Chandigarh, July 21
Now it is official. At least five MLAs supporting the Congress government in Haryana voted in favour of the BJP-supported presidential candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on July 19. It came to be known after the counting of votes in Delhi today.

This cross-voting is being viewed as a victory by the faction led by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as well by the faction led by former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and his younger son and suspended MP Kuldeep Bishnoi.

Bishnoi, who had given an open call for conscience vote, euphemism for voting by Congress supporters in favour of Shekhawat, has every reason to be pleased with the result. While before the polling at least three Congress MLAs were expected to heed to his call, two more acted against the party's wishes and this would definitely serve as a moral boost to Bishnoi.

With this Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan too has joined the list of the MLAs who are suspects in the eyes of Hooda supporters. They say the five MLAs who cross-voted included Bhajan Lal, his elder son Chander Mohan; MLA from Gohana Dharampal Malik and MLA from Indri Rakesh Kamboj. The identity of the fifth man, however, remains a mystery. The Hooda men suspect that an Independent candidate might have voted for Shekhawat.

The Bishnoi camp, however, firmly refutes that Chander Mohan had voted in favour of Shekhawat. It, of course, is not willing to come out with the names of the MLAs who voted against Congress nominee Pratibha Patil.

Hooda's supporters find consolation in the fact that against the party's strength of 67, Patil's tally went up to 74. They also point out that when the Haryana Congress Legislature Party had elected Hooda as its leader in Delhi in 2005 to make him the Chief Minister, 23 MLAs had initially abstained from the crucial meeting at the instance of Bhajan Lal. Now that tally has gone down to five, they claim.

Supporters of Bishnoi claim that their leader did not want cross-voting beyond a certain extent as it would have alarmed the Congress high command, which might have resorted to the mid-course correction. In that case, Bishnoi would have had to suspend his campaign for consolidating the non-Jat voters in his favour for some time as he would have nothing to speak against the new man.

Notwithstanding claims and counter-claims, the coming days will see further intensification of Congress infighting in Haryana.

Sirsa, July 21
In a significant development, some of the securitymen in Z-plus cover provided to the dera chief were replaced here today.

Besides it, the dera has been asked to seek clearance from the IG Security regarding the dera chief’s visit to deliver a religious discourse at any place.

The decision to replace some of the securitymen came in the wake of the Ghukawali clash. A securityman in the dera chief’s security, after being allegedly caught under the influence of liquor, has also been sent back.

The dera had demanded for non-alcoholic, vegetarian and non-smoker securitymen in the Z-plus cover. Senior officials confirmed the development but refused to tell reasons for the replacement.

Bhiwani, July 21
Two hardcore criminals, who were allegedly involved in more than two dozen crimes, were gunned down by the Hisar and Bhiwani police in an encounter today. Two accomplices of the deceased, including a woman, were arrested by the police.

As many as one dozen cases of looting and dacoity committed in Rajasthan, Hisar and Bhiwani are already registered against the two killed in the encounter.

According to sources in the police department Mukesh, son of Nafe Ram, Sandeep, son of Captan Singh, Balraj, son of Leelu and Suman wife of Sandeep, all accused in the murder of two traders of Hansi, were seen near Pichopa Kalan village last night. The police had tried to nab them but they managed to escape.

Today the police cordoned off the 'bani' (open land covered with bushes) near Pichopa Kalan where the miscreants had taken shelter, at about 5 a.m. On getting surrounded by the police Mukesh and Sandeep started firing indiscriminately and the police also opened fire in retaliation. Both of them sustained bullet injuries and died later on. The police arrested Suman and Balraj from the spot.

Two pistols and four cartridges were recovered by the police from the spot.

Police sources said all these miscreants were staying with Mange,

son of Kayamat, who is an uncle of Sandeep. According to sources Mukesh and Sandeep had murdered Hansi traders Kalu Pahwa and Satish Singhwani in broad daylight on July 5 and had been absconding since then.

Rewari, July 21
The Bawal police has arrested four desperadoes, Rati Khan, Nisar, Shahbuddin, all residents of Mewat region, and Kasim of Alwar district, on the charge of making a murderous onslaught on a police party headed by ASI Khazan Singh near Rajgarh village on July 14.

Rati Khan, Nisar and Shahbuddin were overpowered by the police when they were fleeing after their onslaught was made ineffective by the police party’s retaliatory move, while Kasim was nabbed from his hideout in Alwar district on July 17.

Their two other accomplices, Sagir and Tahir, both residents of Alwar district, were still out of the police dragnet.

It is reported that when, on a tip off, the police intercepted their pick up, loaded with smuggled cows, near Rajgarh village, the desperadoes pulverised the barricade and pelted the police with stones.

They also opened fire from a country made pistol which was returned with a retaliatory fire forcing them to abandon the pick up and flee in different directions.

The police impounded the pick up and seized the cows which were being taken to Mewat for butchery.

Simultaneously, the police registered a case of attempt to murder under Sections 307, 353, 186 of the IPC coupled with the Arms Act as well as under various sections of the Cow Slaughter Act against the desperadoes.

Yamunangar, July 21
Six youths carrying baton created nuisance in Kala Colony, here, and allegedly looted cash and jewellery from a house today morning. They also damaged property in the house.

House owner Ram Lal said the incident took place at around 11 am, when his wife and son were at home.

Santosh, wife of Ram Lal, and her son Bhupinder ran away to save themselves from the attackers. The youths fled away with the booty when they saw people gathering outside the house.

The accused are the residents of the same colony. The police has started the investigation.

Sonepat, July 21
Two moneylenders from Gohana town of the district reportedly poisoned a person to death last night.

The deceased had reportedly played a middleman between the moneylenders and another person, who had taken a loan from them.

According to information, Rajbir of Bhalsi village had taken a loan from Ramesh and Suresh, residents of Puthi village, on the surety of Vedpal.

Rajbir failed to repay the loan, following which the moneylenders lifted Vedpal from his home last night. The police has registered a case under Section 302, IPC, against the moneylenders.

Hisar, July 21
Six high-yielding crop varieties developed by Chaudhry Charan Singh of Haryana Agricultural University have been recommended for nationwide release by the National Variety Identification Committee.

These varieties include guar (HG884), hybrid bajra (HHB 197), field pea (HFP 9907 B) and three varieties of hybrid maize - HKH 1191, HKH 1188 and HQPM 5).

According to vice-chancellor Dr J.C. Katyal, the Guar variety has a maturity period of 95 to 105 days. It is bold seeded and has 20 to 25 per cent more gum as compared to the other varieties.

In national-level trials, this variety has given 12 to 15 per cent more yield over the current popular varieties. It also yields higher galactomannan and is tolerant to many diseases, including bacterial blight, alternaria blight and root rot, is resistant to lodging.

The new bajra variety has been recommended for release in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and New Delhi. It has high grain and fodder yield and matures in around 70 days. It is resistant to downy mildew and tolerant to smut and ergot diseases.

The variety performs well both under irrigated as well as rainy conditions.

The field pea variety is meant for irrigated areas and has been recommended for release in north-west plans of India comprising of Haryana, Punjab, New Delhi, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh for normal sown conditions.

It matures in 128 days and yields 21 quintals per hectare. It is resistant to powdery mildew and tolerant to rust and root rot.

The medium maturing, bold seeded maize hybrid HKH 119 is recommended for eastern UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It gives a yield of 70 to 75 quintals a hectare in winter.

Ambala, July 21
Anti Terrorist Front India will burn the effigy of President of India Abdul Kalam at Matka Chowlk in Chandigarh on July 23 for not taking decision on the mercy petition of Guru Afjal, the main accused in the Parliament attack incident.

Talking to media here today evening the president of the Front, Viresh Shandilay said the petition of Afjal had been pending before the President of India for last several months. He alleged that the Kalam could have take decision on it but he delayed it because the accused belonged to a minority community.

He said the people of the country had high regards for Kalam but his attitude in Afjal’s case disappointed the people. He hoped that the newly elected President would soon take decision on the mercy petition of Afjal.

Gurjit’s body was handed over to his family after the postmortem examination at Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment.

Ambala, July 21
Around 50 Congress workers, including six municipal councillors, protested today in front of the Kotwali Police Station against the thrashing of a senior Congress leader by a police official. They also blocked the Kotwali road for two hours.

According to sources, the police had rounded up five persons for drinking liquor near the old grain market, last late night.

Congress leader Vinod Dhiman, who soon reached there, protested against the action, insisting that the persons were not drunk.

A dispute soon broke out between the Congress leader and a constable. Dhiman later alleged that the constable had misbehaved with him and beaten him.

Senior leaders of the Congress met the Ambala SP and demanded action be taken against the constable. The SP assured them that action would be taken against the constable, if he were proved guilty.

Ambala, July 21
Congress activists of Ambala Cantt and Ambala City are delighted with the victory of Pratibha Patil in presidential election.

A meeting of Congress activists was held at Congress Bhavan. Addressing the gathering, district Congress committee president Narinder Pal Singh Shera said victory of UPA candidate Pratibha Patil in presidential election is a reflection of the correct and proper choice of candidate.

The speakers at the meeting stressed that the presidential election has been historic since Pratibha Patil has become the first woman president.

It also threatened of dire consequences if the demand was not met. The police has begun investigations.