SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H A R Y A N A

Government removes illegal checkposts
But stone-crusher owners to continue stir, seek CBI probe
Khanak (Bhiwani), June 24
Bowing to pressure from various quarters, the Haryana Government has eventually removed checkposts in the area where excess royalty, popularly known as “goonda tax”, was allegedly being charged on construction material in connivance with leasehold contractors.

Gymkhana clubs or ‘ahatas’?
Rohtak, June 24
Many of HUDA’s prestigious multi-crore Gymkhana clubs have been virtually converted into ‘ahatas’ where minors consume liquor and non-member professional gamblers rule the roost in card rooms.

Govt urged to reinstate HSMITC employees
Fatehabad, June 24
The Haryana State Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation's (HSMITC's) joint action committee and the Sarva Karamchari Sangh have urged the state government to reinstate the employees of the corporation who were retrenched by the erstwhile Chautala government.

Police empowered to make ‘unorthodox’ entry into jails
Chandigarh, June 24
If you are in Haryana and see a group climbing a prison wall from outside, do not panic. It is not a daring rescue act inspired by some film. The men hauling themselves up the wall may actually be cops who may be entering the prison in this rather unorthodox fashion only to catch the mischievous among the inmates unawares.

Scheduled Caste members facing harassment: panel
Chandigarh, June 24
After taking cognizance of the atrocities committed against members of the Scheduled Castes in Haryana, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has now drawn the attention of the state authorities towards the harassment of Scheduled Caste members in Panchayati Raj institutions.

Haryana troops seek cash benefits for VSM awardees
Chandigarh, June 24
Soldiers belonging to Haryana have sought monetary benefits for recipients of the VSM series of awards to bring them at par with soldiers hailing from neighbouring states.


Stories from Haryana towns falling in the National Capital Region are put in
 Delhi & neighbourhood.


YOUR TOWN
Ambala
Bhiwani
Chandigarh
Fatehabad
Hisar
Rewari
Rohtak
Sonepat


EARLIER STORIES

 

‘CPI may adopt hard posture against Centre’
Shahabad, June 24

The Communist Party of India (CPI) may adopt a ‘hard posture’ against the union government. It has alleged that the government has failed to carve out a clear path for itself and deliver to poor people who had brought it to power.

Alternative medicine institute in a shambles
Panchkula, June 24
Conceived by the Haryana Government to promote and offer various alternative systems of medicine, the Haryana Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research here has failed to achieve the objectives for which it was set up.

Dried medicinal plants amidst weeds at the Haryana Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Panchkula. —  Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Dried medicinal plants amidst weeds at the Haryana Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Panchkula.

Awareness drive on AIDS soon
Panchkula, June 24
An awareness campaign will be launched to create an awakening among people, especially truck drivers, about AIDS by putting up hoardings at dhabas along the National Highways passing through Haryana.

Two new scholarship schemes introduced
Chandigarh, June 24
The Haryana Government has introduced two new schemes to give scholarships to students. One of these schemes is exclusively for undergraduate girl students to enable them to pursue higher education.

Groom, baratis beaten up over “custom”
Jagadhri, June 24
Dispute over “custom” arose at a marriage function in Musimble - Muslmana village here yesterday and the groom, his father, sister and two other members of the marriage party were allegedly beaten up and taken into “captivity” by the bride’s relatives, who were irritated at the late arrival of the barat.

Canada offers help in education city project
Chandigarh, June 24
Canada has offered its assistance to Haryana in the setting up of the proposed education city named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the state. The Canadian Government has also offered mutual collaboration in other areas, including agriculture, the milk industry and environment technology.

Jail officer gets threat call
Sonepat, June 24
The Deputy Superintendent of Sonepat District Jail, Mr J.S. Sethi, has been threatened with murder. It is suspected that the threat is the handiwork of a companion of one of the 50 hardcore criminals lodged in the jail.

Wanted criminal killed in encounter
Hisar, June 24
Kunty, a 22-year-old wanted criminal of Dinauda village, was killed in an encounter with the police at Uklana township in the district today. Among other cases, he was allegedly involved in the recent murder of Jaipal, a Narwana-based trader.

5 hooch tragedy accused nabbed
Rewari, June 24
The police has arrested five bootleggers, including two juveniles, allegedly involved in a hooch tragedy here which had left eight dead.

Police hunts for clues in double murder case
Ambala, June 24
The police is searching for clues in the double murder case of an elderly couple in Ambala City yesterday.

Two more get bail in poaching case
Jhajjar, June 24
Ahamad and Dayasudeen, accused in the black buck poaching case, were granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate here today. They had surrendered yesterday in the court of CJM Mr Sudhir Jiwan, after which the police took them on one day’s remand.

2 milk vendors killed in road mishap
Rewari, June 24
Two milk vendors, Attar Singh and Rati Ram, both residents of Salhawas village, near here, died when their bicycles were hit by a speeding trailer (HR-36A-8862) on the Rewari-Garhi Bolni road, near Kasaula Chowk, 8 km from here, yesterday.


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Government removes illegal checkposts
But stone-crusher owners to continue stir, seek CBI probe
Sunit Dhawan
Tribune News Service

Khanak (Bhiwani), June 24
Bowing to pressure from various quarters, the Haryana Government has eventually removed checkposts in the area where excess royalty, popularly known as “goonda tax”, was allegedly being charged on construction material in connivance with leasehold contractors.

The illegal checkposts, which came up during the Chautala regime were removed after the Hooda government took over. However, these were re-established earlier this month, sparking widespread protests.

Stone-crusher owners, labourers, auto-market traders, mechanics and persons running other related businesses have been protesting against the re-establishment of the checkposts for the past several weeks. All mining and stone-crushing work has come to a near standstill.

The protesters did not end their agitation despite the removal of the checkposts last night. They have decided to continue the stir until the lease was cancelled and a CBI probe was ordered into the matter. They allege that excessive royalty was being charged and proper receipts were not issued to them.

The functioning of the Congress government in the state has also come under a cloud with former Chief Minister Bansi Lal alleging that Congress MLA Ram Kishan Fauji had received a kickback to favour the contractor.

On March 16, Mr R.S.Yadav, Assistant Mining Engineer, Mines and Geology Department, Bhiwani, wrote a letter to Baba Mungipa Mines and Mineral Company. The letter, a copy of which is in possession of The Tribune, stated that the company had established checkposts outside the leasehold area, thus violating the lease agreement.

The company was told to install weighment bridges and checkposts within the leasehold area, failing which the lease could be cancelled. However, the company did not comply with the directions and the checkposts were removed by the government.

However, the checkposts were re-established in June, much to the dismay of stone-crusher owners, labourers and others involved in mining operations. This time, officials of the Mining and Sales Tax Departments also manned the checkposts along with employees of the contractors.

On June 15, the Khanak-Dadam Stone-Crusher Association wrote a letter to the Assistant Mining Engineer, stating that despite his orders, the company had not installed weighment bridges inside the leasehold area and the checkposts were also functioning outside the leasehold area. However, the association has not got a reply so far.

When this correspondent contacted Mr Yadav on his mobile phone, he bluntly refused to talk in this regard.

Representatives of various unions of stone-crusher owners, labourers and traders said they would carry on the struggle until the state government issued specific orders regarding the lease cancellation and handed over the matter to the CBI.

Congress leaders, including Mr Bansi Lal, Ms Kiran Chaudhary and Mr Jai Prakash have assured the protesters that the proceedings to cancel the lease of the contractors had been started.

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Gymkhana clubs or ‘ahatas’?
Raman Mohan
Tribune News Service

Rohtak, June 24
Many of HUDA’s prestigious multi-crore Gymkhana clubs have been virtually converted into ‘ahatas’ where minors consume liquor and non-member professional gamblers rule the roost in card rooms.

After the Rohtak Gymkhana was closed down under similar circumstances, the latest victims of the malaise are the swank Hisar and Kurukshetra Gymkhana clubs.

The Hisar Gymkhana Club’s bar and restaurant have been leased to a private caterer who now virtually controls its management. The bar, restaurant, gymnasium and card rooms have been thrown open to all and sundry. As a result, regular members, most of whom paid Rs 25,000 each for membership, have been eased out by drunkards, students and notorious gamblers.

This air-conditioned bar serves liquor to minors. Though groups of minors can be seen in the bar every evening, they outnumber adults on Sundays. Lungi clad truckers are the latest addition to the bar’s customers. They order a 30 ml peg of the cheapest liquor which they keep filling later from quarts of desi liquor concealed under kurtas.

In the Hisar Gymkhana’s card rooms, professional gamblers use similar tactics though they use hip flasks. Till a few months ago, they operated from the dingy Hisar club and the Eliot clubs. None of them is a member of the Gymkhana.

In Kurukshetra, all outdoor and indoor game arenas have been taken over by non-members and their children. The restaurant is open to the general public and serves poor quality food at prices higher than those of the local markets.

Women have stopped using the services of both these clubs because of the nuisance created by non-members and anti-social elements. The once packed gyms of both clubs are now deserted. Ms Bhavna Singhal of Kurukshetra who was till recently a regular visitor says that she and her friends had stopped going to the Gymkhana as non-members would not vacate the games area for regular members.

The members have stopped paying the monthly charges on the plea that no fee is being charged from non-members for using the club facilities. Mr Vijay Bansal and Mr Dalip Kedia of Hisar say that they want to surrender their membership.

Club officials say that they had to allow non-members to “unofficially” use the facilities because the clubs could not be sustained financially by members alone. They say the licence fee for the bar was so exorbitant that revenue earnings from the members were not sufficient to sustain the bar even for three months.

The members, however, say that the constitution of the managing bodies was responsible for it.

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Govt urged to reinstate HSMITC employees
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, June 24
The Haryana State Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation's (HSMITC's) joint action committee and the Sarva Karamchari Sangh have urged the state government to reinstate the employees of the corporation who were retrenched by the erstwhile Chautala government.

They alleged that the government had been delaying the process.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Bharat Singh Beniwal, state convener of the HSMITC's joint action committee, and Mr Poonam Chand Ratti, state president of the sangh, said the Congress party had promised during elections that it would reinstate the services of retrenched employees of the corporation and other government and semi-government departments. They alleged that after winning the elections the government had not done anything concrete.

The employees' leaders said they had met Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on March 21, who had assured them that the employees would be brought back to jobs. The Chief Minister had constituted a sub-committee under Finance Minister Birender Singh for the purpose, but the committee had not met even once and the matter was put on hold since then, they alleged.

Mr Ratti said there were 3,916 employees of the HSMITC when it was wound up by the government, out of which about 1,200 employees had already retired and over 50 had died since then. He said it was not difficult for the government to reinstate the remaining employees.

He said as many as 32 Congress MLAs had already given them in writing that they were for the reinstatement of the retrenched employees. He said the employees would wait till August 5 and in case their demands were not met, they would launch an agitation.

Mr Beniwal and Mr Ratti said the employees had also been demanding right to strike, filling of vacant posts and opposing privatisation of pension schemes, downsizing and right sizing of departments.

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Police empowered to make ‘unorthodox’ entry into jails
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24
If you are in Haryana and see a group climbing a prison wall from outside, do not panic. It is not a daring rescue act inspired by some film. The men hauling themselves up the wall may actually be cops who may be entering the prison in this rather unorthodox fashion only to catch the mischievous among the inmates unawares.

Getting into a prison in the conventional way, that is by using the main door, is a lengthy process and by the time a police raiding party can actually reach the cells and barracks to carry out a search, its presence already becomes known to prisoners and any contraband that an inmate may have, is hidden away.

It is learnt that more than any other contraband, it is the prisoners’ access to mobile phones that is posing a serious challenge to the police. The phones are frequently used by prison inmates and complaints of notorious criminals running extortion rackets from inside the prison through mobile phones were common when the INLD was in power in the state.

The jail in Rohtak became particularly notorious as a certain “pehelwan” ran his operations from the prison allegedly with the blessings of the previous regime’s political bosses. After the Congress came to power in the state, the “pehelwan” got himself shifted to Tihar Jail in Delhi.

But even if politicians are not interested in giving protection to a prisoner, a search in his cell by the police often reveals precious little as inmates of this category are often tipped off about the raid by prison staff members. This has prompted the Prison Department to empower the police to get into a jail by climbing the wall for carrying out a search. The superintendent of the jail will have to be intimated in the case of such an operation and he will take care so that there is no skirmish between the raiding party and the armed prison guards. “We have found that there is provision for such raids under the law,” quipped a source.

As a matter of fact, the prisoners have started using mobile phones with such impunity that the state government has also decided to instal jammers inside the prisons to cut off the signals of mobiles phones.

The Prison Department had originally mooted a proposal of acquiring 61 jammers for installation in various jails in the state. Later, it was decided that initially 10 jammers, each costing a little over Rs 8 lakh, would be acquired and installed at the prison in Ambala.

Installing the jammers is cumbersome because the jail authorities will have to ensure that these are effective only inside the jail and do not cut off the signals of mobile phones of people living in the neighbourhood. If the plan works successfully in Ambala, these jammers will be gradually introduced in other prisons of the state.

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Scheduled Caste members facing harassment: panel
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24
After taking cognizance of the atrocities committed against members of the Scheduled Castes in Haryana, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has now drawn the attention of the state authorities towards the harassment of Scheduled Caste members in Panchayati Raj institutions.

"There have been cases in which the Scheduled Caste representatives have become victims of the wrongdoings of others and been suspended and removed from such posts", the commission has pointed out in a recent communiqué to the Haryana Chief Secretary.

The commission said harassment of members of the Scheduled Castes in Panchayati Raj institutions was happening due to lack of awareness among the members regarding their rights. The members of the state legislative Assembly, representing the Scheduled Castes communities, also needed to be made aware about the rights and duties as envisaged under the Panchayati Raj Act, the commission further pointed out.

Sources in the commission said Haryana had been asked to organise awareness workshops, initially in the five districts where the SC population was on the higher side compared to the state percentage. Districts of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Karnal had been identified for holding a workshop at the Haryana Institute of Rural Development, Karnal.

The sources pointed out that the commission had found out that lack of awareness of the Scheduled Caste representatives elected to gram panchayats, block samitis and zila parishads was hampering development activities in their respective areas.

The commission said the Scheduled Caste representatives needed specialised training. It was suggested that an interactive session should be held between participants and Members of Parliament.

Panel to undertake review of Punjab, Haryana

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is closely monitoring the cases of atrocities and custodial deaths concerning members of the Scheduled Castes in Punjab and Haryana in recent months. Though Haryana figures below Punjab in terms the gravity and numbers of such cases, the Chairman of the commission will visit the states to take a stock of the situation, said sources in the commission.

The commission was specifically studying the cases reported from Jalandhar, Ferozepore, Bathinda, Nawanshahr, Ludhiana and Ropar districts in Punjab. 

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Haryana troops seek cash benefits for VSM awardees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24
Soldiers belonging to Haryana have sought monetary benefits for recipients of the VSM series of awards to bring them at par with soldiers hailing from neighbouring states.

The VSM series, including Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), are awarded for distinguished and meritorious service and not for gallantry in the field.

Haryana is already paying substantial monetary benefits to winners of gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashok Chakra. It is also giving benefits to winners of the Yudh Seva Medal series of awards, which are not for bravery but for distinguished service during war time.

Speaking to The Tribune, several serving as well as retired armed forces personnel said other states in the region, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttaranchal are giving benefits to VSM awardees. A majority of other states in the country are doing the same.

Punjab, for example, pays a cash grant of Rs 15,000, a cash grant of Rs 1 lakh in lieu of land and an annuity of Rs 2,400 to PVSM winners hailing from the state. Similar benefits are paid by other states.

For gallantry awards, benefits paid by Haryana match those in other states. It pays Rs 22,500 as cash grant, Rs 1.5 lakh as cash in lieu of land and Rs 3,000 an annuity to Param Vir Chakra winners.

Officers said incentives given in recognition of bravery or distinguished service were a good morale booster and disparity between soldiers belonging to different regions or states should be looked into.

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‘CPI may adopt hard posture against Centre’
Tribune News Service

Shahabad, June 24
The Communist Party of India (CPI) may adopt a ‘hard posture’ against the union government. It has alleged that the government has failed to carve out a clear path for itself and deliver to poor people who had brought it to power.

This was announced by Mr A.B. Bardhan, general secretary of the CPI, while talking to The Tribune before addressing a public gathering here, today. He said the left parties had already given many chances to the government to conform to the common minimum programme to address concerns of the common man.

When asked about the nature of ‘hard posture’, he said it was not pertinent to announce it right now in the absence of other senior leaders of the party. “We will call a press conference on June 26 at New Delhi to publicly announce our stand”, he said.

Referring to rise in the prices of petroleum products, he said the party had taken it seriously and would protest against the unilateral decision of the government throughout the country on June 28 by observing a bandh and blocking traffic on the national highways.

Mr Bardhan said the government should rollback 50 paisa per litre road development cess on petrol and diesel, modernise refineries to cut down losses and stop interference of international agencies in deciding the prices of essential commodities.

He said several social issues such as the scheme to generate employment, the proposed Employment Guarantee Act and Women Reservation Bill were still crying for attention.

Even in the area of unorganised labour, which constitutes 93 per cent of the workforce, there had been no initiative so far, though the government had promised social security, health, insurance and other schemes for such workers, he said.

Referring to the government’s decision on disinvestment of Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited, he said it was not in the interest of the nation. No effective steps had so far been taken to make the loss-making PSU’s economically viable, he added.

As far as diplomatic policy on Pakistan was concerned, the CPI leader seemed to be satisfied. He was of the view that the peace process initiated by the government was satisfactory and it should continue in future.

Earlier, the CPI leader laid the foundation stone of a memorial of comrade Khushdev Singh, who along with two other persons was shot dead here on April 9, 1988. Senior CPI leader Amarjit Kaur and Dr Harnam Singh, secretary of the state unit of the party were also present on the occasion and addressed the public gathering.

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Alternative medicine institute in a shambles
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 24
Conceived by the Haryana Government to promote and offer various alternative systems of medicine, the Haryana Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research here has failed to achieve the objectives for which it was set up.

Living on the dole of the government, the institute in its 15-year existence continues to face financial constraints and due to which it lacks infrastructure and other facilities. Its indoor wing, which was constructed keeping in view the various systems of medicine, has been converted into an office- cum- OPD section till the OPD wing was got ready.

Hundreds of exotic medicinal plants, meant for making ayurvedic medicines, in an eight acres Institute have dried in the past two years. In spite of a water sprinkling system installed here, these plants have not been watered for several months as there is no gardener to look after these plants.

Almost 45 varieties of medicinal plants, including gheekwar, amla, bahera, harar, bil, arjun, ashok, neem, salwan etc. have either dried or their growth has been stunted because of weeds in the once lush greens of the institute. These plants were planted by the state Forest Department when the institute was set up in 1993 for having an in-house source for making ayurvedic medicines. Now, Congress grass, sarkanda, and other weeds cover the entire green area of the institute, resulting in stunted growth of these medicinal plants. The area, where the medicinal plants are grown, is also covered with cannabis (bhang) , turning it into a safe haven for addicts.

Sources in the institute informed Chandigarh Tribune that these plants had dried because there was no gardener to water the plants. As a result, the in-house laboratory for ayurvedic medicines failed to take off. The Institute is now sending Amla, Bahera and Arhar from here to the state Ayurveda College at Kurukshetra for making ayurvedic medicines.

The institute was envisaged as one of its kind in North India offering at least 18 therapies, including naturopathy, herbal medicine, food therapy, acupressure, acupuncture, yoga and magneto-therapy, mud therapy, spiritual healing, ayurveda, homoeopathy, yoga, aromatherapy, through indoor and outdoor treatment. It also aimed at propagating the health promotive and educative aspects of these systems by holding short-term treatment-cum-training camps on general and specific health problems.

A research centre was proposed to be set up here for training in various alternative therapies and medicines. Other than ayurveda, yoga, homoeopathy and accupressure, no other therapy is being offered here, even as the daily Out Patient Department’s average at the institute is around 50. The existing staff of four persons, including an acupressurist, a homoeopathic medical officer, a chowkidar and a sweeper, cannot take on more patients and over the years the OPD patients have decreased.

Even the open air demonstration laboratory built for the proposed research centre is in a dilapidated condition. Officials said other than patients from Haryana, those from neighbouring Himachal and Delhi too visited the institute for treatment. “Though numerous proposals have been made for upgrading the services, nothing has been done so far,” rued an official.

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Awareness drive on AIDS soon
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 24
An awareness campaign will be launched to create an awakening among people, especially truck drivers, about AIDS by putting up hoardings at dhabas along the National Highways passing through Haryana.

This was stated by the Deputy Director of Haryana AIDS Control Society, Mr V.V. Prashar, while speaking at a two-day seminar on total awareness campaign on HIV and AIDS, which concluded here today.

He said that the Haryana AIDS Control Society would launch a state-wide special campaign from next month with the help of various government departments to educate the people about AIDS. As part of this campaign a ‘red ribbon convoy’ of six-seven vehicles would be taken to the rural areas of the state to educate people.

He said a state-level coordination committee had been constituted and even at the district-level such committees had been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners for the success of the campaign. The departments which would help in the campaign include transport, sports and youth welfare, police, labour, women and child development and public relations and help of aganwari workers, health workers, and social organisation as well as panchayati raj institutions would be taken.

The Deputy Director, Haryana AIDS Control Society, Mr Shivanand Vats, urged the youth coordinators to impress upon the people to avail the facility of consultation and check up centers of AIDS without any hesitation.

The members and coordinators of youth clubs, who participated in the seminar, were urged to make significant contribution in educating the people about preventive measures of AIDS. This two-day seminar was organised by Haryana Sports and Youth Welfare Department in collaboration with Haryana AIDS Control Society.

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Two new scholarship schemes introduced
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24
The Haryana Government has introduced two new schemes to give scholarships to students. One of these schemes is exclusively for undergraduate girl students to enable them to pursue higher education.

Stating this here today, a spokesman of the Haryana Higher Education Department said under the Haryana State (Meritorious Students) Scholarship Scheme, fixed annual scholarships would be awarded to male and female students.

The scholarship would be based on their performance in the annual university examinations of the main educational streams, including arts, commerce, science (both medical and non-medical) and education, for graduate and post graduate classes.

He said the students who secured the first three positions would be awarded scholarships of Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 per annum, respectively. Nearly 2,200 students would be benefit, he added.

He said under the other scheme scholarships would be offered to undergraduate girl students who, after passing the 10+2 class with at least 60 per cent marks, were studying in a government institution.

Hep said each scholarship would be of Rs 3,000 per annum. Ten students would be awarded scholarships per college. A total of 600 students would benefit under the scheme annually.

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Groom, baratis beaten up over “custom”
Nishikant Dwivedi
Tribune News Service

Jagadhri, June 24
Dispute over “custom” arose at a marriage function in Musimble - Muslmana village here yesterday and the groom, his father, sister and two other members of the marriage party were allegedly beaten up and taken into “captivity” by the bride’s relatives, who were irritated at the late arrival of the barat. The matter was resolved in the wee hours today after a joint panchayat of the two parties and the barat returned home with the bride.

The barat from Sarswa village of Sharnapur district in Uttar Pradesh was scheduled to reach the village at 8 am yesterday but it reached at 2 pm. It is being said the bride’s family got irritated because of the delay and arguments took place.

During the departure of the doli, the groom’s family, as part of a custom, imprinted “haldi” marks on the clothes of the bride’s relatives and asked them to pay the fare of the six vehicles in which the barat had arrived. The brides family reportedly refused to do so and arguments took place.

Meanwhile, residents of the neighbouring Musimble - Hinduana village also reached the marriage pandal. The altercations became violent and some people from the bride’s side allegedly caught hold of the groom, and his father. Sources said as the situation got tensed, most of the baratis ran away. The girl’s relatives reportedly beat up the groom, his father, sister and two other baratis and later took them captive.

The police was called in. Later in the evening, the sarpanch and some municipal councillors from Sarswa reached the village. A panchayat of those from Sarswa and residents of Musimble - Muslamna and Musimble - Hinduana villages was held matter was resolved after the groom’s family gave in writing that they would not harass the bride. 

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Canada offers help in education city project
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24
Canada has offered its assistance to Haryana in the setting up of the proposed education city named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the state. The Canadian Government has also offered mutual collaboration in other areas, including agriculture, the milk industry and environment technology.

While stating this here yesterday, an official release said the Canadian High Commissioner, Mrs Lucie Edwards, who called on the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, here yesterday, offered all assistance of Canada for education city.

In response to the Canadian offer, the Chief Minister appointed the Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Industry, Mr P.K. Chaudhary, the nodal officer to further negotiate with the Canadian authorities on matters of mutual collaboration.

Mrs Edwards also suggested the setting up of a distance education centre with Canadian assistance.

The Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr M.L.Tayal, said that Kurukshetra University already had collaboration with a university in Australia. Similar initiatives could also be taken by Canada.

The Canadian High Commissioner said although there was not much investment by Canadians in Haryana so far, joint ventures could be taken up in the areas of agriculture, the milk industry and environment technology. She said Canada could offer its knowhow in fuel-saving technology and the development of a cold chain for the transportation of poultry and dairy products. 

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Jail officer gets threat call
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune Service News

Sonepat, June 24
The Deputy Superintendent of Sonepat District Jail, Mr J.S. Sethi, has been threatened with murder. It is suspected that the threat is the handiwork of a companion of one of the 50 hardcore criminals lodged in the jail.

Talking to The Tribune, Mr Sethi said that he had received a threatening call on his mobile on Monday at around 8.30 p.m. The threatening call was made from a Panipat public call office (PCO).

Mr Sethi said the caller had told him in chaste Haryanvi: “Yaa to hamare balko ko theek dang se rakh, nahin to jaan se maar denge (take care of our associates, otherwise we will kill you).”

Soon the Deputy Superintendent of Jail brought the matter to the notice of the SP, Mr Sukhdev Singh. An FIR under Sections 189 and 506 of the IPC has been lodged with City police station against an unidentified person on the SP’s directions.

When contacted, the DSP HQ, Mr Subash Chander, said that the police was investigating the matter from various angles. In reply to a question, he said that the police was also focusing on the companions of 50 hardcore criminals lodged in the jail.

According to information, as many as 50 hardcore criminals of the total of 850 inmates have been lodged in the jail. These 50 jail inmates are habitual criminals and have been lodged in the jail for serious crimes, including murder, robbery, dacoity and theft in different parts of Sonepat and its surrounding areas.

These criminals belong to eight different gangs. Some of the jail inmates like Kala Bhoria belongs to the Anoop gang and Vijay Pal to the Sanjaya Bhutania gang.

Besides, several other members of various gangs, including the Kulbir gang, the Baba gang and the Kachha gang, have also been lodged in the jail for different serious crimes.

Jail sources said that these inmates were not happy with the working of the Deputy Superintendent of Jail as he was very strict.

Meanwhile, the district police has provided a PCR for the jail and five police personnel for patrolling round the jail for its protection after the threatening call. However, no security guard has been provided to the Deputy Superintendent of Jail so far.

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Wanted criminal killed in encounter
Tribune News Service

Hisar, June 24
Kunty, a 22-year-old wanted criminal of Dinauda village, was killed in an encounter with the police at Uklana township in the district today. Among other cases, he was allegedly involved in the recent murder of Jaipal, a Narwana-based trader.

Senior Superintendent of Police Arshinder Singh Chawla, told The Tribune that several criminal cases, including three of murder, three of robbery and another under the NDPS Act, were pending against Kunty.

He said Kunty was released on interim bail on May 6, but he jumped bail after failing to report back on May 6. On June 1, he allegedly killed Jaipal.

The police got a tip-off that Kunty was present at the office of a finance company in Uklana. A police party raided the office while he was inside. In the ensuing encounter, Kunty was shot dead while a police official, ASI Krishan Lal, was injured. The police official has been hospitalised while Kunty’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

This is the second case of encounter in the district within this week. Earlier, three alleged extortionists had been killed in an encounter near Kaliravan village on June 21.

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5 hooch tragedy accused nabbed
Our Correspondent

Rewari, June 24
The police has arrested five bootleggers, including two juveniles, allegedly involved in a hooch tragedy here which had left eight dead.

The accused include Raju alias Rajender, Bijender, Rajpal, Manju alias Manoj-all brothers of Gujriwas village near here — and Babloo alias Krishan Kumar Sharma of Malpura village under Kotputli police station of Jaipur district in Rajasthan.

Besides, Chawli Devi, mother of the main accused Raju, was arrested earlier on Sunday.

The police had earlier registered a case under sections 302, 328, 34 of IPC and sections 61/1A/14 of the Excise Act in this regard.

Furnishing further details in this regard at a press conference here today Dr. C.S. Rao, SP, said out of the five arrested bootleggers, Rajpal and Manju, being minors (juvenile offenders), had been sent to the juvenile court at Gurgaon while the remaining three accused, Raju, Bijender and Krishan Kumar Sharma, were now on police remand.

The SP also said that seven other relatives of Raju were earlier arrested on June 22 by the police on charges of harbouring the accused.

They include Bishambher (father-in-law of Raju) and his wife Santosh Bai (mother-in-law of Raju), residents of Alwar in Rajasthan, Jasbir Singh, Khiali Ram, Babu Lal (brothers-in-law of Raju) of Alupur village in Alwar district of Rajasthan, Rohtash (Raju’s uncle) of Gujriwas village and Vijay Singh of Nanglia village near here.

A case on charges of harbouring offenders under Sections 216 of the IPC has been registered against them.

The SP further said after taking the post-mortem reports into consideration he could say only four persons — Amar Singh, Bansi Lal, both residents of Deodhi village, Chandu Lal of Lalpur village and Mahipal of Dhamlaka village — died by consuming hooch. Simultaneously, he added that he was not sure about the circumstances leading to unnatural demise of the remaining four villagers.

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Police hunts for clues in double murder case
Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 24
The police is searching for clues in the double murder case of an elderly couple in Ambala City yesterday.

Retired Executive Engineer H.K. Gupta and his wife Pushpa Gupta were brutally murdered at their Sector 8 residence.

The police has questioned the maid of the Guptas. It is trying to ascertain who all were working at the Guptas’ residence. Also, a plumber was questioned by the police.

A neighbour has reportedly told the police that certain fittings were being undertaken at the Gupta’s residence. The police is trying to find out who all were carrying out the fittings and the antecedents of the persons involved in the work are being found.

The postmortem of the bodies was carried out at the Civil Hospital, Ambala City, today. The elderly couple died due to excessive bleeding caused by multiple stab wound injuries. The couple will be cremated tomorrow.

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Two more get bail in poaching case
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, June 24
Ahamad and Dayasudeen, accused in the black buck poaching case, were granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate here today. They had surrendered yesterday in the court of CJM Mr Sudhir Jiwan, after which the police took them on one day’s remand.

The duo, who are servants of the former cricketer MAK Pataudi at his Delhi residence, were accompanying the party led Pataudi who reportedly hunted a black buck on June 3. The next hearing of the case has been fixed for September 15.

Seven out of eight accused who figure in the FIR lodged by the police in this connection, are out on bail now, while the driver of Shashi Singh, identified as Dayal Singh, is in judicial custody for 15 days.

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2 milk vendors killed in road mishap
Our Correspondent

Rewari, June 24
Two milk vendors, Attar Singh and Rati Ram, both residents of Salhawas village, near here, died when their bicycles were hit by a speeding trailer (HR-36A-8862) on the Rewari-Garhi Bolni road, near Kasaula Chowk, 8 km from here, yesterday.

Attar Singh died on the spot, while Rati Ram succumbed to his injuries on the way to Delhi where he was being taken for treatment. They were bringing milk supply from Salhawas to Rewari.

The Kasaula police has registered a case of rash and negligent driving against driver, who has absconded.

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