Jind, February 14
A youth was shot at by two persons in a crowded market here this evening. The seriously injured youth has been referred to the PGIMS, Rohtak. The assailants fled after the incident. A case has been registered in this connection.

Aged about 20, the youth is the main accused in a murder case case that took place in the city about six months ago. A resident of the Aggarwal market here, he had recently been released on bail.

Yesterday, a mahant was found murdered in his dera near Narwana town. Four murders have already taken place in the district this year.

According to police sources, two unidentified youths, armed with a country-made revolver, entered Janata Boot House in the Aggarwal market at about 5 pm today and opened fire at Suryaveer, a local resident sitting there. The victim was hit in the chest after three rounds were fired upon him from a close range. While he fell down, the assailants fled towards the Bhiwani road.

The murder attempt is being seen as a result of an old enmity as the victim was one of the main accused in a murder that took place on August 23, 2007, near the old telephone exchange here in which Jaiveer Pahalwan, owner of a gun house, had been gunned down by some assailants.

The police had arrested four accused in that case which included the youth. Interestingly, according to the police, Jaiveer was also an accused in a murder case. The police have launched a hunt to nab the culprits. 

Fatehabad, February 14
Atma Singh Gill, Member of Parliament from the Sirsa parliamentary constituency, who had been lagging behind in the implementation of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme till December 2007, has finally announced more than his allotted quota of funds till date.

The MP today distributed cheques for Rs 61 lakh from his MPLAD Fund to various beneficiaries at a function organised at the local Panchayat Bhawan.

The Tribune had highlighted in these columns on December 10 that residents of Fatehabad and Sirsa districts would be losers in development projects as a major part of the MPLAD Fund was likely to lapse.

Both Fatehabad and Sirsa districts and a part of Hisar district fall in the Sirsa parliamentary constituency.

Owing to the poor utilisation of funds by the MP, his MPLAD Fund for 2006-07 and 2007-08 amounting to Rs 4 crore had already frozen and the amount being spent in connection with his announcements at that time were from the fund for 2005-06, which, too, was half-utilised till then.

The MP has since been on an announcement spree and till today he has already distributed Rs 2.73 crore in Fatehabad district alone in the past four years of his term.

Interestingly, a sum of Rs 1.45 crore out of this has been distributed during the last three or four months alone.

A sum of Rs 1.33 crore is awaiting disbursal as the second instalment announced by the MP.

The funds announced by the MPs are disbursed in two equal instalments by the authorities.

Once that amount is also distributed, the disbursal of funds will exceed Rs 4 crore in Fatehabad district alone.

Fatehabad, February 14
There is good news for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes pursuing post-matriculation and higher studies anywhere in Haryana.

The state government has decided to convert loans granted to them for the purchase of books and stationery into grants. Now, they will not have to refund the money received from the government under this head.

Not only this, the state government has also decided to hike considerably the grant amount given for this purpose.

V. Umashankar, deputy commissioner, Sirsa, said yesterday that earlier student pursuing their post-matriculation studies used to get a loan of Rs 800 per year for purchase of books and stationery.

Now, such students would get Rs 2,000 per annum and that too as non-refundable grant.

Similarly, students pursuing their postgraduate degrees shall be entitled to Rs 4,000 instead of Rs 1,500 given earlier and those pursuing a professional course would be entitled to Rs 6,000 instead of Rs 2,000 being given earlier for the purchase of books and stationery.

Umashankar said over 200 boys and girls had been provided funds under this scheme in Sirsa district alone during the current academic session.

Besides, 438 bicycles had been provided to girl students belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

The deputy commissioner said the Dr Ambedkar Scheme, under which Scheduled Caste students of classes XI and XII were provided a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000, had been extended to students of the Backward Classes too.

Gurgaon, February 14
All countries of the world will not only have to focus on the upgradation of techniques to control terrorism but they will also have to create a network through which the data of intelligence is shared globally.

These views were expressed by director general, National Security Guard, J.K. Dutt while addressing a gathering at an international seminar on “Fighting terror - an integrated approach” being held at National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) of the National Security Guard (NSG) at Manesar today.

He said the targets of terrorism were no longer restricted to the security establishment and soldiers, but transcends to interstate and international borders. The common man was as much a target as it provides political mileage and international attention to terrorist groups.

Dutt stated that more than 40 countries had introduced courses on anti-terrorism, which clearly depicted their seriousness to deal with the threat of terrorism, which had become a global problem. On being asked that how effective will be the policy of anti-hijacking, which the Government of India is formulating, he said they had no role to play in the policy formulation of the GoI.

While talking about the trends of bomb explosion in India, he revealed that, now, remote controls were being used for triggering explosions, which adversely affects the public and the security personnel. Latest techniques were being used for bomb explosion by terrorists so as to create panic and chaos among the public.

Dutt remarked that it was only with prompt action and dependable intelligence that they could defeat the advantages of surprise that terrorists enjoy.

The annual journal, Bombshell, which was released in this seminar, depicted that the country had witnessed a total of 376 bomb blasts during the last year, thus registering a significant increase in comparison to the figures of 307 incidents in 2006.

He said in states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Orissa and West Bengal there was a marked increase in the use of improvised explosive device (IED) for explosions. Whereas in states of Jammu and Kashmir and Chattisgarh, which were among the worst affected states in 2006, a marginal drop in IED explosions was witnessed in 2007.

Chandigarh, February 14
Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai, whose swearing-in ceremony was marred by the then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala reiterating that Governors were not needed in a federal set-up, must be very happy with the incumbent Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who seems ever eager to keep him in good humour.

The state government yesterday decided that like legislators and government personnel, journalists and visitors would also pay standing ovation to the Governor when he would enter the Assembly to read his speech on the inaugural day of the budget session on March 7 and later during his exit.

Journalists and visitors stand in attention when the national song and the national anthem are sung in the house in the presence of the Governor. There is, however, no tradition of their standing up when the Governor enters the House or at the time of his leaving, escorted on both occasions by a heavy duty team consisting of the Assembly speaker, Chief Minister and parliamentary affairs minister.

Interestingly, earlier, the Governor used to be escorted to the House by the Speaker only, who also accompanied the Governor when he took leave of the House. However, since the last session the Governor is being escorted by the trio of Speaker, Chief Minister and parliamentary affairs minister.

Yesterday’s decision, a copy of which has been sent to the Governor, has not gone down well with journalists. “It is wrong. We do not stand up to greet the Governor. We will ignore it,” said a veteran member of the Assembly press gallery committee.

It is not sure how the state government will react to journalists’ unwillingness to stand up in the fashion of government servants to pay respect to the Governor. The visitors’ gallery is frequented by leaders of opposition political parties and they may also resent the directive.

Hooda had earlier relinquished his position as chairman of the Mewat Development Board and got the Governor to become the chairman. The CM himself wrote in the file that the Governor should head the board in view of his special concern for Mewat.

The CM also makes the state plane available to the Governor, something that was quite unthinkable during the Chautala era.

Surajkund (Faridabad), February 14
Efforts of the Surajkund Crafts Mela to globalise it got a boost today when a 17-member delegation of the Chinese Tourism Board visited the mela to explore the kind of participation China could have in the 23rd mela to be held in 2009.

The delegation evinced keen interest in products displayed by various craftspersons at the mela. "Surajkund is a mini-India", one of the delegates commented.

The delegation discussed with the mela authorities how craftspersons and cultural troupes from China could participate in the next mela.

The mela authorities today announced the names of the winners of a photography competition pertaining to the ongoing mela.

As many as 39 amateur and professional photographers had participated in it. Their photographs on various aspects of the mela had been on display in the Surajkund Design Galleries since February 10.

A well-known photographer of Delhi, Munish Khanna, judged the photographs.

The first prize went to Ambuj Kumar Chaudhary of Gurgaon, while the second was won by Ajay Prashad of Delhi. Consolation prizes were given to Sanjeev Verma of Delhi and Anand Prasad Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh.

The mela will come to an end tomorrow.

Fatehabad, February 14
An exhibition of documents pertaining to freedom fighters who participated in the country’s first struggle for independence in 1857, was organised at the local Panchayat Bhawan today by the department of archives.

Also on display were photographs of freedom fighters from Haryana and other parts of the country who participated in the independence movement from 1857 to 1947.

Pictures of Rao Tula Ram, Raja Ram Gopal Dev, Maharani Laxmi Bai, Tantya Tope, Bahadurshah Zaffar, Subhas Chander Bose, Mangal Pandey, Begum Hazrat Mehal and Ranbir Singh Hooda, father of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, have been exhibited at the exhibition which will continue for two days.

The documents regarding sacrifices of freedom fighters from Bhodia Khera, Majra, Alipur Bareta, Gorakhpur and Bhattu Kalan villages were also on display.

Students from schools and colleges have been visiting the exhibition in large numbers.

Deputy commissioner O.P. Sheoran, who inaugurated the exhibition, said Haryana had been in the forefront of the freedom struggle.

R.K. Srivastava, assistant director of the department of archives, said a quiz on the freedom struggle was also organised.

Gurgaon, February 14
The district administration has appointed sector supervisors for implementing the action plan prepared for curbing illegal mining activities in the Aravalis falling in the district.

According to orders issued by deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta, the sector supervisors have been appointed for a period of six months from February 15 to August 14. The assistant registrar, Cooperative Society, Gurgaon, will be the sector supervisor for nakas in Naurangpur, Bandhwari and Raisina villages, near Hariahera, during the first fortnight of every month.

The deputy commissioner has directed the sector supervisors to ensure compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court regarding the checking of illegal mining activities in the Aravali region by conducting raids in the areas assigned to them. He said the sector supervisors would enter the checking report in the register at the check-point in their respective areas and send a weekly report to the deputy commissioner and to the respective SDM. These sector supervisors will coordinate with officers of the departments of police, mining and forest and the pollution control board for checking illegal mining.

In addition to the sector supervisors, the subdivisional magistrate and tehsildar concerned have been made the overall supervisory officers for their respective jurisdiction who would ensure the implementation of the action plan to check illegal mining activities.

The action plan for curbing the illegal mining in Gurgaon district was prepared after the apex court’s order banning mining activities in the Aravalis. The state government on April 14, 2005, approved this plan. As per the directions of the state government, supervisory officers were to be deputed at various nakas to check illegal mining.

Accordingly, supervisory officers were appointed by the district administration for effective implementation of the action plan for a period of six months from June 7, 2007, to December 31, 2007. Now since that time period has expired, the district administration has issued fresh orders appointing sector supervisors at nakas to check illegal mining for another six months. 

Kaithal, February 14
Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Vijender Jain yesterday stressed that the whole environment of society needs to be overhauled to put an end to the practice of female foeticide.

He was speaking at a seminar after laying the foundation stone of a judicial complex at Guhla yesterday.

He said people’s thinking would have to be changed to achieve the desired results. Female foeticide was disturbing the natural male-female ratio in India and this had not only affected the social fabric but also led to tensions in the social set-up.

If the situation was not brought under control, a large number of male would have to remain bachelor in the coming times. He called upon the people to rectify the situation unitedly.

“Women are motivating factor of society and their role in carrying the society forward cannot be undermined,” he said, adding that the Indian civilisation society had survived because of the role played by women. Every section of the society would have to discharge their moral and social responsibilities for the success of the mission.

Parliamentary secretary of Haryana Paramvir Singh said judicial complexes had already been set up in 17 of the 20 districts of the state and a sum of more than Rs 20 crore had been earmarked to set up infrastructure for courts.

Justice T.P.S. Mann of the Punjab and Haryana High Court said a social campaign was called for to put an end to the practice of female foeticide. He said the intelligentsia had a big role to play in this direction.

Kaithal district and sessions judge H.S. Bhangoo said the judiciary was helping the people through steps like free legal aid, reconciliation camps and rural lok adalats.

Karnal, February 14
A two-day national seminar will be organised at Dayal Singh College from tomorrow.

Dr Kushal Pal, coordinator of the UGC-sponsored national seminar, said several eminent speakers would participate in the seminar named “End of history: Myth or reality”.

The event would be organised by the departments of history and political science of the prestigious college.

Pal said the inaugural address would be made by V.N. Rai, additional DGP and director, Haryana Police Academy, while the keynote address would be made by Dr Sanjeev Sharma, editor, Indian Journal of Political Science.

Dr V. Ishwar Anand, assistant editor, The Tribune, and Dr Tariq Islam, reader, department of philosophy, AMU, Aligarh, would be the resource persons of the inaugural session. 

Hisar, February 14
The Haryana government has initiated the process of allotting 171 acres of land adjoining Guru Jambheshwar University here for establishing a knowledge park.

An official spokesperson said here yesterday that the project would cost Rs 250 crore. The park would have a business incubation centre, a bio and nano science park and an industrial estate.

Knowledge parks attached to universities are a popular concept at the international level. However, in India the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology is the first educational institution which has taken the lead in this direction. At present only one knowledge park sponsored by the ICICI is operational in Hyderabad.

The project was announced by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda recently. An expert committee had been set up to see through the project. The panel met here on Tuesday.

Dr Anil Wali, MD, Business Incubation Centre, IIT, Delhi, who chaired the meeting, said the establishment of the park would provide a boost to industrialisation in the entire region and help the state's economy in a big way.