Jhajjar, August 3
In a significant development in the ongoing row over the Kadyan Barha khap panchayat’s verdict to expel the Gehlout family from Dharana village here for alleged “violation” of social norms by marrying Ravinder Gehlout with a girl of Kadyan gotra, a large group of persons belonging to the Jat community have not only decided to support the stand of the khap panchayat, but also prepared a 10-point agenda for placing it at the Sarva khap panchayat meeting scheduled to be held on August 9 in Beri town here to take decisive steps regarding the controversy.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held under the joint meeting of Om Prakash Dhankhar and Hawa Singh Sangwan here yesterday.

The meeting also decided to move the government as well as courts for getting amendments in the Hindu Marriage Act done besides warning the other communities against attempts to create division among the Jat community on the pretext of the human rights.

Jats, who attended the meeting, also maintained that they were ready to give all sorts of sacrifices to save the gotra custom, as it was an age-old system based on the principles of science.

Meanwhile, people belonging to the Gehlout gotra at Kheri Saadh village in Rohtak district have launched a campaign to mobilise the Gehlout khap members to come to the rescue of the affected family.

At a meeting held in the village, the villagers decided to convene a meeting of the Gehlout clan on Wednesday to take stock of the situation and evolve strategy to extend help to the affected Gehlout family.

The indefinite dharna by the Kadyan Barha khap members on the outskirts of Dharana village is on since Thursday.

The police is also deployed in the village and near the dharna venue to prevent any untoward incident.

The Gehlout family has also been living in Dharana village under heavy security cover after a week-long “exile” from the village bowing to the verdict of the khap panchayat.

Rohtak, August 3
Representatives of various social organisations, voluntary bodies and social activists have called upon the Kadyan Barah khap panchayat to accept the marriage of Ravinder Gehlout and Shilpa of Dharana village of Jhajjar district in larger interests of society and overall peace in the region.

A state-level meeting of such organisations has been convened in Rohtak on August 9 for further deliberations and to build social pressure on the khap panchayat. This appeal has come in the wake of the growing tension in Dharana and posting of about 40 companies of the police there.

Describing the prevailing situation as volatile, these bodies have also asked the people to take part in the proposed meeting on August 9.

These bodies, including the Janwadi Mahila Samiti, Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Sarvedesik Arya Yuvak Parishad, Haryana Vigyan Manch, Democratic Youth Federation and the Students Federation of India, held a meeting on Sunday last and adopted a resolution seeking immediate and proper solution to the gotra row and an action to punish the culprits responsible for the gory murder of Ved Pal in Singhwal village on July 22.

They said the sit-in dharna in Dharana village would be lifted immediately so that the peace could be restored. It is claimed that since the married couple was settled in Delhi, the protest was uncalled for.

It was also emphasised that marriage was a matter between two individuals, therefore the grievances, if any, could be resolved amicably without creating social disharmony by forcing some innocent to leave the village forever. Law-enforcing agencies should see that no one takes the law into their hands. Condemning the killing of a married youth in Singhwal recently, the meeting demanded that the accused should be identified through a CBI inquiry.

Chandigarh, August 3
The Haryana Staff Selection Commission’s functioning has come under a cloud.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court believes an application for physical training instructors post was torn apparently with “a design to remove the portion where the signatures was or was not endorsed”.

The issue was brought to the court’s notice by candidate Vikash. He had responded to an advertisement for 183 posts of instructors, but his case was rejected on the ground he had not signed it. The petitioner contended his application was not shown to him even on repeated request, compelling him to move the court.

As the mater came up, Justice Ranjit Singh asked the state counsel to produce the application form for perusal, “as it would have clinched the issue, if the petitioner had signed the same or not”.

The application form submitted by the petitioner was produced before the court. Taking it up, Justice Ranjit Singh observed: “The place meant for endorsing signatures on the form is found torn and that torn portion of the application form is missing…

“Since the application was in the custody of the respondent-board, they were to ensure its safe preservation. It is for them to explain as to how that part of the application is found torn or missing where the petitioner had put his signatures.

“There is no explanation forthcoming as to how and under what circumstances this particular place containing signatures of the petitioner is found torn and is missing. The manner in which the application is found torn would apparently indicate that it is not a natural tearing but appears to be with design to remove that portion where the signatures was or was not endorsed. In any event, it is for the respondent to make good their case that they had received the application that was unsigned.”

“The record was in the custody of the respondents. They would be responsible for the safe custody. They have now to explain this tearing and that the application was unsigned. There is a doubt if this application was submitted unsigned or it is made to look so.

“The respondents have not been able to remove the doubt that the application submitted by the petitioner was unsigned. They, thus, have not been able to show that the application received by them was unsigned.”

Giving the petitioner the benefit, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “It is to be assumed that this application submitted by him was signed. It can very well be that this portion has now been torn off to prejudice the case of the petitioner for consideration”.

Kaithal, August 3
An act of mischief was timely detected when some miscreants allegedly sprayed some “liquid”, suspected to be some poisonous substance, on utensils used for preparing food to be served in midday meal at Government High School in Pilni village in Pundri sub-tehsil here last night.

The school chowkidar, Karam Singh, who was allegedly under the influence of liquor, has been taken into custody for interrogation.

On the directions of Deputy Commissioner Amneet P Kumar, a team of the Health Department today took samples of food articles under the supervision of naib tehsildar Jai Bhagwan, BDPO Charanjit Singh and headmaster Taan Singh in the presence of Sia Ram, vice-president of the Seva Samiti and other villagers.

The act of mischief which could prove fatal to the lives of hundreds of students came to light when the staff assigned the job of preparing midday meal reached the school today morning.

The staff found that the locks of the storeroom, where food articles were prepared, were broken and when the door was opened, a strong stink like that of a pesticide emanated from the room. The liquid was reportedly sprayed on the utensils used for cooking food. The staff informed the school staff.

The chowkidar, who was in an inebriated condition, told the police that some persons had entered the school last night and might have done some act of mischief.

The administration sealed the entire stock of food articles lying in the adjoining store and sent samples for further laboratory test to ascertain mixing or spraying of any harmful pesticide or other substance.

The police also took in its possession a tin lying in the store having some liquid for chemical analysis and sent the same to the laboratory along with other articles.

The DC said alternative arrangements were being made to make available stock of food articles for midday meal. Meanwhile, the police has started investigation and registered a case in the daily diary.

SI Om Parkash said an FIR would be registered if the laboratory reports pointed towards the presence of poison or any harmful material in food articles. However, the police has started investigation to unravel the identity of miscreants.

Fatehabad, August 3
Deputy Commissioner CG Rajini Kaanthan has ordered a probe after cracks developed within months in the recently constructed support walls in the Ghaggar Canal under a bridge near Ratia to stop the erosion of soil under the bridge.

The walls had been constructed recently at a cost of Rs 1.37 crore by the PWD authorities after the bridge had caved in due to erosion of soil under it last year.

Talking to mediapersons here today, the DC said he was sending a report to the Chief Secretary, the Financial Commissioner and the Principal Secretary (PWD, B&R) so that suitable government action could be taken against the erring officials.

Kaanthan also said that he would ask the Executive Engineer of the department to issue a fresh certificate regarding safety of the bridge so that the erring officials could be held liable in case of any accident.

Two persons, a father and his son, had been killed when the motorcycle they were riding fell in the Ghaggar after a portion of the road near the bridge caved in due to soil erosion on June 16, 2008.

Executive Engineer SS Puwar, however, denied there was any unexpected damage to the walls.

“The bridge is completely safe and we had been anticipating some damage to the walls due to turbulent flow of water,” he maintained and added that the damage was being repaired.

Sirsa, August 3
The issue of Panchmukhi Chowk in Ellenabad town here has been a bone of contention between the local Aggarwal Community and the Shaheed Radhey Sham Bhakar Yadgar Samiti, a committee set up to perpetuate a Kargil martyr.

It took an ugly turn today when one faction of the samiti helped members of the Aggarwal Community set up a statue of Maharaja Agrasen twice since Sunday evening, but the other faction damaged the statue on both the occasions.

Members of the Aggarwal Community and a faction of the samiti opposed to the installation of the statue clashed here today resulting in injuries to four persons.

Heavy police has been deployed near the chowk to avert any further conflict between the two groups, though no FIR has been lodged so far.

While installing the statue of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal on a roundabout earmarked as Agrasen Chowk, the then Chautala government had given the Panchmukhi Chowk to the Aggarwal Community to develop it as Maharaja Agrasen Chowk, said Vijay Dhanuka, a member of the working committee of the Aggarwal Sabha.

However, it became a contentious issue after Shaheed Radhey Sham Bhakar Yadgar refused to allow them install the statue of Maharaja Agrasen claiming it to be a roundabout named after the Kargil martyr, he added.

Members of the Aggarwal community had given a call to boycott the parliamentary elections and had now announced that they would support a party that facilitated the installation of the statue Maharaja Agrasen at the chowk.

When the local authorities and the police were busy in Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s visit to Sirsa, some leaders of the INLD, including former MLA Bhagi Ram, Abhey Singh Khod and Mohan Lal Jhorar, yesterday approached the members of the Aggarwal Community and helped them install the statue in a hurry.

Ellenabad SHO Ramesh Chander said the police had been deployed near the chowk to stop the repetition of morning incidents.

Chandigarh, August 3
With over 10,100 deaths reported in Haryana in road accidents since 2007, Haryana has formulated an integrated traffic plan (ITP) to make road travel safer.

This was stated by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala in response to a question by Dr Sita Ram during question hour on the concluding day of the Haryana Assembly session.

Surjewala agreed that the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents was increasing every year. “To bring down the number, we have opened 22 traffic police stations and set up an office of AIG (Traffic) at Karnal.” Then, under the ITP, the government was carrying out road widening, checking overloading, removing road engineering defects and ensuring the availability of immediate medical aid, among other steps, he said.

Also, ambulances, speed radars, 100 machines to extricate victims from the mangled remains of vehicles and high-speed interceptors were being provided.“The government can only create systems. It is for society and the elected representatives to inculcate civic sense among people,” he held.

Shamsher Singh Surjewala said the making of speed breakers should be regulated, pointing out that at many places these were made by “burying” an electric pole in the road and covering it on the sides. He also raised an objection to rumble strips.

Karan Dalal was of the opinion that drunken drivers should not be given bail to check the menace while Sumita Singh pointed out that construction material lying on roadsides at sites where flyovers were being built was a source of danger.

The issue of bad roads was hotly debated in the House with MLAs across the board referring to problem spots in the respective constituencies. The Public Works Minister, Capt Ajay Yadav, said the government was doing its bit for widening and repair of roads all over the state and there was no paucity of funds. However, the MLAs were unrelenting and sought to know when work in their areas would be taken up or completed. At this, Surjewala urged them to seek information in writing from the Minister concerned.

In response to a question by Geeta Bhukal, Yadav announced that the government had decided to provide separate ponds for clean and dirty water in villages. He said the government proposed to construct 1,069 such ponds in the villages.

“The Chief Minister has announced an economic stimulus package by way of which we will create partitions for clean and dirty water. We are taking up 100 villages first and work will be carried out under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme along with the Irrigation Department at some places,” he explained.

On the demand of Oppostion leader Sita Ram, a debate on the lack of rain, the drought-like situation and poor power and water supply was also held. However, the Opposition failed to make any substantial point and digressed to the issue of incentives to Dailits.

In response, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the Opposition had made light of a serious issue of lack of rain and its impact on the farmers.

The Speaker pointed out that the leader of the INLD, Om Prakash Chautala , had not even bothered to attend today’s sitting. “Where is your leader? Is he not concerned about the farmers?” he asked the INLD MLAs.

Chandigarh, August 3
The Haryana Assembly today passed 14 Bills, including the historic Haryana Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2009, which provides for the leasing of agricultural land mortgaged by a farmer with a cooperative bank in case of default, to recover the loan amount.

The decks have been cleared for the establishment of the YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad, with the passing of a Bill to this effect by the House.

The Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal (Amendment) Bill seeks to provide the status of “teaching-cum-affiliating university” to the institution as well as to make a small change in its name. Now the words “Deen Bandhu” will be read as one word.

The Haryana Public Service Commission (Additional Functions) Amendment Bill, which replaces an ordinance, brings recruitment to gazetted posts of the power utilities within the purview of the Public Service Commission.

The Court Fees (Haryana Amendment) Bill will reduce and rationalise the rates of ad valorem fees charged from litigants.

The Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas (Second Amendment) Bill and the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Amendment) Bill allow the registration of independent residential floors as independent dwelling units in licensed residential colonies and HUDA sectors, respectively.

The Haryana Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill enables the government to hold elections to the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation within two years of its constitution. This Bill as well as the Haryana Municipal (Amendment) Bill will also earmark 25 per cent of the municipal budget to promote safety, health, civic amenities or other services for the poor and in the slum areas.

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Haryana Validation Bill validates the appointment of certain authorities and the actions taken by them under the provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, as applicable to the state. The need for this amendment Bill arose after it was found that the 1994 Act was never notified by the state, though action was taken against several doctors under the Act.

The other Bills passed by the House today included the Haryana Appropriation (No 3) Bill; the Haryana Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill; the Haryana Private Universities (Third Amendment) Bill; and the Haryana Police (Amendment) Bill.

Fatehabad, August 3
A middle-aged woman was beaten up with iron rods and then beheaded with a spade, allegedly by her husband and a brother-in-law after a minor altercation in Aherwan village in the district today. The accused threw away the head of the victim Amarjit Kaur (45) in the fields at a short distance from their house.

The police, on the complaint of victim’s daughter Sharanjit Kaur, has registered a murder case against husband Malkiat Singh and his brother Harvinder Singh, who have absconded after the killing.

“When my mother tried to lift the phone after it rang in the morning today, my father stopped her and began beating her with iron rods. After an argument between the two, my uncle also joined in,” alleged Sharanjit Kaur (20), who said her father used to quarrel with Amarjit Kaur over petty issues.

She said her brother Ranjit Singh, who had gone on a pilgrimage to Naina Devi was calling on the telephone, but her father was always suspicious of her mother.

She said she intervened and tried to save her mother but when she went out of the house for some chore, they beheaded her with a spade. She found the torso of her mother lying in the courtyard of the house, while the head was later recovered by the police from the fields. She said both her father and her uncle were drug addicts.

The police has registered a case and sent the body for a post-mortem examination.

Jind, August 3
A minor girl was allegedly gangraped and strangled to death by some persons here last night.

The body was recovered from a spot near a rail track this morning.

Though the body was sent for a postmortem, the police has registered a case. No arrests have been made so far.

Sources said the victim aged about 16 years, a resident of Vishwakarma Colony here, had gone to a shop in her neighbourhood to buy bread at 8 pm yesterday, but did no return.

The family, which was frantically trying to locate the girl since last night, was shocked when someone told them that the girl had been “killed” and her body was lying near the railway track connecting Jind with Hansi.

In fact, the police, which recovered the body this morning, said the girl was stripped off her clothes before being murdered.

Though a medical report is yet to confirm the rape, the police believes that the girl was gangraped and done to death by the accused to escape the law.

The body had injury marks and it was bleeding, said a report.

Sonepat, August 3
SP Mahender Singh Sheoran claimed that one of the alleged accused in the murder case of Anoop Saini, a cloth merchant, was arrested today.

The accused has been identified as Sanjay of Puthar village in Panipat district.

Sanjay will be produced in the court tomorrow. He will be sent to police custody for recovery of the looted cash, arms and motorcycle used in committing the crime, the SP said.

Anoop was shot dead allegedly by two motorcycle-borne youths on July 30, when he was returning home on a motorcycle.

In a complaint to the police, Himanshu identified one of them as Sanjay of Puther village adding that the two alleged accused came to their shop in the afternoon that day and demanded Rs 2 lakh . When it was denied, they allegedly threatened with dire consequences.

Protesting against the murder, the Panipat-Gohana-Rohtak National Highway was blocked for around 12 hours by residents of Garhi Ujale Khan, native village of Anoop.

The blockade was lifted on July 31 after DC Ajit Joshi and the SP reached on the spot and assured action against the accused. The DC also announced compensation of Rs 1 lakh from the district red cross society to the bereaved family.

Karnal, August 3
Agitated over detention of fasting “Dandi Swami,” the Haryana Rajya Gaushala Sangh, spearheading the protest for ban on “cow slaughter”, today served an ultimatum on the government to release the swami by August 6 and allow him to go back to his village.

The deadline was announced by Acharya Baldev, president of the Gaushala Sangh, at a public rally organised by people of Amupura village and various Hindu organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal protesting against the swami’s detention. The Gaushala Sangh also gave a call for Karnal bandh on August 6.

Earlier, hundreds of protesters, including Amupura villagers assembled at Karan Park and took out a procession via community Chowk, Sabzi Mandi and Kunjpura road and held a rally at Mini Secretariat.

Dandi Swami, who was on fast unto death since July 22 at Amupura village to press upon the demand for complete ban on cow slaughter and introduction of a bill to this effect in the current session of Parliament was whisked away by the police on night of August 28 and shifted to PGI at Rohtak in a clandestine manner.

He was still admitted to PGI at Rohtak and all pleas of villagers and Hindu organisations to free him had fallen on deaf years, forcing the people to intensify the agitation.

“The patience of the villagers and the VHP and the Bajrang Dal activists are running out and a deadline had been set for release of Dandi Swami, said Chander Veer Bhatia, vice-president, Haryana state Bajrang Dal.