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4 of family charred to death
Mock drill at Hero Honda plant
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Women cops want more presence
Poll code leaves pensioners waiting
Code Violation
A first: Touch screen helpline to facilitate voters
Religious Congregation
‘Celebrate Holi sans water’
Protest against arrest of jeweller
3 booked for rape
Two get lifer for murder
3 held for assault
Experts discuss farm sector problems
Now, get gold coins from post offices
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4 of family charred to death
Karnal, March 9 The fire was reportedly caused due to short circuit that broke out around 12.30 am last night and engulfed the house within minutes. Deceased Jagmohan (28), his wife Vimla and two children Sonu (6 years) and Monu (3 months) died while in sleep and their bodies were charred beyond recognition. The plastic ceiling of the make-shift house made of Bamboos, bricks and thatch, collapsed under the heat and fell on the sleeping family without allowing them no time to cry for help. The plastic ceiling added fuel to fire and everything was burnt before the inmates could be saved or their belongings salvaged, eyewitnesses said. However, Maku, who was sleeping in the adjoining house with her three children was fortunate to notice the flames and immediately rushed out along with her children Kalu (8), Muskan (6) and Jyoti (3) and shouted for help. Maku and her children sustained burn injuries and were rushed to the hospital while the bodies of the deceased were handed over to the family members after the postmortem examination. Hearing Maku’s screams, the resident of the colony came out of their houses and began dousing the fire. The police also reached the spot and assisted in the fire-fighting operations. The swift fire-fighting operations by residents stopped the flames from spreading to adjoining houses and saved about 24 persons living in the vicinity. It took more than an hour to bring the fire under control. The fire was almost extinguished when the fire-brigade tenders reached the spot. Ganga Ram, brother-in-law of Jagmohan, fought the flames and managed to pull out three-month old Monu but he succumbed to burn injuries in his arms. He also sustained burn injuries. “We informed the fire brigade but the heavy fire tenders could not reach the exact location as there was no road and we asked them to bring a smaller fire tender”, Sushil Bhatt, a resident of the colony said. The shocked parents of Jag Mohan reached here from Kurukshetra and the bodies were cremated in the afternoon. The residents have demanded an ex-gratia grant of Rs 10 lakh for parents of Jag Mohan, who are left to fend for themselves. There were around 10 such thatched makeshift houses and about 2,000 houses in the locality, and residents here were living under the shadow of death. DC Chander Prakash reached the spot and announced a grant of Rs 25,000 each to both of the families. He also announced grant of Rs 1 lakh under the Rajiv Gandhi Insurance Scheme to the next of kin of the deceased. |
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Mock drill at Hero Honda plant
Gurgaon, March 9 Local “sources”, who had seen fire engines and ambulances rushing to the spot, even confirmed the occurrence of some gas-leakage and fire mishap at the plant. Nonetheless, there were a few administrative officials and journalists who knew what exactly had happened. It was a mock drill by the administration, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the ITBP to assess the overall preparedness for meeting any chemical disaster. As part of the disaster management exercise, a controlled amount of propane gas was released in the plant that resulted in a low-intensity fire. ITBP officials, specially trained to handle natural and manmade disasters, promptly evacuated the mock victims from the site and provided them first-aid after decontaminating them. A first-aid camp and a mock relief camp were also set up. The whole exercise was observed by experts from the NDMA, the Haryana Institute of Public Administration and Rakesh Dubey, director of the Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal. After the mock exercise, the experts pointed out the gaps in the preparedness and asked the plant management to bridge these. Earlier, JK Sinha and Brig (retd) BK Khanna from the NDMA detailed the officials about the on-site and off-site plans to be adopted for managing a disaster. Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Deepti Umashankar, who was also present there, stressed the need of private-public partnership to make Gurgaon a disaster resilient city. |
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Women cops want more presence
Chandigarh, March 9 Deciding to hold this conference biennially, it was also recommended that all states host one such meet for its women cops annually. Delegates favoured adequate slots in the specialised and overseas training and child support facilities at training institutions, implementation of Vishakha guidelines (pertaining to sexual harassment at workplace), field posting in the initial part of their career besides inclusion of women in the police as a prominent agenda in the National Police Mission. Admitting that women cops could not work in difficult areas, a view supported by senior women officers in central police organisations, the delegates said this would not hold true if the right infrastructure was provided for. In an interactive session with Special Secretary, Home, Raman Srivastava, an officer from the CISF, sought a change in the posting police for up to the rank of inspector-level personnel and Ruchi from the Haryana Police Academy earned a loud round of applause for her
suggestion. “We keep talking of making police stations more women-friendly. However, the truth is that we want the number of women in the force to go up because we ourselves feel insecure with our male counterparts,” she said. Haryana Chief Secretary Dharamvir, presiding over the valedictory function, suggested that the state governments should be given an incentive in grants for modernisation by the Union Home Ministry in proportion to the recruitment of women personnel recruited by them. The flip side of the conference, however, was that none of the Directors-General of Police and the Home Secretaries, invited from the state governments, showed up for a special session dedicated to them. Srivastva said a directive to all state governments to spare these two officers for at least a day during the conference would be issued. |
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Poll code leaves pensioners waiting
Chandigarh, March 9 The Election Commission’s approval is necessary because of the model code of conduct in force in view of the Lok Sabha elections. Finance Secretary Ajit Mohan Sharan said there would not be any financial loss to the pensioners because of the delay. They will get the arrears of their revised pension with effect from January 1, 2006, from which date the recommendations of the pay commission had been implemented in the state. Normally, pensions are revised along with the pay scales of the serving employees. This time the revision of pensions was delayed because various associations of the pensioners had demanded certain facilities, which had not been recommended by the pay panel. The demands of the pensioners had included the facility of leave travel concession (LTC) and enhanced pension at the age of 70 and 80 years. To examine these demands, the government set up a committee under the chairmanship of Sharan, whose recommendations have now been approved by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Sharan said the Chief Minister had already granted the facility of LTC to the pensioners on the pattern of the serving employees. The pensioners will be entitled to one-month pension in a block of four years as LTC. They will not be required to submit proof of having travelled to avail of the LTC. He said the pay commission had recommended 10 per cent increase in the pension at the age of 80 and 20 per cent increase at the age of 90 years. In Haryana, an employee becomes entitled to full pension (50 per cent of the last pay drawn) after putting in a service of 33 years. The pay commission has reduced this period to 20 years to encourage those who want to take voluntary retirement. Sharan said in Haryana there were many vacant posts. At the same time, the recruitment age has gone up to 30 years in certain cases. Therefore, the committee has reduced the minimum service period for full pension from 33 years to 28 years. Haryana’s neighbouring states, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have yet to implement the revised pay scales. Punjab has set up its own pay commission, the recommendations of which are awaited. In view of the model code of conduct, Punjab employees can hope for the revised scales only after the LS elections are concluded. |
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Code Violation
Chandigarh, March 9 An INLD delegation, which met state Electoral Officer Sajjan Singh here today, said the painting of the Congress flags outside the houses of such families not only amounted to influencing the voters in favour of the ruling party but also making fun of their poverty and humiliating them
in public. The delegation was led by INLD national spokesperson Sampat Singh and included party secretary RS Chaudhary, and senior party leaders BD Dhallia and MS Malik. A memorandum submitted by the delegation alleged that ministers and other functionaries of the state had been continuing to violate the model code of conduct with impunity. The government publicity material had not yet been removed despite the Election Commission deadline of March 5. The INLD demanded that all expenses on advertisements released in the media praising the Chief Minister after the enforcement of the code with effect from 3-30 pm on March 2 should be charged from the personal account of the Chief Minister, minister concerned and other officers responsible for the
violation. It also complained that about 50 publicity vehicles equipped/renovated reportedly by the state government were continuing to ply in and around public places, carrying photographs of the Chief Minsiter, his son Deepender Singh, and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. No permission had been taken from the Election Commission, they added. The party also alleged that the commission’s directions not to keep any government official at a place where he had already completed three years of tenure had not been complied by the state government in letter and spirit. It requested the commission to instruct the Chief Secretary to certify that the government was complying to all directions
sincerely. |
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A first: Touch screen helpline to facilitate voters
Yamunanagar, March 9 He said voters could find any information about their vote like ward number, polling station name and voter serial number and access information by both Assembly and booth wise. The software of the helpline had been designed by the NIC, Yamunanagar, he added. Meanwhile, a computerised security system in the mini-secretariat also becomes operational today. Sixteen high-resolution CCTV cameras have been installed that will cover the whole complex. All offices of the mini-secretariat are now under scanner of the deputy commissioner office and will help to maintain transparency in the system. The deputy commissioner also inaugurated a biometric attendance machine. Employees of the secretariat now have to mark attendance on the machine in the morning and also in the evening. |
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Students want money back
Karnal, March 9 The students turned down the appeal of the principal to end the strike and declared they would remain on strike till the money was refunded. They also made it clear that they would boycott the rescheduled tests starting March 16. The Gramin Yuva Sena, which is supporting the strike, cautioned the management against ignoring the demand of the students and said the management would be responsible for the consequences. ABVP leader Shamsher Nain also asked the management to refund the money amounting about Rs 4 lakh and help in restoring normalcy. He also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. The students of BTech, MBA and MCA had gone on strike on March 3 in support of their demand for refund of money collected by the management for organising the job fest to enable the students to get suitable placements. The consultant company had failed to organise the job fest citing economic slowdown as the reason and promised to hold it next month. However, the students alleged that the job fest was scheduled to be organised in December but the consultant company had backed. While holding the management responsible for the mess, they also maintained that they had paid the money to the college and not to the company. |
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Religious Congregation
Sirsa, March 9 Some residents of the area have decided to organise a religious congregation that would be addressed by Sant Baljit Singh Dadu of Dadu Sahib Gurdwara on March 11-12. Members of the peace panel today met the chairman of the committee and decided to seek appointment with Jathedar Nandgarh to apprise him of the apprehension of fresh Dera-Sikh confrontation during the congregation. It may be recalled that the authorities had banned the entry of Dadu in the district. An administrative order was issued on March 7 after which representatives of various Sikh organisations had met on March 8 under Jathedar Nandgarh at Takht Damdama Sahib. It was decided that the Jathedar will lead them to Jhorar Rohi on March 11. “We are not against the holding of congregation. But we want that the outsiders should remain away from the event,” Deputy Commissioner SK Goyal said while addressing the members of the peace committee. Superintendent of Police Subhash Yadav also met members of the peace committee today to discuss the steps taken by them for ensuring peace in the area. “We are in touch with various Sikh leaders, including Jathedar Nandgarh, and hope to come out with some positive results after meeting them,” Surinder Bhatia, a member of the peace committee, said. Meanwhile, a week after the religious congregation at Chandpura in Fatehabad, the police on March 8 registered criminal cases against about 1,200 Dera Sacha Sauda followers at the Jakhal police station in Fatehabad district on the complaint of the Duty Magistrate for contravening the provisions of prohibitory orders promulgated in Chandpura village during the congregation. No one has been specifically named in the FIR. |
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‘Celebrate Holi sans water’
Karnal, March 9 Speaking on the occasion, NIFAA chairman Pritpal Singh Pannu said while the people in many parts of the country travelled 10-15 km a day to fetch drinking water, gallons of water was being wasted every year in the name of Holi celebrations. He also administered a pledge to the dignitaries and the children that they would not play “wet Holi” and save water. BS Kaushik of DAV College explained that water shortage could lead to scarcity of food grains and energy. He also cautioned that a world war would be fought for water. President (Haryana chapter), World Malyali Council, PR Nath expressed concern over the scarcity of water and said it would be impossible to sustain life without water. The children suffering from AIDS also celebrated Holi at Karan Park here in a unique manner by sprinkling flowers of different colours instead of splattering traditional Holi colours. |
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Protest against arrest of jeweller
Fatehabad, March 9 The jewellers, who were agitating under the banner of the District Goldsmiths Association, alleged that their member Harish Kumar was picked up by the CIA staff police and framed in a false case for purchasing a stolen gold ring. They alleged that Harish had purchased the ring from a person of an acquaintance and had no idea that the ring was a stolen property. The goldsmiths served a three-day ultimatum to the authorities for taking action against the SHO failing which they threatened to launch an agitation. The Fatehabad SSP, Dr C.S. Rao, said Harish had been arrested under Section 411 of the IPC for dishonestly receiving stolen property and the action of the police was as per the law only. He added that the police has already recovered the stolen property from the accused. Dr Rao said when a person purchases a ring worth more than Rs 10,000 for a paltry sum of Rs 3,700, he can not claim that he was not aware of the fact that the gold ring was a stolen property. |
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3 booked for rape
Sonepat, March 9 They had allegedly made the CD of the rape and were blackmailing her. They had demanded Rs one lakh and had threatened her with dire consequences if the matter was reported to the police. In her complaint in the court of the Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), R.P.Goyal on March 7, the victim alleged that Mukhtiar came to her house on February 17 and offered her some liquid to drink. After taking the liquid, she fell unconscious and was allegedly raped by him. He also prepared a CD of the rape and allegedly raped her for three days. She also alleged that he began blackmailing her and demanded Rs 1 lakh from her. She paid him Rs 25,000. She further stated that after some days, Mukhtiar’s wife Kiran Bala and another woman Neena played the CD in front of a number of women of the neighbourhood in her (Kiranbala) house. The victim was also allegedly threatened that the CD would be played on other occasions also if she did not acted according to their wishes. After hearing her plea, the court directed the police to register a case against the alleged accused. The case was registered at the Rai police station, but no arrest has reportedly been made so far. |
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Two get lifer for murder
Sonepat, March 9 The case of murder and attempt to murder was registered at the Mohana police station on January 1, 2006 on the complaint of Ram Kumar of the same village. He alleged that Raju, Sunil and many others attacked him and Ram Kishan on December 31. In the attack, Ram Kishan died on the spot and he was injured seriously. On the basis of a police investigation and evidences, the two were found guilty of the charges and sentenced. However, others were acquitted for want of evidence. |
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3 held for assault
Rewari, March 9 The accused were today produced in the court of JMIC Rajesh Garg, who remanded them in police custody for a day. The police said they were yet to recover the weapons from them , which were used in the crime. Singh was admitted to private hospital in Gurgaon where his condition was stated to be stable. Sources said old enmity had led the assailants to make a bid on the victim’s life. |
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Experts discuss farm sector problems
Sirsa, March 9 According to a release issued by the AIKS, 22 delegates took part in a discussion on the report of the past three years’ activities and future tasks. The delegates pointed out several problems related to the farm sector like heavy security for tubewell power connection, increasing indebtedness, inadequate support prices of crops, absence of crop insurance and non-implementation of the rural guarantee scheme. Meanwhile, a 35-member state committee was elected in the end which re-elected Phool Singh Sheokand and Halpal Singh as president and general secretary, respectively, for another three-year
term. |
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Now, get gold coins from post offices
Ambala, March 9 Chief postmaster general Kamlesh Chandra said the India Post sold gold coins in denominations of 0.5 gm, 1 gm, 5 gm and 8 gram at special discount of 5 per cent. The coins were minted by Valcambisa Switzerland, he added. |
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