Jhajjar, January 20
Mounting an attack on the Congress-led UPA government, the Indian National Lok Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party, both constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), today gave a call to oust the Central government in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Terming the UPA regime as a “complete failure” on all fronts, leaders of both parties categorically lambasted the government for the price rise, terrorist attacks, power crisis, unemployment, deteriorating law and order situation and “anti-people” policies at a “vijay sankalp rally” here.

The rally was addressed by former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu, former Chief Minister and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala, BJP state president Aatam Prakash Manchanda, INLD state president Ashok Arora and party’s secretary-general Sampat Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said the UPA government had completely failed not only in curbing terrorist activities in the country, but also in giving a befitting reply to the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.

He alleged that terrorists had been succeeding in spreading panic among the masses and carrying out their activities in the country with impunity owing to the “weak policies” of the UPA government.

Several terrorist attacks had so far been carried out during the tenure of the UPA government, but the government had failed to bring the perpetrators to justice, Naidu said, adding that the NDA would come up with more stern laws to deal with terrorism once voted to power.

Chautala said he would give compensation at the rate of Rs 1 crore per acre to acquire land if the INLD came to power in the state during the assembly elections.

In an apparent bid to woo the farming community, he promised the farmers, whose land had been acquired in the name of the special economic zones, that their land would be released soon once his party came to power without getting a single penny of the awarded compensation back.

Chautala alleged that farmers had been forced to commit suicide due to “wrong policies” of the government.

BJP state president Aatam Prakash Manchanda criticised the Central government for not adopting a firm stance on the serious issue of tackling terrorist activities in the country. He called upon people to wipe out the UPA regime in Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, Om Prakash Beri, a former MLA from the Beri assembly constituency in the district, announced to join the INLD at the rally. Beri had recently resigned from the Haryana Janhit Congress.

Gurgaon, January 20
Kawar Pal, a resident of Shikopur, was sent to three-day police remand for allegedly killing his wife and two children by district court here today. The police had arrested him from Jodhpur two days ago.

Sources said he had called up his aunt, who in turn informed the police. A team along with four villagers reached the spot and arrested him.

Pal had strangled his wife Sushma and two children - Suman (7) and Pritpal (5) - on December 17, 2008. He had been absconding since then.

He told the police that he killed his wife and children as he thought that he was suffering from AIDS and his wife and children had been affected with the disease.

Pal said he tried to kill himself also, but was not able to do so. Therefore, he ran away fearing arrest.

The police took him to the Civil Hospital here for check-up before leaving for the court. However, the report stated that he was not suffering from AIDS.

Sonepat, January 20
Members of the Sonepat Bar Association staged a dharna and blocked the Sonepat-Gohana road in protest against the alleged beating up of a member of the association by some police personnel in police lines here today.

The authorities of the district administration assured the protesters that a criminal case would be registered against six police personnel and they would also be placed under suspension.

The victim, Advocate Mahipal Tyagi, alleged that when he went to the police lines here this morning in connection with the challaning of his vehicle, he was beaten up by the policemen on duty.

He said they allegedly took him inside a room and beat him up. Later, 10-15 members of the association reached the police lines and reportedly brought him outside the room.

Irked over the incident, a large number of members of the association assembled in front of the police lines and sat in dharna and blocked the road.

SDM Amarjeet Singh Maan and DSPs Amreek Singh and Vikas Dhankhar reached the spot and promised to identify and suspend the police personnel allegedly involved in the incident. The officers also promised to register a criminal case against them.

The protesters lifted the dharna and the road blockade after getting an assurance from the officers and a meeting of the Bar Association was convened.

In the meeting, which was presided over by president of the association Anoop Singh Dahiya, members criticised the prevailing system of challaning of vehicles and disposal of these cases only by the police.

The members said if the administration did not take any action in this regard, the association would file a criminal complaint in the court against the alleged accused and might go on strike.

Chandigarh, January 20
Seven arrests in three years is all that the Haryana police has managed while dealing with the 25000-odd complaints about power thefts lodged by Haryana electricity distribution companies.

To add to the “reputation” of the police, no challans were ever put up in court by cops for action during this period.

Sources said after the distribution companies, the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam presented their case.

In the light of the “non-cooperative attitude” of the police, it had now been decided to register cases against the top 50 defaulters in every electricity circle to at least send out a signal that the government would not tolerate theft and would bring the guilty to book.

“The police has been directed to go a step further than merely registering an FIR and sitting over it by arresting the offenders,” an official said.

According to the statistics prepared by the distribution companies, against 8,651 complaints lodged by officials of the distribution companies till November-end in the on-going financial year, the police managed to lodge only 831 FIRs and has made no arrests so far.

While 83 FIRs were registered against 5,791 complaints in 2006-07, 984 FIRs were registered and seven arrests made against 10,793 complaints in 2007-08.

Unable to propel the police into action mode despite repeated efforts, officers of the Power Department took up this matter with the Home Department which intervened and brought powermen and the police face to face at a recent meeting.

Maintaining that the police was not keen on registering FIRs to be able to project a lower crime rate, sources said now a directive had been issued to the police to register FIRs when complaints were brought to their notice.

While the police department earned a rap for the poor performance, the distribution companies, too, have been at a disadvantage.

Presenting their case, officials of the distribution companies said non-registration of FIRs, lack of arrests and lack of prosecution of offenders lead the consumer to an impression that the law had no teeth.

Also, the data showed that of the 20,000 thefts detected in this financial year, only Rs 17 crore was recovered against Rs 43.39 crore. Similarly, Rs 21 crore was recovered against Rs 47 crore (2006-07) and Rs 23 crore against Rs 51 crore (2007-08), which would have otherwise added to the income of the department.

Chandigarh, January 20
The high court proceedings in the traffic regulation and highway widening case today left Sonepat deputy commissioner in a cold sweat.

Hauled up for prima facie violation of an undertaking given to the court, Ajit Joshi’s quivering hand kept wiping the beads of perspiration dotting his forehead, as a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court lambasted him for apparently not cooperating with those associated with the ongoing project.

The Bench of Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice AN Jindal minced no words while asking the advocate-general Hawa Singh Hooda to shift the officer on his own.

“Are you going to shift him?” verbally questioned Justice Uma Nath Singh, while speaking for the Bench. “Give him a better district, Gurgaon or even Faridabad, but shift him. We want an officer who would cooperate.”

In no mood to put up with any delay in the execution of the project, Justice Uma Nath Singh also asked Hooda to shift the tehsildar, summoned to the court in connection with the case, to some desert area. “Send him to Narnaul or Jind,” the Judge added.

The two officers were on Monday asked to put in an appearance before the court this morning as the Bench was of the view that they had blatantly violated the undertaking on regular supply of RE soil.

The issue was brought to the notice of the Bench by Haryana’s former advocate-general-cum-senior advocate Ashok Aggarwal.

Appearing on behalf of Valecha Engineering Limited, Aggarwal had told the court that despite undertaking, the company was not getting a regular supply of RE soil.

As the matter came up, Justice Uma Nath Singh asked the deputy commissioner if he had seen any central jail.

The Judge made it clear the Bench would not hear bogus excuses by saying the case would be handed over to the CBI and the officers would be asked to undergo a lie detector test.

Faced with the allegations of cutting the supplies, the deputy commissioner said the permit for the soil supply was for a month, and not two months as was being claimed by the opposite side.

He said complaints were received from villagers on illegal mining. As such, they were compelled to act.

The Bench was, however, of the estimation that the fact should have been brought to the court’s notice. The matter now stands adjourned to January 22.

The deputy commissioner and the tehsildar have been asked to remain present in the courtroom.

Chandigarh, January 20
Acting on Haryana vigilance bureau’s report on allotment of residential plots for industrial workers to non-workers by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) at Panipat, the high court today directed the state government to initiate action for cancellation of such allotments.

Directions for registration of criminal cases against those allotted plots on basis of forged documents or misrepresentation were also ordered.

The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta also asked the bureau to complete within two months inquiry into allotment of plots to 68 ineligible candidates. Their list was today submitted to the court by the counsel for petitioner PP Kapur of Panipat.

The bench also directed HUDA to apprise the court on April 15, the next date of hearing, the action taken on the vigilance bureau report for irregular allotment of plots measuring four, six and eight marlas in Sector 25, part II, Panipat.

The report submitted by Sajjan Kumar, DSP, state vigilance bureau, Rohtak range, was also taken on record.

The report has recommended departmental action against then estate officer SS Saini for great lapses and omissions during allotment of plots in the industrial quota.

In addition to cancellation of plots, registration of criminal cases under section 120, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC has been recommended.

The report, however, maintained the draw for 897 plots was held in public, in an impartial and transparent manner without irregularities.

Chandigarh, January 20
Studies on the impact of sand mining on agriculture land in the districts of Haryana have revealed decrease in the yield of rice, sugarcane and other crops.

A report on the issue, prepared by the Hisar-based CCS Haryana Agriculture University (HAU), also brings to the fore the problems of dust and pollution during mining and transportation.

The four districts brought under the purview of the study are: Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat and Yamunanagar.

In the report placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Division Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta have asserted the reduction in rice crop yield in mined fields was 54 per cent after year, 27 per cent after 12 to 15 years and five per cent after 18 years of rehabilitation.

It was added in the report that there was a decrease in the sugarcane yield by 30 per cent, green fodder by 35 per cent, arhar gram by 47 per cent and vegetables by 37 per cent.

The mining activity was also resulting in the uprooting of agro-forestry trees.

The report went on to say that the studies also revealed disturbed natural soil profile and altered soil texture from heavier to lighter in the fields where mining was going on, compared to the other “un-mined” fields.

It made it clear that additional expenditure had to be incurred by the farmers for micro-levelling, extra inputs, resetting of tube wells and other infrastructure.

The report also mentions loss of two to three crops during the mining, and diminution in land value by Rs 1 to 5 lakh per acre.

In Yamunanagar district, no adverse impact of sand mining on the soil properties, crop production and economy was found. However, the problem of erosion and dust pollution existed.

After going through the report submitted in a public interest litigation, the Bench took it on record and issued notice to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The petition has been filed against the State of Haryana, Karnal deputy commissioner and other respondents by Ajeet Singh and three others of Gharaunda in Karnal district.

The petitioners are seeking directions for putting to an end the “indiscriminate, illicit and mindless” sand mining on the fertile agriculture land in Harsinghpura village in the district.

The petitioners claim it is playing havoc with the environment and water source.

Karnal, January 20
The Jhundla police recovered the body of a carpenter from near Adarsh Public School, Jhundla, 22 km from here, today.

The deceased has been identified as Praveen Sharma (42). The body was noticed by students of the school, who informed the police.

The police found that the hands and legs of the deceased were tied with a string of cloth and the body was covered with two bed sheets.

The wife of the deceased, Gita Devi, told the police that one Harnam Singh, a driver, came to their house last night and took her husband along.

However, when Praveen did not return, she called up Harnam and asked about his whereabouts. Pleading ignorance, Harnam said Praveen had left and he was not aware about his whereabouts.

The police arrested two persons - Babu and his wife - known to be close to the alleged accused, Harnam, on suspicion.

However, Harnam was at large and massive manhunt had been launched to nab him, police sources said.

Fatehabad, January 20
Fortyfive passengers were injured when two private buses collided near Khan Mohammad village today.

The injured passengers were shifted to the local general hospital and private hospitals. Most of the injured were girl students and teachers, who were going to a local school.

According to reports received, a bus coming to Fatehabad from Hanspur village was trying to overtake a truck when it collided head-on with a bus coming from the opposite direction.

The blockade was lifted only after DSP Puran Singh promised to take the matter up with the roadways authorities. — UNI

Hisar, January 20
The Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for academic collaboration to facilitate management education for students of the chartered accountancy programme in the country.

Devinder Dayal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor, said the MoU would facilitate the CA students enrolled with the ICAI to join BBA and MBA programmes of the university subject to the fulfilment of eligibility conditions.

Sandhu said students would get exemption from the papers which they had already passed as part of the CA course.

The students joining the CA programmes after passing Class XII and BCom would be eligible to join BBA and MBA programmes of the university, he added.

The special BBA and MBA programmes would be available both in English and Hindi mediums. He said chartered accountants could also register for the PhD programme in the GJU’s Haryana School of Business.

MS Turan, Additional Director, ICAI, said under the MoU the two institutions would hold joint seminars, conferences and conduct research for furtherance of commerce and management education. The curriculum of the joint programmes would be of international standard.

Hisar, January 20
Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) and Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd (JISL), a leading public limited corporation engaged in agricultural research and its commercialisation, have signed an MoU for facilitating collaborative research, education and extension in agriculture.

The MoU was signed by HAU Registrar RS Dalal and Ashok Mishra, Senior Manager of the JISL, here yesterday.

HAU vice-chancellor JC Katyal, director of Human Resource Management RK Kashyap, director of research SS Pahuja and a few representatives of the JISL were also present on the occasion.

Under the agreement, both parties will cooperate with each other on common objectives, especially in the area of research and transfer of technology to farmers.

While HAU will sponsor its postgraduate students for conducting research at the JISL on topics of mutual interest in the disciplines of agriculture and agriculture engineering, particularly soil and water engineering, post-harvest and process engineering, the JISL on the other hand will provide them all infrastructure facilities, including laboratories.

Besides, the latter will also lay a demonstration unit for “micro irrigation-cum- fertigation” on one hectare at its cost for learning and training of the students.