Rohtak, August 14
Former Haryana minister, BJP leader and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s political rival Krishan Murti Hooda extended support to the suspended Congress MP Kuldeep Bishnoi at the former’s residence here today. Welcoming the former minister to his fold, Bishnoi said Hooda’s support would strengthen his struggle.

Krishan Hooda said he had sent his resignation addressed to the state BJP president, Atam Prakash Manchanda, to the local party office. Hooda, however, maintained that he had no grouse against the BJP, which he described as a “party of good people.”

Interestingly, before joining the BJP, Hooda was a Congressman and has remained a minister in Bhajan Lal’s Cabinet.

After joining the BJP, Hooda had asserted that he would never leave the party. On being asked why he had quit the BJP now, Hooda said he felt that he could raise the issues of public interest in a better way with Bishnoi.

Addressing a Press conference on the occasion, Bishnoi maintained that he had nothing to do with the Congress now.

“Neither I believe in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, nor do I have any time for the Congress,” said Bishnoi.

He, however, failed to explain why did he not resign from the party in which he had no faith.

Accusing the state regime of indulging in heavy corruption in the development of special economic zones (SEZ), Bishnoi criticised Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for frequently changing policies on the issue.

He said to protect the interests of farmers, a Bill should be passed in the state Assembly that cultivable land would not be acquired for developing SEZs.

Bishnoi claimed that he had been offered a ministerial berth at the Centre twice, but he refused the offer as he would not have been able to raise the issues of Haryana’s interest then.

Yuva Jat Mahasabha president Bhup Singh and state Youth Congress general secretary Satbir Ranga also announced their decision to join Bishnoi on the occasion.

Rewari, August 14
Sessions judge V. S. Malik yesterday sentenced Yogender (24) to imprisonment for life holding him guilty of the double murder of his wife Sushma and his small daughter Khushi (16 months old) as well as dowry death of his wife.

Sushma and Khushi were both strangled to death here in June, 2006.

Sushma and her younger sister Santosh-daughters of Nawal Kishore of Rewari were married, respectively, to Yogender and his younger brother Sonu-sons of Subh Ram of Mahendragarh district, in 2001.

To escape harassment for dowry by her husband Yogender, Sushma , along with her two daughters-Muskan and Khushi, started living in a rented accommodation in Ajay Nagar colony here. Her younger sister Santosh, along with her husband Sonu, also joined her. To eke out their living both the sisters sought employment in a factory at
Manesar.

However, separation infuriated her husband Yogender who abruptly came to Rewari on June 1, 2006, and strangulated her as well as his daughter Khushi to death after which he absconded. However Muskan, who hid herself in a corner of the room, escaped.

Consequently the city police which on a complaint filed by Sanjay, brother of the deceased Sushma, had registered a case of dowry death.

Sirsa, August 14
The polygraph lie detector test of the three accused corroborates the CBI investigations that the dera chief, Baba Ram Rahim Singh, allegedly raped sadhvis and was involved in the murder of Ranjeet Singh and journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.

The results of the test proved that the accused showed deception in their statements which indicated that the dera chief was involved in the three cases.

The accused who were made to go in for the lie detection tests included Avtar Singh, Inder Sain and Krishan Lal.

Besides, it also corroborates that the main witness was also raped by the dera chief.

The CBI states that the scientific reports also confirm the involvement of the dera chief in killing Ranjeet Singh.

Similarly, in the murder of Chhatrapati, the CBI had provided evidence that the lie detector test proved that the accused tried to conceal information which signified that the dera chief connived with the three accused Krishan Lal, Kuldeep Singh, and Nirmal Singh to commit the crime.

Chandigarh, August 14 
The Haryana government today issued posting and transfer orders of two IPS and 10 HPS officers with immediate effect.

Resham Singh, ADGP, State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), has been posted as ADGP, Reforms, vice Laik Ram Dabas, IGP, Reforms. Dabas has been posted as director, SCRB.

Balwan Singh, DSP, CID, has been posted as ASP, CID, against a vacant post. Vinay Bharara, DSP, Law and Order, has been given the charge of ASP, Law and Order against a vacant post. Sajjan Singh, DSP, Haryana Police Academy, has been posted as ASP, Sirsa against a vacancy.

Raj Singh, DSP, SCRB, has been given the charge of Asstt. Commandant, Ist IRB, Bhondsi. Jag Parvesh, DSP, ADC to Governor, Haryana, has been made ASP, ADC to Governor. Jagat Singh, DSP, Karnal, has become ASP of Panipat. Kulwinder Singh, ASP, Ambala, has been posted as ASP, Faridabad, while Balbir Singh, Asstt. Commandant, 3rd IRB has become ASP, Ambala. Rajinder Singh, DSP, Detective, Jind and Ashok Saini, DSP, Headquarters, Jind, will swap their places of postings.

Chandigarh, August 14
Three human rights groups today filed a petition seeking shifting of women disciples from the Dera Sacha Sauda at Sirsa to women’s homes and monitoring of its centres by government agencies. The application also demanded compensation or rehabilitation of girls and women who have been allegedly sexually exploited by the Dera chief and other managers of the sect. 

A Division Bench comprising justice P.Sathasivam and justice Rajive Bhalla today issued a notice to Haryana and others and also stayed dispossession of petitioners from the land being acquired allegedly for some public purpose.

The petitioners had averred that acquisition proceedings in respect of the land of the petitioners, vide notification dated August 27, 2004, and under Section 6 of the Land Acquistion Act should be quashed. The land was being acquired by the governent for setting up of the Chaudhary Devi Lal Industrial Model Township, the petitioners alleged.

Fatehabad, August 14
At least five persons were injured in a clash between dera followers and Sikhs at the Majra road, late in the evening today. According to reports, dera followers were performing “naam charcha” at the Majra road, when a group of about 200 Sikhs reached there and started throwing stones on them.

Dera followers also retaliated and pelted stones on the Sikhs. The police reached the site immediately and used mild force to disperse the warring groups.

As many as four dera followers, identified as Naresh, Parveen, Vinod and Ashok were injured, while a Sikh, Swaran Singh, was also injured.

Slogan shouting from both the warring factions was in process at the filing of this report and the police had a tough time in managing the situation. No senior police officer was available for comment.

Chandigarh, August 14 
Haryana Roadways buses will ferry schoolchildren free of cost for participating in cultural programmes and other activities on the occasion of the Independence Day celebrations tomorrow. 

Transport minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said this facility would be provided on the occasion of the Republic Day function as well. 

Five to six buses for duration of four to five hours in a day for a period of three to four days would be made available at the time of Republic Day and Independence Day, he said.

Yamunanagar, August 14
Uttar Haryana Bijali Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) employee Jarnail Singh who sustained burn injuries, while carrying out repair work in a power house located on Dosadka road on August 7, died last evening. The condition of another victim, Irfan, was said to be stable.

The police today booked a JE, Nathu Ram, allegedly on the charges of negligence. Earlier, Jarnail Singh in his statement had alleged that the accident took place due to the negligence of the JE. Jarnail and Irfan sustained serious burn injuries and were shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Kaithal, August 14 
Two persons who were arrested by the Pundri police yesterday and who were allegedly involved in a dacoity which took place on August 1 reportedly consumed celphos tablets and were rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh, in a serious condition. 

According to police sources one of the accused who hailed from a village near Smalkaha reportedly died at Chandigarh yesterday. 

SP said Vijayinder of Maniana near Samalkha and Satnam alias Lada of Ravanhera village of Kaithal district were arrested by the police in connection with a case registered under Section 392 of the IPC. 

However, after some time it was noticed that the two were vomiting, the police suspected them to have consumed celphos and so rushed them to Kaithal. As their condition was serious they were shifted to PGI.

Meanwhile, about 100 persons led by Ram Pal Mazra, a former chief parliamentary secretary, met the deputy commissioner Rajinder Kataria and accused the police of torturing the accused in custody and later poisoning them. 

Ambala, August 14
The Ambala unit of the Indian Medical Council expressed great concern over the ransacking of a nursing home at Ambala City by an agitated crowd.

The relatives of a patient, who was earlier admitted to N.P. Singh Nursing Home, and later died in PGI, had smashed the glasses and furniture of the nursing home on Monday evening.

A delegation of senior doctors of IMA including D.S. Jaspal, Ashok Sarwal, Mahesh Manocha, Venod Tayal and Virender Sood, met the deputy commissioner and SP today. They demanded that under the supervision of the civil surgeon, a board of doctors be constituted to examine the allegations of the relatives of the deceased, and only after getting the report of the board, the police should proceed further.

Ashok Sarwal, president of the local unit of IMA, said the incident was a serious matter. No private doctor could provide better services to their patients in such circumstance and no body should be allowed to take law in his hand. He said a deputation of the local doctors would also meet the chief minister. He also demanded that the police should lodge a case against the persons who created a ruckus at the nursing home.

The city police have registered a case against N.P. Singh, owner of the nursing home, for alleged negligence and investigations are on.

Meanwhile, PGI has clarified in its report that the cause of death was septicemia and kidney failure.