Sirsa, January 12
Cars belonging to a high-profile minister in the Haryana Government and an INLD legislator are among 479 vehicles challaned under a special drive in view of the Ellenabad assembly byelection.

The windows of the minister’s Maruti Swift car (HR 70- 0009) had a dark film, while the vehicle of the INLD legislator from Kurukshetra carried a red beacon. Hence, both vehicles were challaned .

The police chased another vehicle in which an INLD leader from Jind district was travelling as the vehicle too carried a red beacon.

After a rather long chase when the vehicle was intercepted, the police could not find the beacon and the driver was allowed to proceed.

Shrikant Jadhav, the new SSP of Sirsa, appointed on the intervention of the Election Commission, has taken several steps in view of the Ellenabad bypoll, including checking of vehicles, raiding hotels and eateries and sealing boundaries of the district by raising barriers.

“As many as 3,284 vehicles were checked by the police in a special drive yesterday. Police parties stopped vehicles at 88 points in the district,” said a police source.

He said 78 vehicles were impounded, 86 found with a black film on windows and 12 without any number plate. As many as 56 persons were without the driver’s licence and 119 motorbikes were challaned for triple riding.

All vehicles at the disposal of the district police, including anti-riot vehicles, interceptors and ambulances were used in the drive.

Raids were carried out in hotels and eateries where liquor was being served without licence.

The SSP, known to be an upright officer, said 89 road barriers were being set up to seal the district.

Besides, the SPs of Muktsar, Mansa and Bathinda of Punjab, Hanumangarh of Rajasthan and Fatehabad of Haryana had been requested to erect barriers on roads leading to Ellenabad.

“Five companies each of the BSF and the Haryana Police Reserve Battalion are expected to reach Sirsa soon,” said Jadhav.

“The entire constituency had been divided into five sectors and gazetted officers made in charge of each sector,” he said. Over 85 police parties would patrol the constituency for the smooth conduct of the bypoll, he added.

Jadhav is also known for his proactive role in checking crime. As SP of Fatehabad, he constituted an NGO “Paryaas” with the help of local residents and worked for de-addiction in the area known for poppy husk trafficking at that time.

Ellenabad, January 12
Responding to the challenge thrown by INLD candidate Abhey Singh Chautala, the Congress today gave details of development activities taken up by the governments headed by Om Parkash Chautala and Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Sirsa and Ellenabad.

Abhey Singh Chautala had pooh-poohed Hooda’s claim that his government had spent Rs 1120 crore in Sirsa and Rs 270 crore in Ellenabad and offered to pull out of the contest if this claim was found correct.

He had demanded Hooda’s resignation in case the latter was proved wrong.

Haryana minister Randeep Singh Surjewala today claimed that a sum of Rs 722 crore would be spent in Sirsa by the end of 2010-11 on strengthening power supplies in the district, whereas Chautala had spent only Rs 190.54 crore on the same.

He said the government had already spent Rs 411.32 crore out of this amount.

“The Chautala government set up four 33-KV substations at Sirsa, while the Hooda government has set up 14 sub- stations of which three fall in Ellenabad,” Surjewala maintained, while addressing mediapersons at Kagdana village.

“The Chautala government released 2,871 tubewell connections in Sirsa, while we have released 13,528 out of which 3,103 are in Ellenabad. As many as 3,194 transformers were installed under the Chautala regime, while 11,741 have been installed under the Hooda regime, 6,234 in Ellenabad.

“Our government released 19,247 connections to BPL families on priority under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana, including 5,060 families from Ellenabad. No such move was initiated by the Chautala government.”

The Congress would release figures spent in Sirsa and Ellenabad by other departments in the course of its campaign, he announced.

“We urge Abhey Singh not to withdraw from the contest as we want Ellenabad voters to deliver their verdict,” Surjewala observed sarcastically.

Sampat Singh, Congress MLA from Nalwa, also released details of money spent by the Congress government in Ellenabad during the past more than four years and alleged the INLD was trying to mislead people.

“The Hooda government spent Rs 83.33 crore on power, Rs 58.18 crore on irrigation, Rs 44 crores on roads and buildings, Rs 15.04 crore from the Haryana Rural Development Fund, Rs 11.84 on technical education, Rs 3 crore on the judicial complex in Ellenabad and Rs 22.77 crore on rural and urban water supplies,” he maintained.

He was talking to mediapersons at Nathusari Chopta.

Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Ellenabad, January 12
Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala believes that Sirsa versus Rohtak will emerge the deciding factor on January 20 when Ellenabad goes to the polls.

Speaking in Chaharwala village, he said the people of Ellenabad had relegated all other issues to the backseat.

He alleged that Sirsa, Fatehabad and districts located on NH-1, where recovery of power bills was the maximum, were starved of power, while Rohtak with a poor record in the matter, was supplied maximum power.

He alleged the Congress has been making false claims on development of Sirsa and Ellenabad. “Figures being given by the Congress leaders are meaningless as these are all forged,” he alleged.

“The Comptroller and Auditor-General report has cited bungling of hundreds of crores in power utilities and has exposed the misdeeds of the Congress leaders. So, of what meaning is such figures,” he asked.

Accusing Randeep Singh Surjewala of alloting development works of his department to his chosen and untrained contractors, Chautala alleged sewer pipes were being installed in various parts without any foundation to siphon government money.

He said contractors from Rohtak had been duping the government by taking away soil worth crores from the bed of Ottu in Sirsa.

Chautala has been covering 12 villages of the constituency in a day and interacting with villagers, asking them to honour their promise to ensure the victory of his candidate by a margin bigger than his own.

He pleads with villagers to forget their grievances against the party, if any, and calls upon workers to bring the aggrieved ones to their fold.

Chandigarh, January 12
The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which is seeking a separate committee to manage Sikh Gurdwaras in the state, has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister P. Chidambram for its cause.

In a letter addressed to the Home Minister, committee president Raminder Singh Juneja, working president Didar Singh Nalvi and vice-president Baldev Singh Khalsa have urged the Union Minister to stop the ongoing election process to the Amritsar-based SGPC and instead establish a separate Gurdwara mangement committee for the state.

They said under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, separate agriculture university, an academic university and a separate Gurdwara management committee were to be set up for Haryana. While the two universities had been set up, the Gurdwara committee was yet to be formed.

The Sikh leaders said they had been fighting for a separate Gurdwara committee for the state for the past 10 years. The Congress in its election manifestos of 2004 and 2009 had promised to set up a separate committee for the state on the pattern of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had publicly declared before the last Assembly elections that his government would set up the committee on November 1, 2009, itself. However, nothing had happened so far. They alleged that the Amritsar-based SGPC, in indirect connivance with the Haryana government, had been able to collect religious offerings worth over Rs 100 crore per annum and in return, it did nothing for the development of the Sikh shrines or welfare of the Sikhs of the state. The leader described it as a “clear case of naked economic exploitation of the Sikhs of Haryana.”

Gurgaon, January 12
There is good news for people who own 50 acres or more area falling under the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) global corridor as they will be able to take up recreational projects like amusement park and golf course after taking permission from the state government.

This was disclosed by Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kataria, who is also the chairman of the district planning committee, in a meeting held here today. Additional Deputy Commissioner Pushpender Singh Chauhan is member secretary of the committee constituted for doing planning in the amenity zone.

Talking to The Tribune, Kataria said, “2 km on both sides of the KMP global corridor is treated as amenity zone in which some theme cities are proposed to be developed by the government. Besides, these cities, any person can set up recreational projects provided he owns 50 acres or more.” In the meeting, he sought suggestions to take up activities in the area falling under Gurgaon district from the members of the committee. District-level committees under the chairmanship of respective Deputy Commissioners of the districts from where the KMP is passing have also been constituted.

The 135-km-long KMP expressway passes through Sonepat, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Mewat and Palwal districts. In order to plan and regulate development along the expressway, a 2-km belt on either side has been declared as a controlled area, which is termed as amenity zone, under the provisions of the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restrictions of Unregulated Development Act 1963. These controlled areas have integrated with the existing controlled areas declared around the urban centres of the six districts. Kataria said in Gurgaon and Mewat districts, five theme cities had been proposed and these cities would not disturb the already notified development plans of Gurgaon-Manesar urban complex, Gwalpahari, Sohna, Nuh and Tauru. The theme cities include World Trade City in 260 hectares, Fashion City (220 hectares), entertainment (140 hectares), Leather City (280 hectares) and Leisure City in 750 hectares.

District Town Planner (Planning) Vijender Singh said World Trade City would have a financial hub with soft trading facilities, city connected network with IT propped by communication hubs and other facilities to promote business and trade. It would house office spaces for stockbrokers and agents, stock exchanges, venture capitalist offices, investment and merchant bankers, financial institutions, banks and securities, non-banking financial institutions and insurance companies.

Similarly, Fashion City would be equipped with technology and vocational centres besides having institutions for apparel manufacturing, fabric design, R&D institutions, jewellery and gems workshop and arts and crafts boutiques.

The Millennium City would have hotels, motels, restaurants, shopping malls, multiplexes, dining halls, nightclubs, theatres, retail and other centres for entertainment, the DTP said.

He added that Leather city was proposed to be developed near Nuh in Mewat district on the Gurgoan-Alwar road which might help in providing a solid base for the development of backward area in Mewat.

He said Leisure City would have entertainment-related institutions like arts and cultural centre, racing track, racecourse, golf course, spa and resorts, aquarium, fun parks and adventure sports centre, natural heritage and history museum, art gallery and fine arts centre, amusement centre and theme park, water parks, Disney land, zoo, sports complex and fitness club.

Rohtak, January 12
The police got a relief in the matter of handing over the possession of the controversial Satlok Ashram at Karontha village here to its owner, Sant Rampal, as the Supreme Court has directed to maintain a status quo at the site.

The apex court also provided a breather to the Superintendent of Police (SP), Rohtak, in the same case, who had been facing contempt of court charges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as the SC has stayed the contempt proceedings against him. Granting a special leave petition filed by the police and the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, opposing the handing over of the ashram to controversial Sant Rampal, the SC listed the matter for further directions on February 8.

It also directed “the parties to maintain status quo as of today until further orders”, which means the district administration will continue to have the possession of the ashram.

Earlier, the high court had ordered the police to hand over the ownership of the ashram to Rampal by November 22 in its order issued on November 11 as the state counsel agreed to hand over the possession.

However, the orders put the local police in the dock as Rampal’s return to the ashram could lead to law and order problem in the region. Moreover, residents of the village and the members of the Arya Samaj had started protests, opposing Rampal’s return to the village. The police, sensing the trouble, did not allow Rampal to enter the village and denied the possession, thereby leading to violation of the high court orders.

Later, the ashram’s owner approached the high court, following which the court had initiated contempt proceedings against the Rohtak SSP and other police officials.

A large number of people of the region, who have a strong influence of the Arya Samaj, had been opposing the activities in the ashram here. The tussle turned violent when the villagers led by the Arya Samaj laid siege of the ashram in July 2006 and a youth of Dighal village died in the firing opened from the ashram’s side. A case had been registered against Rampal and his followers.

The administration later took over the ashram and booked Rampal, who along with several of his followers shifted his base to Barwala town in Hisar district.

Rampal got a bail last year after spending 22 months in the murder case. He approached the high court seeking possession of the land and the ashram owned by him in Karontha village. The Arya Samaj again started mobilising the local people to resist the bid to revert the ownership of ashram to Rampal, who was trying to relocate his base in the village.

However, a clash was averted as the police denied the possession to Rampal citing prevailing tense situation in view of villagers opposing his entry. The villagers had been alleging that the ashram had been misleading the youth and the women. 

Jhajjar, January 12
A teenaged boy was allegedly abducted and later thrashed to death by a group of youths in Khanpur village under Salhavaas police station here last night. The deceased has been identified as Hem Chander.

As the news of his killing spread in his native Bahu village, a large number of people assembled outside the village and resorted to road blockade for several hours. The protesters were demanding arrest of the accused and transfer of Station House Officer (SHO) of the Salhavaas police station Pohap Singh. The Salhavaas police has registered a case under Sections 302, 148, 149, 364 of the IPC against Ravinder, Pardeep, Bhan, Krishan and Deepak, all residents of Khanpur village.

The incident took place when Hem Chander had gone to his field located outside the village last night. The accused came there in a vehicle and overpowered him. Later, they took Hem Chander to their Khanpur and allegedly dumped him at a place, thrashing him mercilessly thereafter, the reports said.

On getting information, family members of Hem Chander rushed to Khanpur at late night and found Hem Chander lying in an unconscious state. They immediately took him to a private hospital from where he was referred to PGIMS, Rohtak and was declared brought dead there.

The villagers lifted the blockade on assurance of quick action in this regard by DSP Rajbir Deswal, who reached the spot along with heavy police force. Jhajjar SSP Sourabh Singh said the investigation was going on and raids were being carried out to nab the accused. He confirmed the SHO had been sent to the police lines, following the demand of the villagers.

Gurgaon, January 12
An undertrial died under mysterious circumstances in Bhondsi jail here today. The deceased has been identified as Krishan Kumar.

Relatives of the deceased alleged that he died due to police torture. However, the police claimed that Kumar died due to medical complications.

Kin of Kumar blocked traffic in front of the Civil Hospital, while they were on the way to the hospital from Bhondsi jail this morning.

ACP Surinder Singh said Kumar was an undertrial in a case under Sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC. He was arrested on Monday , produced in court and sent to jail.

Family members alleged that the police tortured him and delayed taking him to the hospital that led to his death. They demand an inquiry into his death. Nirmal Kataria, Kumar’s relative, said he was fine when the police arrested him yesterday. She claimed that they had seen injury marks on Kumar’s back which proved that he was tortured in the prison.

Karnal, January 12
The police today booked four persons in a suspected dowry-death case in Basanti colony in Kunjpura.

The accused have been identified as Krishan, Sunita, Sonu, and Pawan, husband, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and husband of her sister-in-law, respectively, of the deceased Rekha. In-laws said Rekha committed suicide by hanging herself. However, Rekha’s parents alleged that her in-laws were harassing her for dowry and that she had been murdered. — TNS