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Most-wanted criminal killed in encounter
School Shooting Case
Two missing sisters found dead
9 years on, law catches up with serial killer
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Woman, daughter charred to death
Central Assistance
CMs’ meeting on law and order today
House Tax Waiver
Fog-triggered pile-up leaves one dead
Board to provide cheaper houses
Consumer forum fines boutique
Lawyers mourn slain colleague
Villagers block road, lathicharged
Neo-writers’ camp
3 arrested with booty
Gurgaon to have municipal corpn
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Most-wanted criminal killed in encounter
Rohtak, December 19 Rakesh, a resident of Rewara village in Sonepat district, was released on parole in February, but did not return to the jail. He was wanted in several criminal cases pertaining to Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. On being contacted, SSP Hanif Qureshi disclosed that the Lakhanmajra SHO, sub-inspector Om Prakash, got a tip-off that Rakesh was sighted in the nearby Chidi village. Following this, the police swung into action and set up a “naka” near Lakhanmajra. A little later, Rakesh, along with an accomplice, reached the “naka” in an Accent car. On being signalled to stop, they sped away on the Jind road. As the police party chased the car, the duo turned along a canal. During the chase, their car rammed into a tree and stopped. According to the police, Rakesh and his accomplice opened fire at the police personnel, who returned the fire. Rakesh was killed in the encounter, though his accomplice managed to escape. The SSP and a team of forensic experts rushed to the site. Two country-made pistols, a hand grenade, five mobile phone handsets, a fake police uniform and some identity cards were found from the possession of Rakesh and in the car. A case has been registered and investigations are on to nab the accomplice of Rakesh. |
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School Shooting Case
Gurgaon, December 19 Raj Singh said he was living in Islaampur for the last 25 years and belonged to Bhadurgarh. He stated that he had gone to Hisar for zonal games from December 7-9 and came back on December 10. On December 11, he went to Bhadurgarh and returned in the evening. On December 12, he searched for his revolver and found it missing. He went to sadar police station to lodge a compliant but nobody paid any attention and that is why he has written the letter. On the other hand, Azad Yadav, father of the accused, gave a statement that the gun used for killing Abhishek, belonged to his friend Raj Singh. Yadav said that whenever Singh went out of town he used to hand over the revolver to him for keeping it in the safe custody. He also claimed that Singh had handed the revolver to him on December 6 before leaving for his tournament. A police official informed that as the statement of both Yadav and Singh were contradictory, it has made the case more complicated. He said the question now arises that if Singh had not given his revolver to Yadav, then how was it found in his house and smuggled by his son to kill Abhishek? Why Singh has not stated that Yadav is lying about the gun? If the revolver of Singh was missing, why he was absconding? He said interrogation of Singh would make clear whether the revolver was stolen or was handed over by him to Yadav. Meanwhile, Raj singh has filed an appeal in the district and session court, Gurgaon, for anticipatory bail and the hearing has been fixed for December 21. |
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Two missing sisters found dead
Faridabad, December 19 Manju and Mithlesh, both doing bachelor degree courses from Aggarwal Degree College in Ballabgarh, near here, did not return home from college last Monday. Their father reported the matter to the Ballabgarh police the same evening. Yesterday evening, the railway police informed the district police about the dead bodies of two girls on a railway track between the Ballabgarh and Aswati railway stations. The relatives of the girls identified the bodies. Though the police says no arrest has been made so far, sources say it has rounded up three youths of Prithla village. It is learnt that the police has also rounded up a girl student, who was a friend of the two sisters. A large number of residents of Prithla held a demonstration outside the Ballabarh police station in protest against the decision of the police to hand over the matter to the railway police. The police view was that as the bodies were found on the railway track, it fell under the jurisdiction of the railway police. However, the protesters wanted the matter to be investigated by the district police. They relented after about half an hour of the demonstration following an assurance by district police chief Alok Mittal to get the matter investigated by the local police. The residents were also not happy with the police allegedly not taking “prompt” action in the complaint lodged with it by the parents last Monday when the two sisters did not return home from college. They were of the view that had the police shown alacrity following the complaint, the deaths could have been avoided. They alleged that the two sisters were murdered. In view of the sensitive nature of the case and frayed public sentiments, the police today sent the bodies to Rohtak for post-mortem. Earlier, the plan was to get the autopsies done at the local Badsha Khan Hospital here. Although the police is tightlipped on the case, it is learnt that it got a clue when it interrogated the girl student and friend of the two sisters who stays in Subash Colony in Ballabgarh. She is believed to have told the police that the two sisters had gone in a car with the three youths of Prithla. It is learnt that the girl student goaded the two sisters to take a lift from the three youths in the car. |
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9 years on, law catches up with serial killer
Rewari, December 19 The accused, Ajay Yadav, was today produced in the court of Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate Virender Singh Malik at Kosli, who remanded him in police custody till December 22. Giving details of the cases at a press conference here today, district police chief Ram Singh Bishnoi said Mahipal Yadav, unmarried younger brother of Ajay Yadav, was allegedly found in a compromising position with his wife on December 28, 1998, following which he (Mahipal Yadav) was done to death by the infuriated accused while he was sleeping alone in a room near the tubewell in their field at Surakhpur village on the night of December 29, 1998. The police, which registered a case of murder, remained clueless about the culprit after which the case was in a limbo. The accused’s uncle, Ranjit Yadav (elder brother of the accused’s father Bhagmal Yadav), sought a high-level probe to trace the killer. The move unnerved Ajay Yadav, who then made a bid to eliminate Ranjit Yadav in 2001 to frustrate his design of a high-level probe. Ranjit, who went into a coma owing to a head injury inflicted by the accused, died in a hospital in Delhi after about eight months. The police, which had earlier registered a case of attempt to commit culpable homicide under section 308 of the IPC, then converted it into a case of murder, which too remained untraced. However, while Ranjit was lying in a coma at the hospital in Delhi, the accused’s father Bhagmal made a strong bid to secure a CBI inquiry into the matter. This again made Ajay Yadav desperate and he eliminated his father Bhagmal in February 2002. Subsequently, Ajay Yadav approached the police with a complaint, on the basis of which a case of murder was registered against six persons - Rajesh Sharma, Rambir Sharma, Ami Lal Sharma, Harphool Sharma, Tula Ram Sharma - all residents of Surakhpur village and Ram Pratap Sharma of Suthani village near Bawal. The accused, who were arrested on March 13, 2002, had to remain in judicial custody till April 27, 2002, when they were bailed out after being found innocent. Subsequently, the cases of the triple murder were entrusted to the crime branch of the CID, which too failed to find a clue to the culprit. Thus the files of these murder cases were eventually consigned to the lumber room. In the mean time, Ajay Yadav disposed of his property at Surakhpur and shifted to his marital village Amadilshahpur in Jhajjar district. He also started a dhaba at Naiwali Chowk here. Meanwhile, Ram Singh Bishno, SP, incidentally received a tip-off following which the files were taken out of the lumber room and the cases were entrusted to inspector Sadhu Ram of the CIA. The accused was brought here for interrogation during which he spilled the beans reportedly in the presence of a former sarpanch as well as a chowkidar of Surakhpur village. |
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Woman, daughter charred to death
Sirsa, December 19 The police has ruled out any foul play. According the information, the fire broke out in the storeroom, where the two women were sleeping. However, the incident came to light when the smoke was noticed by the people visiting the gurdwara at around 6.45 am. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be known, however, the ‘angithi’ used by the deceased is said to be the probable cause of the accident. Incidentally, fire brigade officials left the place even without knowing about the two casualties. When the police personnel reached the spot and searched, the badly burnt bodies were found. “I was performing ‘path’ when the fire broke out. I called the police and the fire brigade officials. The fire brigade reached at about 7.15 am but by that time the damage had already been done, Avtar Singh, granthi of the gurdwara, told The Tribune. Exact cause of death would be revealed after the viscera report and cause of the fire after forensic science laboratory (FSL) report. A team of FSL officials, headed by Ajay Kumar, took samples from the spot, informed DSP Pratap Yadav, who also reached the site. “Bodies of my mother and sister are beyond recognition. They had left the house years ago following differences and were staying in gurdwaras and ashrams,” said Roshan Lal, who was called by the police for identification. |
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Central Assistance
New Delhi, December 19 Hooda said as central transfers to the states tended to be discretionary, a major part of the resource transfer should take place through the aegis of the finance commissions and an approach based on justice, equity and efficiency should be followed. Calling for incentives to fiscally well-managed states, the Chief Minister said the allocation of normal central assistance for non-special category states was being guided by the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula which was revised last by the NDC in 1991. "I would suggest that the maximum weightage be given to the population factor which should be increased from the existing 60 per cent to at least 75 per cent." There was need to increase the states’ share in the gross proceeds of central taxes from 30.5 per cent to 50 per cent. There was also need to revise the ratio of normal central assistance from 70 per cent as loan and 30 per cent as grant to 50:50 to lessen the debt burden of the states. Hooda urged the Prime Minister that the share in service tax for the states be enhanced or the states be allowed to collect some of the service tax at their own level. To meet the growing power demands, the Chief Minister said the centre may consider the allocation of more power to Haryana from the forthcoming ultra mega projects. For the proposed 1,050 MW gas-based power project at Faridabad, gas allocation of 8 million standard cubic metres of gas per day should be supplied. Besides, the National Thermal Power Corporation may be asked to set up an additional 432 MW Faridabad gas-based power plant (stage II) to alleviate the shortage of power in the NCR. As there were no perennial river flows through Haryana, Hooda impressed upon the UPA government to clear all important irrigation projects within a definite time period. He sought solutions to the long-standing problems of the Sutlej Yamuna link canal and the construction of storage reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Yamuna, such as Kishau, Lakhwar-Vyasi and Renuka, during the 11th plan period. These were also important for the NCR of Delhi. Hooda drew attention to more than three million acre feet of water still flowing to Pakistan through the Ravi. "We need to construct storage reservoirs on the Ujh and Basantar which are tributaries of the Ravi. A barrage accross the Ravi at a suitable location and a canal to link this barrage with the Beas upstream of Harike also needs to be put up.” The UPA government should get these projects implemented on priority. On the agriculture front, Haryana ranks first in wheat productivity and is the largest contributor to the central foodgrains pool. Despite this, the state is beset with many problems. To remedy this the centre has started the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. In keeping with the eligibility criteria, Haryana does not qualify for the funds. Hooda urged the centre to suitably amend the eligibility criteria so that states like Haryana could also avail themselves of the benefits of the new scheme. The Chief Minister said tax incentives to special category states had adversely affected neighbouring states like Haryana. This should be rectified. Hooda recommended that Mewat, Jhajjar and Rewari districts be covered under the backward region grant fund programme. |
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CMs’ meeting on law and order today
Chandigarh, December 19 “We have no organised crime or any gangs operating in the state. Though we don’t claim that crime has been wiped out, we can say with certainty that the crime situation is under control. That being the case, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will put forward our demand to upgrade policing norms in the NCR region to that of Delhi,” an officer in the home department said. Against one policeman for every 450 persons in Haryana, Delhi has policing norms whereby there is one policeman for every 300 persons. Besides, the state will present a case for financial assistance to the tune of Rs 177 crore to modernise the police force. Under this, the proposal is to strengthen the existing infrastructure, technological upgradation, setting up of a digital tracking system in Gurgaon and complete computerisation of the department, among others. “We are aware of the shortage of hands and are already in the process of recruiting 4,000-plus manpower. Then, there is hardly any communal tension in the state. However, the one thing that our intelligence agencies are keeping tab on is Maoist activity in the state,” he added. Though no major incidents of terrorism or naxalism have been reported in the past over two years, the intelligence agencies are particularly watchful in areas bordering Delhi. “Naxalism can crop up if we are not careful since we are in close proximity to Delhi. Some toned-down activities have been reported from here and there, but nothing substantial is immediately on the cards. We are closely watching Kurukshetra, Jind, Narwana and Yamunanagar as also those areas where people owing allegiance to a particular ideology are concentrated. This is only to ensure that they are not able to consolidate their position in any way,” he added, maintaining that all this would figure in the CM’s report from Haryana. Emphasising that the Samjhauta Express blast earlier this year could not be termed as “terrorist activity within the state”, the official justified that the bomb was planted in Delhi and the train was only passing through Haryana. “We do not have terrorism in any form,” he reiterated. All these matters would be discussed at the CMs’ conference tomorrow.
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House Tax Waiver
Kurukshetra, December 19 This was stated by Haryana local bodies minister A.C. Chaudhary while addressing a meeting of municipal councillors drawn from all over Haryana at Panchayat Bhawan here. Chaudhary said the government intended to impose such indirect taxes which would not prove to be a burden on the public. Chaudhary said to review the working of the municipal committees, a committee headed by a superintending engineer had been constituted. It would submit its report within a month. It would also study the shortage of staff members and the sources of income of the municipal
committees. A flying squad had also been formed which would keep watch on the working of the heads of the municipal committees, officers and employees, he added. Talking about illegal construction, Chaudhary said the construction of houses without getting the plans officially approved would be checked so that urban areas could be developed in a planned manner. The officials concerned would be held responsible for cases of illegal possession. He directed the executive officer, municipal committee, Thanesar, to visit the old vegetable market and end illegal possession. |
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Cultural evening casts a spell
Fancy dress, quiz contests held Tribune Reporters
Kurukshetra, December 19 A programme by D.A.V. Girls College, Yamunanagar, depicted the rich cultural heritage of Haryana. It was a dramatic piece based on Karan, a character in Mahabharat. Mange Ram Gupta announced a reward of Rs 21,000 to the drama troupe for their outstanding performance. Earlier, Parveen Kadyan presented Rag-Ragini of Haryanvi folk, which was appreciated by the audience. Addition deputy commissioner Narender Singh; N.Z.C.C. director R.T. Jindal; Doordarshan (Hisar) director Santosh Mishra; youth and cultural affairs director (Kurukshetra University) Anoop Lathar were among those who were presented. The audience also enjoyed classical dance, Sufi music and choreography. Haryana agriculture minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha was the chief guest on the occasion. A sufiana kalaam, presented by Dev Dildar, mesmerised the audience. Anu Sinha, a renowned Kathak dancer, presented a dance drama ‘Mahabharat in Kurukshetra’ based on different aspects of Mahabharat. Apart from this, Mumbai-based dancer Anila Sundra gave dance choreography. On the occasion, Chatha said spiritual music was important for life as its unique style transports listeners into spiritual ecstasy. A state-level Srimad Bhagwat Geeta-based quiz contest was organised at Sri Krishna Museum here today. About 32 students from various districts participated in the competition. Inaugurating the quiz, deputy district education officer S.P. Singh said such competitions would help the students to know about our culuture and tradition, he added. In the contest, Alok Kumar Shukla and Gaurav Sharma of Gita Senior Secondary School won first prize while Kuldeep and Amit of Gurukul, Kurukshetra, came second. Rupali and Nishtha of Maharana Pratap Public School bagged third position and Aditya and Priya of Aggarsain Public School got consolation prize. C.D.S. Kaushal of University College and Rajesh Purohit, curator, Sri Krishan Museum, were the anchors of the quiz. Fancy dress, embroidery and jhanki competitions were also organised at the western ghat of Brahmasarovar. About 300 students of 25 schools participated in these competitions. In fancy dress competition, first prize went to Satyam Dutt and second prize was won by Prerna of Prem Public School. Piyush, Rohini and Shantnu of Mahavir Jain Public School came third while Kirti of Ideal Convent Public School got consolation prize. Ritu Aggarwal, wife of deputy commissioner Pankaj Aggarwal; Saroj, wife of ADC and district primary education officer Saroj Lohchab were the judges. In embroidery competition, Poonam and Vandana of Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School won the first and second prize respectively. Nancy of Government Girls Senior Secondary School came third. In jhanki competition, Prem Public School bagged first prize, B.R. International School came second and Gita Girl Senior Secondary School was third. Aggarsain Public School got consolation prize. Kaithal: Artistes of north zone cultural centre, Patiala, and the Public Relations and Cultural Department, Haryana, presented a cultural programme at local Jawahar Park here on Tuesday as part of ‘Kurukshetra Geeta Jayanti Utsav’ celebrations. Inaugurating the programme, deputy commissioner S.K. Goyal said the artistes of various states had played an important role in national integration by presenting different cultural items. Gangaur dance of Madhya Pradesh, panthi of Chhatisgarh, lambari of Uttar Pradesh, natwa of West Bengal, karnovesh of Gujarat and kullu natti of Himachal enthralled the audience. Students of DAV School, Pundri; Hindu Girls School, Kaithal; and RKSD College also presented cultural items.
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Fog-triggered pile-up leaves one dead
Samalkha (Panipat), December 19 Four vehicles were involved in a pile-up near Samalkha while in another incident a college bus rammed into a tractor-trailer on the Panipat-Rohtak (NH-71A) this morning. Mehar Singh, a resident of Hamirpur in Himachal, died on the spot in the pile-up near Siddarth School, Samalkha, at about 7.30 am. Residents of Samalkha, including some local journalists, rushed to the rescue of the injured. They alerted the authorities and arranged ambulances for the injured. Eleven persons reportedly received multiple injuries and were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Panipat. Most of the injured, including two women, were travelling in an auto-rickshaw that was crushed badly between heavy vehicles. Though all injured received grievous injuries, their condition was stated to be stable.A Haryana Roadways bus, a truck, a car and an auto-rickshaw were involved in the pile-up near Samalkha. The vehicles were on the way from Panipat towards New Delhi when the mishap took place. Traffic on the GT Road remained affected for about an hour after the accident. In another incident, eight persons were reportedly injured when an Israna-bound college bus smashed into a tractor-trailer near Dahar village on the Panipat-Rohtak road due to poor visibility. Sources said the injured were admitted to a private hospital in the town. |
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Three die of suffocation
Karnal, December 19 The incident happened in Sector 3, industrial area, here. The dead have been identified as Vikram (25), Hema (8) and Megha (4). Those admitted in the hospital are Meena Devi, mother of the two dead girls, and her son Hemant Kumar (8). Vikram was a family friend, while the father of the children was away. The survivors were not in a condition to talk and according to the doctors at the trauma centre of the civil hospital, their condition is stable. The victims belonged to Samastipur district of Bihar. Ramkrishan Srivastav, a relative of the victims, said they had to break down the door in the morning when he knocked and got no response. |
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Board to provide cheaper houses
Chandigarh, December 19 The decisions were taken at the 185th meeting of the board presided over by its chairperson Parsanni Devi here. The board decided to purchase land outside controlled area from private parties on public-private partnership basis or as a joint venture to construct 50,000 dwelling units in next three years in pursuance of an announcement made by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and to construct two lakh dwelling units in consonance with the national housing and habitat policy to provide affordable shelter to all. The decision was taken because the Haryana Urban Development Authority and the urban local bodies did not provide adequate land to the board for constructing dwelling units. The land under such scheme would be offered to the board free of cost by the owner and in lieu, thereof, land to be offered to him would be developed by the board on mutually agreed terms and conditions. To reduce the cost construction, the board decided to reduce administrative charges, surcharge and interest rate. The use of cost-effective technologies would be explored to further bring down the cost of construction. The board approved the grant of bonus at a statutory rate of 8.33 per cent, a maximum of up to Rs 3,500, to its employees for 2006-07. |
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Consumer forum fines boutique
Bhiwani, December 19 Rajesh, a resident of Patel Nagar, had given a suit for stitching to Anita Boutique at the Hansi Gate market. The boutique owner promised to deliver the suit on March 31, 2006, but when she went to the shop on the given date, it was not ready. After some arguments, the owner stitched the suit, but it was allegedly unfit to wear. Despite making a complaint, the owner paid no heed. Rajesh then filed a complaint with the forum on April 25, 2006. After hearing both parties, forum president Pradeep Mehta held the boutique guilty and directed its owner to pay Rs 457 as cost of the suit, its stitching cost, Rs 800 as fine and Rs 1,000 as the litigation fee. He also said the boutique owner would have to pay 10 per cent interest if the amount was not paid in time. |
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Lawyers mourn slain colleague
Bhiwani, December 19 KAITHAL: Lawyers in the District Courts here on Wednesday expressed resentment over the murder of advocate Bijender Sehrawat. They marched in procession to the mini-secretariat and submitted a memorandum to ADC Ramesh Verma demanding the arrest of the accused involved in this murder. Ranvir Parashar, a former president of the District Bar Association, said the murder pointed towards the worsening law and order situation in the state. |
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Villagers
block road, lathicharged Yamunanagar, December 19 The villagers pelted stones on the police, injuring a constable and two vehicles, including jeep of Jathlana SHO, were damaged. The police took some villagers in custody. Several people sustained injuries in the lathicharge, which continued for more than 20 minutes. The villages alleged that the police did not even spare women. On the other hand, SP C.S Rao said the police used mild force to disperse them when they started pelting stones. According to him, the villagers were demanding to produce the accused before them. He said the accused has been booked and arrested by the police. The traffic remained suspended for more than three hours. On December 17, a girl of the village had reported that Jagvinder had raped her. Today, the villagers reached the area police station to demand arrest of the accused.
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Neo-writers’ camp
Chandigarh, December 19 Commissioner and secretary, Education Department, Rajan Gupta, would preside over the function. Story writer Asgar Wajahat of Jamia Miliya Islamiya University, Delhi, would deliver key note address. |
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3 arrested with booty
Rewari, December 19 They were today produced in a local court, which remanded them in police custody for two days. Ram Singh Bishnoi, SP, said they had also confessed to having looted another motorcycle from the Rajasthan territory, near here, recently. |
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Gurgaon to have municipal corpn
Chandigarh, December 19 He added that upgrading the municipal committees of Panchkula, Hisar, Yamunanagar and Rohtak into corporations was also under consideration by the government. |
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