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Dera volunteers marry sex workers
Rathore may be using Gajinder: Counsel
Tribune Impact |
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C’wealth Games: Tax holiday for hoteliers
Construction banned along GT Road
Jhinda’s rival Nalvi opposes SGPC poll
Police Medal for DGP Malik, 9 others
Khyalia is Sirsa DC again
Three armed men help undertrial escape
Shopkeeper shot dead
APL families to get wheat at Rs 6.86/kg
7-yr-old electrocuted
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Dera volunteers marry sex workers
Sirsa, January 25 The move is part of dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s resolve to rehabilitate sex workers. The Dera chief has named such volunteers as “Bhagat Yodhas”, said to be over 1,300 in number. Efforts are on to find alliances for other “Bhagat Yodhas” from among sex workers in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, claim dera sources. “The number of youths volunteering for the purpose is increasing by the day,” said dera spokesman Aditya Insan. The dera chief today gave the name of “Shubh Devis” to those tying the knot with his followers and proclaimed that now on, they were his daughters. He performed their marriages as per the tradition of “Brahm Vivah”. The dera chose to keep the identity of these five couples a secret. While the bride were in red burqas, the bridegrooms had their faces covered under “sehras”. Dera sources said this had been done in the interest of the couples though there the social stigma had gone with the dera chief adopting these women as his daughters. “Our volunteers are carrying out a survey on the total number of sex workers involved in to flesh trade and our endeavour will be to rehabilitate as many as possible,” said Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh while talking to media- persons. He said a majority of women were in the trade out of compulsion and most were a victim of circumstances. Hence, it was the duty of society to provide them help. The newly-wed brides were joyous at their rehabilitation and said they had never anticipated such good fortune. The bridegrooms said their families had assured them that they would accept the brides with no bias. Adiya Insan said tests to rule out the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, serum hepatitis and others had been performed on the couples before the wedlock. |
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Rathore may be using Gajinder: Counsel
Chandigarh, January 25 As Rathore’s petitions for grant of anticipatory bail in the Ruchika molestation and suicide case came up for hearing before Justice Sabina this afternoon, advocate Pankaj Bhardwaj, appearing on behalf of the victim’s brother and father, indicated that the timing of their resurfacing did arouse suspicion. Bhardwaj told the packed court that 19 years after his disappearance, Gajinder Singh, an accused in car theft cases, had surfaced as if he was at Rathore’s beck and call. Available information suggests the police had booked Ruchika’s brother Ashu Girhotra in six false cases of auto theft on Gajinder Singh’s testimony. A Bihar resident, he was initially arrested in 1994 for auto thefts and had allegedly named Ashu and his friend Sandeep as accomplices. But the court had acquitted them of the charges and had held Gajinder Singh responsible for the thefts. He later absconded and was declared a proclaimed offender. He was arrested only recently, in fact during investigation of cases against Rathore. Appearing before the court today, Assistant Solicitor-General Anmol Rattan Sidhu said Gajinder Singh’s arrest after such a long gap did give the impression that Rathore was in complete knowhow of Gajinder Singh’s whereabouts. Not mincing words, Sidhu said Gajinder was called at Rathore’s behest after 19 years just to scuttle investigations and demolish the case. Referring to Veena Girhotra, Bhardwaj said the “lady” too was brought back into the picture after a long gap. Both developments gave the impression that the two were “under Rathore’s thumb”, Bhardwaj elaborated. Veena has been described in court cases and before the media as Girhotra’s second wife and the family governess. Hearing impaired, she allegedly married Ruchika’s widower father three months after the molestation and left him two years after the teenager’s suicide. |
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Tribune Impact
Sirsa, January 25 Lecturers Sudesh Kalra and Shamim Sharma said the department had now revised its gradation list of December 31, 2007. However, the government is yet to promote them. Women lecturers in government colleges had alleged that their male counterparts had been promoted as principals through “selective deletion” of their names. Kusum Sharma, who was second in the seniority list of HES Class II, Haryana Public Service Commission-1982, was denied
promotion. But Ishwar Singh, Harvinder Kumar Sharma, Satish Chander, Ravi Kumar Sharma, Hakam Singh, Jaiveer Singh, PD Sharma and Subhash Chander placed on the list at rank 15, 18, 19, 24, 33, 34 and 35 ,respectively, were promoted as principals. Likewise, Sujata Sharma placed fourth in the HPSC list, Anita Pratap Singh (5), Mala V Mago (8), Shobha Chugh (11), Sudesh Kalra (12), Anita Rai Chaudhary (13), Santosh Malik (14), Shamim Sharma (21), Purnima Tiwari (23) and Savita Tayal (26) were superseded and the male lecturers junior to them promoted vide two promotion lists issued in December 2008 and June 2009. While preparing the gradation list of HES-II, the Higher Education Department had ranked all male lecturers higher than their women colleagues. “Thanks to The Tribune, the injustice has been partially put to an end,” said elated Sudesh Kalra and Shamim Sharma, who are now ranked 12 and 21, respectively, on the seniority list. They were earlier at 134 and 137 positions. They claimed that but for the media highlighting the injustice, their various representations to the authorities would have gone unheard. “In all, 17 women lectures were discriminated on gender basis. One has already retired from service and some like me are due for superannuation on March 31, 2010. “While the gradation list has been revised, real justice will be done only if the government promotes these lectures as principals without delay,” said Sudesh Kalra. |
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C’wealth Games: Tax holiday for hoteliers
Gurgaon, January 25 This was disclosed by secretary (tourism) of the union government Sujit Banerjee during a recent interaction with the media at the inaugural ceremony of Optus Sarovar Premier Hotel here. “Nearly 1 lakh additional tourists are expected to visit the country during the games. About 40,000 hotel rooms will be required to accommodate the tourists,” he said, adding that as of now, there were about 10,000 hotel rooms in and around Delhi. Banerjee observed that of the remaining 30,000 hotel rooms, Haryana was making a contribution of 6,700 rooms. The DDA would provide 2,300 rooms and UP 2,000 rooms. In addition to these, about 11,000 hotel rooms would be available from guest houses at Paharganj and Karol Bagh in Delhi. About 3,000 rooms would be available from bed and breakfast scheme in Delhi and Haryana. About 5,000 rooms would be made available from the flats being developed by the DDA at Vasant Kunj. The Indian Tourism Development Corporation would take these flats from the DDA before auction and develop 3-star quality rooms in these. If more rooms were required, two tentage sites would be developed at Surajkund and Dundhahera in Haryana, where tents with 5-star facilities would be erected in five acres each. Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kataria, who is also the nodal officer for tourism-related projects and beautification of roads in the districts of Haryana falling in the NCR, assured the tourism secretary that the state would provide about 7,000 rooms. Banerjee said during the Commonwealth Games, the tourist vehicles would have the facility of seamless travel in the golden triangle area that includes Dehli, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan. The tourists’ vehicles would be able to pay all toll taxes in Delhi itself, after which they would be given a sticker with hologram of the Ministry of Tourism. This would enable them to travel without any obstruction. He said separate task forces had been constituted to manage traffic, security and beautification. SDM Gurgaon (north) Satender Duhan, SDM Gurgaon (south) KK Gupta, project officer of Haryana Tourism Mukesh Rao and hotelier Juggi Khanna were also present. |
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Construction banned along GT Road
Chandigarh, January 25 As a result of this decision, permission will now have to be sought from the Director, Town and Country Planning Department, before carrying out any construction or digging and setting up brick- kilns. The area falling between Kurukshetra and Shahbad has been identified as Pocket-1, which includes the areas of Awana, Khanpur Jatan, Dola Majra, Chudni Jatan, Gulabgarh, Atwan, Chanarthal, Saraisukhi, Rawalkheri, Dhirpur, Kanipla, Shadipur, Kohlapur, Dhudla, Masana, Dhantori, Beer Chappra, Machouli, Tyora, Bakana and Chhapri villages. The area falling between Shahbad and the boundary of Ambala district has been identified as Pocket-2, which includes the areas of Mohari, Chhourpur, Samalakhi, Haldahari, Gauripur, Kalayana, Mahildeenpur, Boripur, Patti Boripur, Dau Majra, Gaon Landi villages. Any kind of construction in the revenue estates of these villages is prohibited and for carrying out construction work in this area, permission from the Town and Country Department will have to be sought. An official spokesman said here today that action under the Act would be taken against the violators of these orders. |
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Jhinda’s rival Nalvi opposes SGPC poll
Karnal, January 25 It has urged the government to immediately stall the election process to send the “right signals” to Sikhs in the state. Nalvi cautioned that the move was fraught with danger as it would make Haryana Sikhs, struggling for a separate gurdwara committee for the past one decade, subservient to the SGPC. Talking to mediapersons here, he said the demand for a separate HSGPC had been supported by the Haryana government and under such circumstances it would be a betrayal of Haryana Sikhs if the SGPC elections were held in the state under the patronage of the
government. He said Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act - 1966 clearly provided for setting up a separate SGPC after the bifurcation of Punjab. But this legitimate demand of Haryana Sikhs was being opposed by the SGPC and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Nalvi said the HSGPC had sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene in the matter and ask the Haryana government to stall the SGPC poll and also fulfil the promise of the creation of a separate SGPC for the state. Seeking justice for Haryana Sikhs, Nalvi said the total annual offerings made in Haryana gurdwars were to the tune of
Rs 100 crore and the entire amount was going to the SGPC. |
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Police Medal for DGP Malik, 9 others
Chandigarh, January 25 Rakesh Malik, DGP, Human Rights and Litigation, Panchkula, gets the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. The Police Medal for Meritorious Service has been given to Sajjan Singh, ASP, Sirsa; Narinder Kumar, DSP in the office of SP/Telecom, Panchkula; Tara Chand, Inspector, Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban; Ramesh Chand, Inspector, Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban; Jai Singh, SI, Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban; Rameshwar Dutt, SI, 5th Battalion, Haryana Armed Police, Madhuban; Hemant Kumar, Sub-Inspector, Gurgaon; Gian Chand, Sub-Inspector, State Vigilance Bureau, Panchkula; and Naresh Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector, I/C Police Post, Baldev Nagar, Ambala district. |
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Khyalia is Sirsa DC again
Sirsa, January 25 A Sreenivas, who was appointed Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer in his place, has now been sent to his previous post of posting as the Rewari DC by the state government vide its orders issued today. Khyalia, on the other hand, was awaiting orders after his transfer on
January 15. Earlier, on the compalint of the INLD, the state government had also transferred SP Subhsh Yadav from here and posted Srikant Jadhav in his place on January 6. Yadav was later appointed SP
Hisar. |
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Three armed men help undertrial escape
Karnal, January 25 Gurpreet, son of Sadhu Singh, was being taken to Punjab’s Gidderbaha town from Karnal to be produced in the court today. Three Haryana police personnel - Krishan Kumar (ASI), Jagtar Singh (head constable) and Subhash Chander (constable) - received serious bullet injuries in the incident. Jagtar Singh, who received a bullet injury on the head, was admitted to the DMC hospital, Ludhiana, while ASI Krishan Chand, who sustained bullet injuries on leg and chest, was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda. A case under Sections 307, 224, 25 and 34 of IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act has been registered against unknown assailants at the GRP police station, Abohar. Gurpreet Singh has been facing trial in cases registered against him in Bathinda, Bhopal and Muktsar. ASP Ved Prakash Godhara said such blatant attacks on the police was a matter of concern and security of undertrials during transit was being beefed up to avoid recurrence of such incidents. The Haryana police had sounded an alert and also released the photograph of Gurpreet Singh, he added. Meanwhile a report from Jhajjar said the police has arrested nine persons for allegedly attacking a power substation in Kunjaiya village on the Kosli road here on January 5. A security guard was killed while three other employees of the substation sustained injuries in the attack. |
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Shopkeeper shot dead
Sonepat, January 25 On a complaint of the victim’s brother, Ajay, the police has registered a case of murder against the unidentified accused and five others - Jagdish Jain, Sushil Jain, Aman, Naresh and the SHO of the Gohana city police station - for allegedly conspiring the murder. DSP Jaipal Singh visited the spot and after preliminary investigation, Pramod’s body was taken to the Civil Hospital at Gohana for a postmortem. Local residents and family members assembled outside the Civil Hospital and refused to accept the body in protest, demanding the arrest of the accused. Meanwhile, according to another report, Naveen, a youth of Rathdhana village, was found dead in one of the plots of his family in the village this morning. On a complaint of his brother Sandeep, the police has registered a case against Jai Bhagwan of the same village and others. Sandeep alleged that about 10 days ago, Naveen had gone with Jagdish and others, stating that they were going to Haridwar. However, Naveen was found dead with serious head injuries. Tribune News Service The youths were reportedly trying to loot Rs 35,000 from the employee. The attempt, however, failed after the victim raised the alarm. The robbers managed to flee from the spot. The police has registered a case in this regard. The incident took place when Chandi Ram, an employee with a cigarette trading firm here, was on the way to the office after collecting money from dealers on a bicycle. The victim, who received a bullet injury in the leg, has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, where his condition is stated to be out of danger. No arrest was made till the filing of the report. |
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APL families to get wheat at Rs 6.86/kg
Panchkula, January 25 Director, food and supplies, Balraj Singh said all APL ration cardholders would be eligible to receive 6 kg of wheat. A total of 25,000 metric tonnes of wheat had been released for the purpose, he added. Earlier, the union government also made ad hoc allocation of 31,480 metric tonnes of wheat for APL, Anyodya Anaj Yojana (AAY), and below poverty line (BPL) cardholders. Under the scheme, all such cardholders were being distributed 10 kg wheat at the price of Rs 11.75 per kg. It was in addition to 35 kg and 33 kg of wheat being distributed to AAY or BPL cardholders every month at a price of Rs 2.10 and Rs 4.84 per kg. |
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7-yr-old electrocuted
Yamunanagar, January 25 Alleging negligence of the Electricity Department, the parents of the girl accompanied by local residents held a protest and blocked the national highway. They said low-lying high-tension wires passing over of the rooftops had always posed a threat to the lives of the locals, but the electricity department never took it seriously. The deceased’s father, Ramesh Kumar, said despite their repeated requests, no one took notice of their problem. |
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