Chandigarh, December 21
The Gurgaon police recovered a minor girl and arrested her 21-year-old “kidnapper” and his parents from Sector 17 ISBT here today. The accused, Amit Kumar of Gurgaon, his father Mahavir and mother Urmila were later produced before a local court, which remanded them to transit remand for 24 hours. The court handed over the custody of the girl to her parents.

The incident came to light at around 6:30 am when a patrolling police team of the Chandigarh police was informed by a passer-by that some persons were quarrelling at the local bus stand.

The police learnt that a man, who had run with a girl, was having an argument over a financial issue. On verification, the police found that Amit Kumar had kidnapped the girl of his locality and a case had been registered against him, his parents and family friends.

Sub-inspector Ram Rattan Singh, in charge of the Sector 17 IBST police post, told the TNS that after verifying the matter he contacted the victim’s parents in Gurgaon.

They told him that a case of kidnapping and criminal conspiracy had been registered against Amit, his parents and family friends on December 2.

The accused remained elusive to the police till date and had been hiding the girl at several places before bringing her to the city. The Gurgaon police, who reached here along with the victim’s family, requested its counterpart to nab the accused.

The victim’s father, Tilak Raj of Roshanpura in Gurgaon, in his complaint to the police alleged that his daughter (15), a class 11 student, was kidnapped by Amit on November 27 on the pretext of marrying her. He also alleged that Amit’s parents, his friend Rinku along with his wife, Sonia, hatched a conspiracy to lure his daughter.

Amit, a BSc student, told the police that he got acquainted with the girl during tuitions about six months ago. They decided to get married, but the girl’s parents were against their marriage. He ran with the girl and they got married at a temple in Delhi on December 4.

He produced a certificate issued by a doctor to the priest mentioning that the girl was major. His advocate told him to move a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking protection, which he lodged on December 6.

The hearing on their petition was today and his father had come to the city to pay money to their advocate when they were caught.

He told the police that he was staying at different religious places in Panchkula with the girl throughout these days. 

Pundri (Kaithal), December 21
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today came down heavily on Opposition leaders and said the latter were trying to mislead the people on various issues. The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting at Pundri in the district. 

Having a dig at leaders who were criticising the government on the BPL list issue, Hooda assured the people that he had issued strict instructions that eligible families should not be left out of the BPL list.

He specially took to task INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala and Haryana Janhit Congress leader Bhajan Lal, stating that they were trying to make an issue of a “non-issue”. He cautioned the people against the “misinformation campaign” of the opposition.

Hooda said as a result of the decisions taken by his government, all sections of society, including farmers, Dalits, labourers, traders and employees were satisfied, but there were a few who were not able to “digest the success of the government”.

He said only 16 rail overbridges were constructed in the state in the past 40 years, whereas work on 17 rail overbridges was in progress during the short period of two-and-a-half years of his tenure so far.

The Chief Minister blamed the dismal power scenario in the state on previous governments. He said the present government had taken a number of steps to improve the power situation.

Hooda said the government had implemented a number of schemes for Dalits and weaker sections of society.

Referring to the issue raised by local MLA Dinesh Kaushik that Pundri had not witnessed the desired level of development, Hooda said there would be no dearth of funds. He announced to upgrade Pundri as a tehsil. He also announced Rs 1 crore for Fatehpur and Hawari villages for development works.

He said a community health centre would be set up at Pundri.

President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee Phool Chand Mullana and Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal also addressed the gathering. Those present on the occasion included working president of the HPCC Kuldeep Sharma, parliamentary secretary Krishna Pandit and Kaithal MLA Shamsher Singh Surjewala. 

Panipat, December 21
The controversial public speech made yesterday by the Congress MLA from Panipat on “favouring” child labour has brought a sharp criticism from his own party besides the bureaucrats and other politicians of the state.

The Tribune had carried a news item yesterday about the distasteful statement of the former state president of the Congress and the present MLA Balbir Pal Shah.

While speaking at a function of the District Red Cross society, the MLA had “justified” child labour involved in the working of knotting process in blanket and other handloom industries in Panipat.

According an official figure submitted to the centre, the Panipat administration had identified more than 6,000 child labourers in this handloom district.

Organising secretary (media), HPCC, Surinder Singh Hooda strongly condemned the statement made by Shah at the function.

He further said the child labour was a curse in society and the Congress was fully committed to end this inhuman practice.

Former state finance minister and senior INLD leader Sampat Singh termed the statement as unfortunate and uncalled for. He said the state leadership of the Congress should take serious note of the speech made by its senior leader in favour of a social evil.

A senior official, on condition of anonymity, said such nasty statements by elected representatives were indeed a discouraging and embarrassing factor for upright officials.

“Such irresponsible public statements defeat the idea of special drives against child labour,” he added. 

Fatehabad, December 21
All six block education officers (BEOs) of the district face disciplinary action for making recommendations for according recognition to private schools without complying with the guidelines issued by the government in this regard.

Out of the 57 schools found fit for being granted recognition by the government by these education officers, only five were found to be complying with the norms by a committee comprising the additional deputy commissioner and the district education officer.

The committee has rejected the applications of most of these schools.

The BEOs are responsible for preliminary inspection of the private schools applying for government recognition. Such schools have to comply with various government norms.

After the initial recommendations by the BEOs, a committee comprising the additional deputy commissioner and the district education officer carries out the final inspection and sends the recommendations to the director, secondary education, who is authorised to grant recognition.

The recommendations for the next academic year are to made before December 31 this year. When the committee sought recommendations from the BEOs of Tohana, Jakhal, Ratia, Bhattu, Bhuna and Fatehabad this year, it was informed that 57 schools had been found fit for recommendation to the government.

The BEOs gave a first list of 26 schools to the committee, but when it inspected the schools, it rejected 21 of these as there were gross deficiencies in these institutions.

The ADC, C.G. Rajnikanthan, who heads the committee, has taken a serious view of the actions of the BEOs. He will be writing to the government to take action against these officers. The BEOs have now withheld their second list fearing action.

Rajnikanthan told The Tribune that 33 schools had been recommended for recognition last year. 

Karnal, December 21
Relatives and friends of Jasbir, who was killed yesterday during a kabaddi match at Nilokheri, and residents of his native Shamgarh village met Karnal deputy commissioner B.S. Malik here today and demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for a person from the deceased’s family.

They demanded that the accused be apprehended immediately. Malik assured them that the guilty would be arrested soon and their demands would be seriously considered.

Meanwhile, ASI Sohan Singh, head constable Sudarshan, constables Nirmal and Harjeet were put under suspension for dereliction of duty as they had let off the main accused in the case, Sher Singh and his two accomplices Isham and Naresh, after arresting them.

The accused are still on the run. Many places have been raided in this connection. Karnal SP A.S. Chawla said he could not disclose much as the matter was sensitive but the police was investigating. 

Rewari, December 21
With the submission of a notice of their proposed motion of no confidence to the deputy commissioner here yesterday by 22 of the 31 councillors of the Rewari Municipal Council against its chairman, Vijay Rao, a showdown between his opponents and his supporters has now become imminent.

The motion of no confidence would be put to vote on January 4, which would then conclusively decide the fate of the chairman.

Rao while putting the blame of his present predicament on the local minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, has been simultaneously seeking crucial patronage from prominent supporters of the camp of local MP and union minister of state for defence production Rao Inderjit Singh to save his presidency.

With his opponents openly owing allegiance to Capt Ajay Singh Yadav’s camp, the day will be a show of strength between the supporters of the two prominent political camps of the region.

Meanwhile, following the submission of the report of an official inquiry conducted against Vijay Rao, the local bodies director, O.P. Bhardwaj, has sought a written explanation from Vijay Rao regarding the reported substantiation by investigating officer Mahender Singh Yadav, additional deputy commissioner, of the charges of corruption and misuse of his official position as chairman of the MC levelled against him in their joint complaint. The complaint was submitted to authorities by 16 councillors of the MC. 

Jhajjar, December 21
Residents of Beri town today blocked traffic on the Jhajjar road in protest against the murder of local jeweller Jai Prakash on Thursday evening when he was returning home from his shop.

The personnel posted at the police station have been transferred to the police lines on the demand of residents.

The protesters alleged that these personnel failed to take timely action, which gave an opportunity to the robbers to flee. They also alleged that when the victim was taken to the local government hospital, the staff members concerned, including doctors, were absent. The residents demanded the suspension of the staff of the police station and the hospital.

Deputy commissioner Vijay Dahiya said a departmental inquiry had been initiated against the hospital staff members who were absent when the victim was taken there late last night. Meanwhile, no one has been arrested in the case so far. 

A former IAS officer, M Isa Dass, passed away on December 18 at Panchkula at the age of 81. He belonged to the Haryana cadre of the service, which he had served in various important capacities.

While in service he earned respect for exhibiting wonderful human qualities like straightforwardness, irreproachable rectitude and compassion. One of his important assignments was during the late seventies as principal secretary to Chief Minister Devi Lal.

Those were critical times after the Emergency when Isa Dass’ courageous, even-handed dealings were in evidence.

Another noteworthy success of Isa Dass was in his capacity as chief executive of a cooperative sugar mill at Rohtak that witnessed a turnaround and started making profits during his stewardship.

He passed away peacefully at the ripe age of 81 without a trace of pain or suffering.

A former chief secretary, with whom he had worked, thought Isa Dass was totally devoid of ego and self-centredness and had sterling qualities of fairness, altruism and non-partisanship. — TNS