The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Case against Abhey motivated, says INLD Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 30 The INLD today alleged that the case filed by the Sirsa police yesterday against Abhey Chautala was politically motivated. Abhey Chautala, chairman of the Sirsa Zila Parishad and a son of the INLD supremo and former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, was booked in a conspiracy case (120-B) by the police while it was investigating the murder of a youth Congress leader near Dabwali. Addressing a press conference here today, INLD leader and former Haryana Finance Minister Sampat Singh alleged that the case had been registered against him by the state government to settle political scores. Haryana INLD chief Ashok Arora and a former chief of the party state unit Sher Singh were also present at the press conference. However, it was Sampat Singh who did most of the talking. According to the former Finance Minister, the state government was trying to harass Abhey Chautala. He alleged that the government was creating hurdles for him in the discharge his duties as the chief of the zila parishad. The former minister said the Sirsa district administration was also showing reluctance to organise state games in the district. He said Congress members had always demonstrated their virulent dislike for the Chautala family in the Assembly also. The INLD leader said the case had been filed Abhey Chautala because he visited Rania in the wake of a murder of a person there. He alleged that law and order situation in the state had worsened and incidents of murder and dacoity had become the order of the day. He also added that the government’s attempt to show Abhey Chautala’s involvement in the murder would actually help the real culprits go scotfree. Mr Ashok Arora said the INLD would soon call a meeting of its executive and chalk out a programme to protest against the police action . “Our voice cannot be suppressed by registering false cases”, he said. Mr Sampat Singh claimed that cases filed against former INLD Agriculture Minister J S Sandhu and INLD functionaries, Umed Singh Lohan and Preetam Singh, were also politically motivated. However, on the issue of cases filed against certain politicians by the INLD regime, Mr Sampan Singh and his two colleagues claimed that those cases were not politically motivated. They sidestepped questions regarding the reports of Mr Abhey Chautala recently intimidating a former Superintendent of Police of Sirsa district.
	NDRI supervisor booked for using banned oxytocin hormone Dharmendra Joshi Tribune News Service Karnal, April 30 The police booked a supervisor and an in charge cattle yard, NDRI Karnal for using oxytocin injections on cattle. The supervisor and the in charge were booked on the complaint of chairman of the Haryana People For Animals, Naresh Kadian. He complained to the police on March 1 but it took two months to registered a case. The FIR was lodged under Sections 11 (C), 12 and 31 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 on April 27 at Civil Lines Police Station after the investigation of the matter. Talking to The Tribune Mr Kadian, also Union Government’s nominee for the NDRI under the Committee for Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) said he had recorded the visuals of using oxytocin hormone injection on cattles at the NDRI on March 1. The Haryana PFA chairman handed over the complaint along with the CD to SP Sibash Kaviraj on that day, he added. The NDRI, on 4,500 hectares, was set up almost 50 years ago as a research and production centre. Use of oxytocin was restricted after it was discovered that growing number of farmers were injecting it daily. The Animal Welfare Board set up following an Act of Parliament in 1962 has been trying to educate farmers against it. It may be difficult to convince farmers when some of the staff at the government dairy were flouting these guidelines and rules, said Mr Kadian. The PCA Act of 1960 has made indiscriminate use of oxytocin, a punishable offence. The Act says: “If anyone injects a milch animal with any substance to improve lactation, which is injurious to the health of the animal, he shall be fined Rs 1,000 or jailed up to two years or both. The animal shall also be confiscated by the government.” It’s not just animals who pay the price of the hormone injection. People drinking its milk are also at risk. “Unfortunately people who take this milk do not know that the milk has oxytocin as it is not labelled. If they consume this milk then there can be problems of neo-natal jaundice, eyesight, gastric problems. It can also lead to early puberty,” said an expert. Most people outside or inside the institute may not know it. Every day, hundreds of people come to the dairy outlet and buy milk, cheese and other products.
	Check migration of youth from villages, Hooda tells planners Our Correspondent Kurukshetra, April 30 Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has exhorted the people of the state to make sustained efforts to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Haryana, besides adopting the good qualities of other cultures to make society more healthy and civilised. Mr Hooda was addressing a national seminar on “Society, culture and economy in Haryana: continuity and change” here on Friday after dedicating the Dharohar museum to the people, set up by Kurukshetra University on its campus to mark its golden jubilee celebrations. Appreciating the university for organising the seminar at the holy place of Kurukshetra where Lord Krishna delivered the celestial message of Srimadbhagavad Gita, he said Raja Kuru ploughed land in Kurukshetra and initiated agricultural age. There was a common culture in India, and that was agriculture and Haryana had a great cultural and historical heritage which should be preserved and protected at all costs, he said. Mr Hooda said democracy means to serve the people according to their will and elect a leader as per their choice. He revealed that democratic system was initially started from Rohtak, when it was the capital of Raja Rohitash. Now the concept of Panchayats had changed completely. He urged the panchayats to come forward in checking the menace of foeticide and evils like dowry and intoxication. The Chief Minister urged the administrators and the planners to create better civic amenities and job opportunities in the villages so that the migration of the youth from villages to cities could be checked effectively. He also stressed the need on promoting quality education, which could be a strong means for the rapid progress and prosperity of the state. Haryana Pradesh Congress Party, Working President, Dr Ram Prakash, in his keynote address, said our ancient Chaupal culture had been converted into TV culture. He said the TV culture had brought tension and worries even to the young generation. He asked the people to promote the humorous culture of Haryana which could create a healthy society. Kurukshetra University, Vice-Chancellor, Dr R.P. Hooda, said emphasis would be laid on topics like dowry system, casteism, female foeticide, illiteracy, khap panchayats and other social evils in the two-day seminar. The Chief Minister honoured 29 persons, including former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Hukam Singh, and others who had donated a treasure of ancient artefacts, manuscripts, paintings and rare objects of ancient culture, life and history of Haryana. Mr Rajbir Deswal, SP (Vigilance) presented two books written by him on the culture and life of Haryana to the Chief Minister for the museum. Earlier, the Chief Minister and his father, Ch Ranbir Singh, dedicated Dharohar Museum in the service of people on the university campus.
	MLA promises developmental works for Mahendergarh Our Correspondent Bhiwani, April 30 Congress MLA from Mahendergarh and Parliamentary Secretary Rao Daan Singh said today developmental works would soon be started in Mahendergarh district. He was here on a tour of villages of the district in connection with gathering pubic support for the proposed vikas rally to be held at Mahendergarh on May 7. Talking to mediapersons at the residence of Congress leader Vedpal Bamalia, Mr Rao Daan Singh said Mahendergarh was a district on papers only, whereas the real district headquarters was Narnaul. Mahendergarh town was still lacking basic amenities. No previous governments had held any open darbar in Mahendergarh so far, he observed. Even though several big rallies had been organised in Mahendergarh this district had always been ignored, he said. The Parliamentary Secretary said now Mahendergarh district would get its due share in development. Mr Rao Daan Singh said a new sewerage would be laid at a cost of Rs 5 crore in Mahendergarh town. Without naming a prominent BJP leader of Mahendergarh, he said though a Public Health Minister was from this area, he never cared to provide proper sewerage to Mahendergarh town. He said a water works based on water of eight canals was being constructed at a cost of Rs 17 crore. With the completion of this project the problem of drinking water would be solved to some extent. Seventeen new sub stations were being augmented in the state and out of these three would be commissioned in Mahendergarh district to provide adequate electricity to the consumers of this area, he said. The Mahendergarh Municipal Committee had been facing a financial crunch and after a long period Rs 1.92 crore had been given to it. The Parliamentary Secretary said the demands of converting the existing 25-bedded Civil Hospital into a 50-bedded one and developing a HUDA sector and an industrial sector in Mahendergarh district would be placed before the Chief Minister in the vikas rally on May 7.
	Hindu Girls College chief quits Tribune News Service Yamunanagar, April 30 President of the managing-cum-governing body of Hindu Girls College, Jagadhri, yesterday sent his resignation to the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University. The body has 1,008 members and manages four educational institutions with more than 5,000 students. Mr Ashok Chawla, who was elected president in August 2003 sent his resignation saying he was resigning “due to some unavoidable circumstances”. Sources said a section of the governing body lead by general secretary Rakesh Garg wanted fresh elections and there was factionalism in the body. Mr Chawla said in January 89 ordinary members of the body were removed without consulting him. He too was removed from his post on February 26. However, Mr Chawla approached the Vice-Chancellor and the latter formed a committee. “In the presence of the members of the committee (formed by VC) the other group retracted all resolutions, including one which removed me,” claimed Mr Chawla. “I have sent my resignation to the VC due to unavoidable reason,” said Mr Chawla. When contacted, Mr Garg said that he had heard that Mr Chawla had resigned. “A meeting has been called for May 4 and the further course of action will be decided in the meeting,” said Mr Garg.
	2-year term for jail warden Our Correspondent Rewari, April 30 The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Baljit Singh, has sentenced Kamal Singh, head warden of the Rewari District Jail, and a notorious criminal, Jeeta Gujjar, to undergo imprisonment for two years in the case pertaining to Jeeta Gujjar’s escape from the jail here on August 10, 2005. The ACJM has also fined them Rs 2,000 each. Kamal Singh has been held guilty of negligence in making it convenient for Jeeta Gujjar to escape from the jail here. Soon after Jeeta Gujjar’s escape in August, 2005, the jail superintendent, Mr Jagjeet Singh, got an FIR registered at the Model Town police station here under Sections 223, 224 and 120-B, IPC, against the accused who were then prosecuted in the court accordingly. Jeeta Gujjar, who was arrested by the Delhi police in September, 2005, is now lodged as an undertrial prisoner in the Bhondsi Jail, near Gurgaon. He is involved in several cases of murder, rape and dacoity.
	Retirement order of Chief Secy issued Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 30 The Haryana Government today issued the retirement order of the Chief Secretary, Ms Meenaxi Anand Chaudhry. The state government had earlier sought her extension in service and this created considerable interest in the political and bureaucratic circles. The government waited till the last moment, expecting the Central Government to accept its proposal of giving extension to Ms Chaudhry. The service of Ms Komal Anand, also a Haryana cadre IAS officer, who was on deputation with the Central Government, also came to an end today. Her retirement order was issued by the state government earlier this week. In contrast, Ms Chaudhry's retirement order was issued today. Curiously, the retirement order of Ms Chaudhry was issued after 5 pm today. It is believed that a new Chief Secretary will be appointed tomorrow.
	No plan to join BJP, says Bhajan Lal Tribune News Service Hisar, April 30 Former Haryana Chief Minister and state Congress president, Mr Bhajan Lal, has categorically stated that there is no question of his joining the BJP, as was being speculated. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Mr Bhajan Lal maintained that the minimum support price of wheat should have been Rs 1,000 per quintal and Rs 2,000 per quintal in case of mustard. He parried posers on the recent outbursts of his son Kuldeep Bishnoi against the Chief Minister, stating that Kuldeep should answer these. On being asked about the party rally he proposed to organise, the state Congress chief said it would not be held in view of the harsh weather. In response to another question on the emergence of young scions on the horizon of the state politics, he asserted: “Abhi to main hi jawan hoon.” Whether the regained youthfulness of the former Chief Minister is a signal of danger for the present one, however, remains to be seen.
	Students told to apologise HISAR: The Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) authorities have asked four students of B.Tech printing technology to publicly apologise before the lecturer with whom they had misbehaved, in addition to paying a fine of Rs 5,000 per head. A committee constituted for the purpose on Saturday decided to impose a fine on the erring students and make them apologise. — TNS Student fall from bus, dies HISAR: Vikram, a student of Guru Nanak School located in Model Town area of the city, died after falling from a school bus here on Saturday. He boarded the bus at Dobra village and fell down from the bus near ITI chowk. He was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to head injuries. A case has been registered in this regard. — TNS Ultimatum to BSNL YAMUNANAGAR: Residents of Bakana village of Radaur block here on Saturday gave an ultimatum to the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited to immediately restore their dead phones lines else they would get their phones disconnected. About 60 phones of the village are dead for the past three months. The affected customers of BSNL along with other villagers reached the BSNL exchange in Radaur and asked the official present to get their phone lines restored. They were reportedly told that the lines, which were damaged during digging, would be restored soon. — TNS
	‘Ban drug that kills vulture’ Our Correspondent Jhajjar, April 30 To save the vulture from extinction, a drug being used for treatment of ailing animals, diclofenic, should be banned as it causes harm to the vulture which consumes the dead animals, Tourism and Environment Minister Kiran Chaudhary said at Bahadurgarh today. The minister said she called upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard in Delhi yesterday who assured her that appropriate action would be taken following consultations with the ministers concerned in this regard. The minister stated that this drug was being used in large scale, especially on cattle. However, when the vulture fed on the dead cattle, this drug had an hazardous effect on it. However, sources said a memorandum of understanding would be signed between the Centre and a British firm shortly for commissioning of a new vulture breeding centre in Kurukshetra which was being funded by the United Nations.
	CBI probe into liquor vend allotment demanded Tribune News Service Hisar, April 30 The Congress MP from Bhiwani, Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi, has demanded a CBI inquiry into the manner in which the liquor vends were allotted at reduced rates in Haryana. He also sought a probe into the admissions to the dental college. Addressing a press conference here today, the Congress MP maintained that the state was becoming a safe haven for criminal elements while the Chief Minister was in deep slumber. Stating that the state government had failed on all fronts, Mr Bishnoi termed Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda as an “inexperienced” Chief Minister. He asserted that all the retrenched employees should have been re-employed. Mr Kuldeep’s father and state Congress President, Mr Bhajan Lal, was also present at his residence while the news conference was going on, but he did not join him.
	Mill GM’s remand extended Tribune News Service Ambala, April 30 Shahzadpur Sugar Mill General Manager Hem Raj has failed to account for possessing prohibited bore cartridges, which were recovered from his residence during a police raid. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Amitabh Dhillon, said Hem Raj had not been able to explain about possessing the prohibited bore cartridges. “He is being questioned in this regard,” he said. The police remand of Hem Raj was extended to May 3 today. The police had recovered Rs 1.4 crore, 3.25 kg gold and 250 bottles of foreign liquor. Also, 116 more live cartridges had been recovered. Besides this, share certificates and documents of property had been seized. Mr Dhillon said Hem Raj had ownership of flats and a plot in Dehra Dun, plot in Meerut, house in Chandigarh and some property in Yamunanagar. He also owned an expensive car besides having expensive electronic items. He said Hem Raj started his career at a salary of Rs 16,000 per month about 10 years back. The wealth had been accumulated in a decade.
	One killed, 5 hurt in road mishap Our Correspondent Jhajjar, April 30 One person was killed and five others were injured when their car collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction near Chhapar village on the Jhajjar-Kosli road here today. According to information, the occupants of car, belonging to same family and hailing from Bahadurgarh town, were going to Kasni village to attend a religious function. However, when they reached near Kasni village, a truck coming towards them, collided with their vehicle. All the six travellers were injured seriously. They were rushed to the PGIMS at Rohtak. One of the injured, Vijay, died in hospital, while five others, identified as Deepak, Vijay, Bala, Suman and Rubi, were undergoing treatment. The police has registered a case against the truck driver in this regard.
	Body found Tribune News Service Raipur Rani, April 30 The body of a 30-year-old unidentified man was found with multiple stab injuries dumped in fields of Mauli village, near here, today. According to the police, certain villagers noticed the body and subsequently informed the police. A police party reached the spot and took the body into its possession. The police has found stab injuries on the body of the deceased. The police claimed that the man was dumped in the fields after being stabbed to death. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered.
	‘Diksha’ ceremony Ambala, April 30 A Jain ‘diksha’ ceremony was held at PKR Jain School, Ambala City, today. Mr Manohar Lal Bhansali and his two sons Atish Kumar and Amit Kumar, hailing from Aurangabad, became sanyasis. — TNS