Rohtak, May 22
The incident of suicide by alleged rape victim Alka (24) at the IGP office here on May 6 took another twist when her father Jagmer Singh lodged a complaint with the Urban Estate police station here alleging that Alka’s death was the result of a conspiracy hatched by her husband Sunil and his family members.

He alleged that while Sunil had taken sleeping tablets, Alka had been forced to consume poison, which clearly indicated that there was something fishy. Alka’s father has sought stern action against Sunil and his family members.

In his complaint, Jagmer Singh said a case of dowry harassment was registered against Sunil and his family members in the Saharanpur police station in UP when Alka was forced to return to her parental home in Samalakha after the birth of her daughter. However, the case was later withdrawn from the court following pressure from Sunil’s brother-in-law.

Alka’s father alleged that Sunil had demanded cash thrice after the marriage. While twice his demands were met by paying the demanded amount, Sunil and his family members started torturing Alka when his third demand Alka, along with her husband Sunil, had reportedly consumed poison at the IGP office here on May 6 in protest against alleged police inaction in the gangrape case. Alka had died at the PGIMS, while Sunil was saved by the doctors.

Thereafter, the police had sent the viscera of Alka and blood samples of Sunil for chemical analysis that revealed that no poisonous substance was detected in the samples of Sunil while celphos was found in Alka’s viscera.

The body of Alka kept lying in the PGIMS mortuary for five days. Her family members later took the possession of the body following an assurance by top officers that all five accused of the gangrape would be arrested within 15 days.

Sirsa, May 22
Fourteen-year-old Karamjit Kaur (name changed) would have been in her marital home today had a tip-off by a villager and timely action by the authorities not stopped her marriage last night in Gidranwali village in this district.

Child Marriage Prohibition Officer-cum-Protection Officer under the Protection of Women from the Domestic Violence Act - 2005 Sadhna Mittal, who received an anonymous complaint regarding Karamjit’s marriage yesterday, sought police help from SP Subhash Yadav and raided the girl’s home along with a police party, led by Rania SHO Dharamvir Singh.

Bridegroom Prem from Shahidanwali was to come with his barat to marry the minor girl in the evening.

“We informed the girl’s father that he will have to face two years’ imprisonment and a fine in case he goes ahead with his plan to marry his daughter at this tender age. He understood the gravity of the situation and both parents of the girl gave a written undertaking that they will ask the bridegroom’s family not to come with the barat and also that they will not marry their daughter till she becomes legally eligible for it,” Sadhna Mittal said.

In another incident today, Mittal received information that 13-year-old Rekha (name changed) of Chaharwala village was to be married on June 1, 2009, to a man from Shakarmandori village in this district.

A police party from Chopta police station reached the village and told the girl’s parents about the “perils” involved with child marriage.

“Rekha’s parents have also given a written undertaking cancelling the marriage fixed for June 1 and have avowed that they will not marry her till she attains marriageable age,” Mittal said.

Chandigarh, May 22
Two members of the Haryana Assembly, including former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, today resigned from the Assembly following their election to the Lok Sabha.

Bhajan Lal, elected from the Hisar seat on the HJC (BL) ticket, and Jitender Malik, elected from Sonepat on the Congress ticket, resigned from the Adampur and Kailana Assembly seats, respectively.

The resignations of the two were accepted by Speaker Raghubir Singh Kadian.

Later, speaking to mediapersons, Bhajan Lal said the HJC would decide on the issue of giving support to the UPA at the Centre only if it was sought since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a “good friend” of his.

He stated that he would not contest the Vidhan Sabha elections. On the absence of his elder son Chander Mohan, Bhajan Lal said he had “heard” that he was abroad and would be returning this week. “It is up to him to join the HJC or continue in the Congress. It will be entirely his own decision,” Bhajan Lal said in reponse to a question.

The MP said nothing much would come out of the inquiry into the Yamuna Accord since the decision had been taken in consultation with the Cabinet.

Chandigarh, May 22
Seven years have lapsed since Haryana’s former minister Karan Singh Dalal and two others challenged HCS selections, yet the state has not filed its reply.

Taking up the matter, Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice called for state reply within four weeks. The Bench also gave the liberty to the petitioners’ counsel senior advocate-cum-former advocate-general Mohan Jain to file a replication to the state government response within two weeks thereafter.

The case will now come up on July 28. The Bench, during the previous date of hearing, had prima facie observed no public interest was involved and suggested its withdrawal.

Kaithal, May 22
Though the new academic session started in April, over 1 lakh students studying in government schools under the elementary education programme of the district are without books. The books were to be provided to all categories of students under a scheme announced by the Haryana government last year.

According to reports received from various parts of the district, a number of students from classes I-VIII had not received books even 50 days after the beginning of the session. The teachers of schools where books had not been supplied are not even aware of the actual syllabus and the contents of the books.

Meanwhile, during a visit to the primary wing of Government Boys Senior Secondary School here, some students of class VI revealed that they had not received the complete set of books and they were unable to carry on their studies in a systematic way.

Similarly, a visit to Primary School, HUDA, Sector 19, revealed that students of classes II and III were still without books and the teachers were teaching them on the basis of old syllabus with the help of books taken from students, who had been promoted to the next class.

The students of classes V and VI were given books 10-12 days ago. However, they still have not received books of mathematics. The shortage of staff also came to light in this school, as some posts were lying vacant.

When contacted to know the present status of the availability of books and their further distribution among students, Kaithal DEO Mittar Sain Malhotra said some books that were received earlier had been distributed among students at various places and a fresh consignment had been received in the district and the distribution of books would start soon.

However, complimenting teachers, he said even in the absence of textbooks, they had been teaching students on the basis of last year’s syllabus and old books. He said this was being done to ensure that the time of students was not wasted.

However, he agreed that books received till now were not sufficient to meet the actual need and demand of over 1 lakh students. He said the matter had been brought to the notice of higher authorities and efforts were on to get expeditious supply of textbooks so that students did not suffer further.

The summer vacation is round the corner and a large number of students may remain without books during the vacations.

Kaithal, May 22
Family members and relatives of Sudhir Kalra, alias Goldy, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances three months ago, raised slogans against the Kaithal police outside the residence of SP Sultan Singh here today.

They alleged that the police was trying to shield the murderers of Goldy. Goldy’s sister, Vaishali Bajaj, also threatened to burn herself to death outside the Chief Minister’s residence if the accused were not brought to book immediately.

Earlier, they met the SP and demanded immediate action against the accused mentioned in the FIR.

The body of Sudhir was found on the rear seat of a car on the February 12. Goldy’s brother Rajesh had lodged a complaint with the police that Sudhir’s wife Anu had illicit relations with a businessman of Burail village near Chandigarh. He alleged that Sudhir used to object to the visits of his wife’s paramour, following which she had threatened to kill him.

He further stated in his complaint that some of the family members of Anu’s family, including her father, had come to Goldy’s house in Chandigarh and threatened to kill him regarding some financial matter.

They alleged that the accused had not been arrested as the police and the doctors were hand in glove with each other. They alleged that doctors even sent viscera and a piece of heart of some other body to camouflage the death.

However, the SP denied any foul play. He said the chemical examination of the heart and viscera received from the Karnal Civil Hospital and the PGI, Rohtak, indicated that it was a case of “normal” death.

Faridabad, May 22
Over 20 trade unions today held a demonstration under the banner of the Joint Trade Unions at the mini-secretariat here to press the government to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to next of kin of those killed in a fire on the factory premises of Lakhani Private India Ltd in which 15 workers lost their lives and 24 were injured.

The trade unions have rejected the district administration’s announcement of providing Rs 1 lakh to family members of each of the deceased.

As per the district adminstration’s announcement, the compensation would be provided through the district unit of the Red Cross Society.

The trade unions also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda through the office of the Deputy Commissioner on the issue.

They also demanded the arrest of the owner of the company.

Ballabgarh SDM Inder Singh Bishnoi, who is heading a magisterial inquiry into the cause of the fire on the factory premises, said June 12 had been set as the deadline for him to submit his report.

City Magistrate Satpal Singh said efforts were being made by the administration to provide more relief to next of kin of those killed in the form of jobs.

Yamunanagar, May 22
The construction of a barrage and “check dams” on the Yamuna passing through the Chhachhroli area to avoid a flood-like situation in over 50 villages during the monsoon led to tension following a threat posed by villagers of Uttar Pradesh here today.

Residents of neighbouring villages in Uttar Pradesh, residing on the other side of the Yamuna, raised objection to the construction of the “check dams”, claiming that during the monsoon these would divert the waters of the river to their villages, wreaking havoc.

A team of 50 police personnel, headed by DSP Vijay Mehta, has been deployed for round-the-clock surveillance and providing security in the area. Meanwhile, villagers of the district are camping at the site to ensure the construction of the dams.

The DSP said the situation was peaceful and the police was maintaining round-the-clock vigil.

Gurgaon, May 22
The Gurgaon police has busted a gang of looters with the arrest of two of its members. This was stated by Gurgaon Police Commissioner SS Deswal while addressing a news conference here today.

Deswal said some miscreants had taken away a Tavera car at gunpoint near Devi Lal Stadium here on May 20. The next day, Crime Branch Inspector Bir Singh got a tip-off that the Tavera would be taken to Delhi via Badshahpur.

"Acting on the tip-off, Inspector Bir Singh, along with a police party, put up a naka near Gairatpur Baas village. On seeing the policemen, the occupants of the Tavera fired at them and fled towards Badshahpur after breaking the barrier," the commissioner said, adding that a wireless message was flashed to the police control room, following which more police personnel arrived and two of the miscreants were arrested.

He said the arrested persons had been identified as Sunil of Rajiv Colony and Hansraj of Hasanpur.The two who managed to flee were Vinod, alias Rajje of Tikli village, and Tinku of Naharpur. A pistol was seized from the possession of Hansraj.

Deswal said the arrested persons had confessed their hand in several incidents of loot, besides the murder of Mother Dairy booth operator Ratan Singh committed in April this year.