asked him why he was taking so much interest in the case. Later, he confessed that he raped and murdered her sister. He was handed over to the police. The postmortem report of the body has confirmed that Kamla was raped before the murder. The body was later handed over to the family members. Meanwhile, the police produced him before a local court last evening which sent him in 14 days judicial custody. |
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Centre justifies NSG’s VIP protection
role
Manesar, October 15 “NSG has an important role in VIP security as if a VIP is attacked by militants, it can create panic and terror and shatter the confidence of the people. We shall have to prevent that,” Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil told mediapersons on the eve of NSG’s 20th Raising Day here today. Appreciating the effective manner in which the NSG was handling its dual responsibility as a crack
commando force and VIP protection role, Mr Patil said the Centre would extend a comprehensive package to the force to upgrade its training units further to meet the new challenges posed by global terrorism. Earlier, addressing NSG jawans and officers, Mr Patil noted with appreciation the introduction of women commandoes in the force and the NSG’s efforts to upgrade its training contents and outdoor facilities to keep pace with the changing pattern of terrorist threats. “It is towards this effort that a permanent model of aircraft, for training in aircraft intervention by security forces in a hijack situation, has been established in the NSG garrison. This will not only sharpen the skills of NSG Commandoes, but also of security personnel within the country and abroad who come for training here,” he said. NSG Director-General R.S. Mooshahary said the VIP protection role had in no way compromised NSG’s effectiveness as an interventionist quick reaction force. “In fact, we have accomplished all operational missions with VIP security duty being an integral part of our responsibilities,” he said, asserting, “We are prepared to play even a larger role in ensuring the physical security of high-risk VIPs.” In a veiled attack on state police organisations, which were raising their own crack commando teams on the pattern of the NSG, Mr Mooshahary said, “The states which have raised their own commando groups not only seek our expertise, but also literally copy our uniform. This causes, at times, confusion in identity. We have urged them not to ape us, but without success.” “NSG has made black truly beautiful and visible too,” the NSG chief said in the presence of the Home Minister, who later assured him to take up the issue with the respective state governments and resolve the issue amicably. Tomorrow, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will present the colours to the NSG at the NSG Complex on the occasion of its Raising Day. It is first time that the President of India will be visiting the NSG garrison to present the colours. Colours are presented to a force by the President in recognition of the outstanding services rendered in operations. It symbolises the collective spirit of the force and its acts of valour forged in sweat and blood. |
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Medical teachers’ time-bound promotions
favoured
Rohtak, October 15 The committee submitted the draft amendments to the service rules to the Financial Commissioner and the Secretary, Health, two days ago. A detailed presentation was made before the top government officials highlighting the proposed changes. The draft rules provide for changing the designations of teachers. The entry level post of lecturer is to be re-designated as assistant professor. Similarly the nomenclature of the post of reader in the present setup shall be changed to associate professor. The post of associate professor is slated to be re-designated as professor. In addition a professor will henceforth be known as senior professor. The pay scales will remain the same after re-designation. Under the proposed rules there shall be no lateral entry to the HMES cadre except in the super-specialty departments. Entry shall be at the level of assistant professor and the posts of associate professor, professor and senior professor shall be filled only by promotion. An assistant professor shall become an associate professor after five years. Another four years of service would pave the way for the post of professor. After four years of service a professor will become eligible for appointment as a senior professor. All posts of senior professor will be filled by promotion but not all professors will reach that level because the number of posts is fixed. |
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Kalam to open thermal plant unit today
Panipat, October 15 Tight security arrangements have been made in view of the President’s visit tomorrow. Police personnel have also been called from different districts of the state. Three helipads have been made for the President’s helicopter and two escort helicopters. |
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Justice Kapoor tipped to be next Lok
Ayukta
Chandigarh, October 15 According to informed sources, the state government has written to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as to Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, officiating leader of the Congress Legislature Party, the main Opposition party in the Vidhan Sabha, suggesting the name of Justice Kapoor for the post. Under the Haryana Lok Ayukta Act, the appointment of the Lok Ayukta is to be done by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice and the Leader of Opposition. Of course, their consent is not necessary. It is not known if the Chief Justice and Capt Yadav have responded so far. Capt Yadav, the sources say, was sent the letter early this week. Justice Kapoor is currently Chairman of a Tribunal set up under the Town and Country Planning Department to hear appeals against demolitions along the scheduled roads. Justice Kapoor belongs to Sirsa district. Justice I.P. Vasishth of the Allahabad High Court was the first Lok Pal of the state to be appointed under the Bansi Lal Government. The then Leader of Opposition, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had objected to his name. When Mr Chautala came into power, he abolished the Lok Pal Act and removed Justice Vasishth from office without paying him compensation for his
remaining tenure. The Chautala Government had then said that it had abolished the Act because it wanted to enact a new law which would have more teeth. However, the Haryana Lok Ayukta Act, 2002, piloted by the Chautala Government, had less teeth than the abolished Act. The then Governor sent it for the consideration of the President, who returned the Bill with certain observations. The Vidhan Sabha incorporated the suggestions of the President in the Bill. Though the Bill received the President’s approval a long time ago, the Chautala Government, for reasons best known to it, did not initiate the process for the appointment of the Lok Ayukta till now. Incidentally, Justice Vasishth has now approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to seek compensation for his unexpired term of five years. |
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‘Mentally sick’ woman kills her
child
Sirsa, October 15 Nabbed with a bagful of organs of her son, Harjeet Kaur was first noticed by a villager coming from the railway station side, said the police sources.
With her clothes soaked in blood, she was going to a “mazar” to offer the organs of her son, as demanded by the “peer”, but later informed the local police about the matter. According to the police, Harjeet Kaur killed her son with a sharp-edged weapon and cut open his stomach. Later, senior police officials reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case against the accused and arrested her. |
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One killed in
accident
Ambala, October 15 The accident took place when the Matiz, the deceased was travelling in, collided with a truck. Two other persons sustained injuries in the accident. While one person had been shifted to GMCH Chandigarh, the other injured was recuperating at a private hospital. |
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Medical camp
organised
Ambala, October 15 Mr Ashok Pannu, project coordinator Punjab unit of the association, informed about the STD diseases. Free medical examination, free medicines and consultancy services were provided to the patients. The people were also informed about the HIV and AIDS.
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