Rohtak, April 8
The local police today remained on its toes as it had to grapple with two incidents of violence in the city.

Agitated students of Jat College here resorted to violence and disrupted traffic on the Rohtak-New Delhi highway for over an hour in protest against the alleged beating up of a student by a policeman.

The angry students pelted stones on the police personnel.While two students received minor injuries, a mobike was damaged.

Visitors to the PGIMS Hospital had a tough time finding medical help following an ugly clash between Class III and Class IV employees with the security personnel.

Some employees in the administrative block were allegedly thrashed by the security staff at one of the hospital gates .

A clash ensued when the staff was asked to show their identity cards by the security personnel at one of the hospital gates at 9.30 am.

“The employees were assaulted with sticks, resulting in injuries to at least five of them,” said an employee. He said the security guards belonged to a private company had been employed on contract..

The guards, he claimed, had been deputed to check and monitor the entry of attendants of patients admitted to the hospital and to check the movement of suspicious persons inside the campus.

He claimed the guards, iwhile performing their duty, were rude to one and all, including the staff of the hospital and the university. There was deep resentment against their behaviour for quite some time. This was the main reason behind the clash today, he explained.

The police, that rushed to the site of the clash, questioned the injured employees as well as the security guards and their employer.

No case was registered against any person till the filing of the report. Of late, the Chief minister’s hometown has seen a spate of clashes.

On Tuesday, the district administration was forced to abandon an anti-encroachment drive on the busy Railway Road amid a strong protest.

A clash occurred between officials and local shopkeepers said to be backed by a Congress leader.

An employee was allegedly beaten up by the protesters.

Tosham (Bhiwani), April 8
The mortal remains of two brave sons of Bhiwani district, who had laid down their lives fighting the Naxals in the far off Dantewada of Chhattisgarh state, were consigned to flames amidst heart-rending scenes.

Pradeep Kumar and Sandeep Yadav shared many things in life. Besides being the natives of this land of the brave, they were colleagues in the CRPF and shared the place of their death.

A large number of people had turned out to pay them their last respect and bid adieu to the courageous soldiers. They chanted slogans in honour of their martyrdom when their bodies were kept on the pyres. Contingents of the CRPF and the Haryana Police reversed their arms and fired into the air to give the last salute to their former comrades. Officers placed wreaths on the bodies on behalf of the Governor and the Chief Minister.

A good kabaddi player, 25-year-old Pradeep was cremated at his native village, Aalampur, with state honours. His elder brother, Manoj, who lit the pyre, to say the least, was inconsolable.

CRPF DIG Kuldeep Dhar, who accompanied the body, Deputy Commandant Suresh Kumar and, DSP Dilbag Singh also paid tributes to the soldier.

Constable Pradeep Kumar is survived by his father Chhatar Singh, a farmer, mother Roshni Devi, wife Saroj, daughter Khushboo and sisters Kamal and Sunil.

The mortal remains of martyr Sandeep Yadav were consigned to flames with state honours at his native village Nandgaon. His father, Ummed Singh, lit the pyre. Sandeep (29) joined the CRPF in September 2002. He was trained in guerrila warfare in March 2010. He is survived by his widow Sunita Devi, a son and a daughter. The CRPF men led by Commandant US Shekhawat brought the body of the martyr to his village.

Member of Parliament Shruti Choudhry, Tosham MLA Kiran Choudhry and DC Ramesh Verma paid tributes to constable Pradeep Kumar and Sandeep.

Sirsa, April 8
The Academic Council (AC) of Chaudhary Devi Lal University today recommended the renaming of the Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering as the Department of Computer Sciences and Applications on the pattern of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.

The AC, that met today under Vice-Chancellor Balbir Singh Malik, who is also Commissioner, Hisar division, also recommended treating the department as the Faculty of Physical Sciences.

The AC, in an earlier meeting held on January 13, 2009, had recommended that a separate faculty with the nomenclature of Faculty of Computer Technology be set up, which would take care of all courses related to the computer application, computer sciences and information and technology of the university.

This was necessitated after a government notification making Chaudhary Devi Lal College of Engineering, Panniwala Mota (Sirsa), as a constituent college of the university and treating it as Faculty of Engineering.

However, the Executive Council of the university in its meeting held on March 31, 2010, had referred the recommendation back to the AC with an observation that the department be renamed in accordance with the rules of KU.

Taking another agenda item, the AC deferred the issue of amendment of the scheme of examination and syllabi for LLM (2-year course) after Rajesh Malik, a lecturer in the law department, objected to it on the ground that the issue had not been discussed in the Post Graduate Board of Studies (PGBOS) before including it in the agenda.

Prof BP Singh, chairperson of the Department of Law, however, maintained that the amendment had been recommended by the PGBOS of the department.

“The issue has been deferred for the next meeting,” said Malik. The AC also approved several actions taken by the Vice-Chancellor in the past under Section 11 (6) of the Chaudhary Devi Lal University Act-2003.

The Section authorises the VC to take action in emergent situations, but the actions have to be approved by the AC later on.

Malik observed that Section 11 (6) should be sparingly used as an exception and not as a rule and for that, he said meetings of the EC should be held more frequently. Today’s meeting was held after a gap of more than 10 months as the last meeting of the AC was held on May 18, 2009.

The AC of the university also approved the PhD ordinance of the university, though it was not listed in the agenda. The AC also took up another non-listed item regarding the starting of a certificate course in radio production by the Journalism and Mass Communication Department, which already runs a community radio station in the university.

However, the AC decided to refer the matter to a committee headed by Dean, Academic Affairs, Sultan Singh and authorised the VC to take action after going through the recommendations of the committee.

Kurukshetra, April 8
Overwhelmed by the unique accomplishments made by the Haryana Forest Department in implementing sustainable aforestation projects at various places in the state, the European Union (EU) has decided to adopt the state model and introduce it in other parts of the globe.

Speaking to mediapersons at one of the project site at Gaganpur village in Ambala district, EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard said the success story scripted by these projects had inspired fresh thoughts as to how challenges being posed by climate changes could be overcome without affecting the development of nations.

The state government had launched the Haryana Community Forestry Project (HCFP) that was co-funded by the European Union. The project was implemented in 338 villages in 11 districts of the state with the objective of conserving and rejuvenating natural resources, mainly through forestry development, with the active participation of self-help groups, especially of women.

As per the official figures, the project was estimated to cost about 30.1 million Euros, out of which the state government was to contribute 6.8 million and the EU was to provide 23.3 million Euros for its effective implementation.

The commissioner said she had seen these projects transforming not only the climate of the areas around it, but also the lives of the women, who had become a part of these. She said there was so much to learn from the projects that these could be imitated in other parts of the world too. “These projects are a sure shot answer to questions posed by climate change as to how thwart its adverse effects without affecting the development of the nations,” she said.

Hedegaard, who on behalf of Denmark had hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen last year, said this was the smartest way to undo the damage already done to environment by actually involving the rural folk, who subsequently stood to benefit from these projects even on the financial front.

Under these projects, the self-help groups plant trees on panchayat lands and axe these after they gain maturity, only to re-plant trees at the same place. Besides, other resources generated through forestation are also used by the villagers for various purposes.

Lauding the efforts put in by the project officers, Connie Hedegaard said there were people actually doing things in this part of the world to improve the global climate and that even at an impressive scale.

Ambala, April 8
Haryana, the land of sportspersons which has given the country eminent sportsmen like Vijender, has no post of sports physiotherapist in its districts.

Strange as it may sound that for all injuries sportsmen sustain during practice sessions, they have to go to orthopaedicians who often prescribe rest for days together and in many cases up to weeks.

This keeps sportspersons away from the field for long periods, which ultimately affects their performance.

Incidentally, neither the Sports Department nor the Health Department seem to have understood the importance of having qualified sports physiotherapists at the district level.

Sources in the Sports Department confided that there were cases of promising players’ careers having being cut short after they got injured during practice sessions. The sources say that not all sportspersons can afford to go abroad or to far-off states for specialised treatment under the watchful eye of sports physiotherapists.

When a sportsperson gets injured, he has to turn up to an orthopaedic surgeon for treatment who more often than not cannot provide specialised treatment that a qualified physiotherapist can do.

Subhash Sharma, District Sports Officer, Ambala, today confirmed that there was no physiotherapist in the state.

He said it was important for sportspersons to have the facility of a qualified physiotherapist since they were prone to injuries during practice sessions.

He said it was not gymnastics alone where sportspersons needed the care of the physiotherapists. Even in other sports like cricket, football and hockey, sportspersons needed to be looked after by qualified physiotherapists.

Hisar, April 8
Former minister Kanwal Singh joined the Indian National Lok Dal here today. He was inducted into the party by former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

Kanwal Singh was first elected to the Vidhan Sabha from the Ghirai Assembly segment in 1977. He was at that time a close associate of the then Chief Minister Devi Lal. However, he developed ideological differences with Devi Lal and the two parted ways. Kanwal Singh then joined hands with the late Bansi Lal and joined his Cabinet as Development Minister in 1996.

He quit the Haryana Vikas Party and joined the Congress before it formally merged with the Congress. Later, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The former minister had backed the INLD nominee from the Barwala assembly seat in the last elections following which he came close to the Chautalas. The nearness culminated with Om Prakash Chautala formally admitting him to the INLD.

Speaking on the occasion, Chautala said the Congress government had brought Haryana to the brink of bankruptcy. He said the state was reeling under an acute shortage of water and power. The law and order situation had touched its nadir.

He sought stern action against those who had tried to take law into their hands during the bandh at Sirsa earlier this week. He said his party would soon submit a memorandum to the Governor in this regard.

The INLD supremo said his party was assessing the views of the public on the issue of contesting the Zila Parishad poll on the party symbol. Welcoming Kanwal Singh, Chautala said the former minister had returned home.

Sirsa, April 8
Activists of the Left parties today staged a demonstration and laid a siege to the main post office building here against the rising prices of essential commodities.

Cadres of the CPI, CPM, All-India Students Federation (AISF), All-India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) assembled at the Town Park in the morning.

Among them were Swaran Singh Virk, State council member of the CPI, Raj Kumar Shekhupuria, district secretary of the CPM, Jai Chand Saharani, district secretary of the CPI, Balbir Kaur Gandhi, district secretary of the AIDWA, Roshan Suchan, state convener, AISF, and several other leaders.

From the park, they marched towards the post office building and laid a siege to it for over two hours.

During this period, traffic on the road opposite the post office remained blocked.

“The Congress-led government at the Centre is responsible for the sp[iralling prices of essential commodities, particularly food items,” alleged Virk, while addressing the workers.

He alleged that the government had given a free hand to hoarders and profiteers, leaving the poor at their mercy.

Roshan Suchan alleged that the condition of the poor was deteriorating due to the “anti-poor” policies of the government. Poor implementation of NREGA and weakening of the public distribution system had added to the woes of the poor.

The workers later courted arrest. They were taken to the Police Lines in buses and let off.

Fatehabad:Activists of Left parties held a demonstration in front of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited building here.

A meeting of workers was held under Krishan Swaroop Gorakhpuria, senior CPM leader and state vice-president of the All-India Kisan Sabha. Harpal Singh, a former MLA, Ram Kumar Bahbalpuria, district secretary of the CPM, Anita Kranti, district secretary of the AIDWA, and several other leaders participated in the demonstration. Gorakhpuria said wven as the prices of essential commodities were soaring, the central government had increased the price of petrol and diesel.

The agitators courted arrest. They were let off on the outskirts of the town on the Hisar road. Activists of the Left parties court arrest against rising prices at Sirsa on Thursday. Photo: Amit Soni

SONEPAT: Hundreds of activists of the CPM and the CPI led by district unit secretaries, SN Solanki and Daryao Singh, respectively, gheraoed the district post office in protest against the rising prices of essential commodities and raised slogans against the central government on Thursday.

The activists criticised the categorisation of the poor for the public distribution system and demanded that the universal PDS be re-introduced.

They demanded that the Rural Rozgar Guarantee Scheme be extended to slum areas in towns on the pattern of Triupura and Kerala.

Rewari, April 8
The Model town police has arrested two persons - Anand Singh and Arjun Singh - operators of Jai Bhawani Finance Company and residents of Rattanthal village under the Rohrai police station of the district.

The duo had allegedly duped over 150 depositors of over Rs 50 lakh during the past one year.

Sources said the duo, who launched the above finance company here in January, 2009, received monthly deposits of Rs 13,000 and Rs 15,000 for a period of 12 months from the investors while promising them a return of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 11 lakh, respectively, at the expiry of the deposit period.

When the duration of the investment ended and the investors started asking for the return of their accrued deposits, the duo abruptly wound up the company and went into hiding, the sources added.

Following a complaint lodged by a depositor, Bhawani Singh of Rattanthal village, the police registered a case of cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery against the operators of the company.

Kaithal: The district police has rearrested an accused declared proclaimed offender after 22 years. The accused was declared a PO when he failed to appear in a local court in connection with a case registered against him under the Arms Act in 1988. The court today sent him in 14-day judicial custody till April 22.

SSP Sandeep Khirwar said on August 18, 1988, the then in charge of Sadar police station, Kaithal, during routine patrol near Khanpur village overpowered a suspect, who was trying to flee towards Sirsa village after noticing the police. The police found a knife in the pocket of the accused, who was later identified as Kewal Singh of Kheri Ghulam Ali.

Kurukshetra March 8
A group of 38 students of Indian origin, drawn from 16 countries, visited Kurukshetra University here today. The students, aged 18 to 24, are on a three-week visit to India under the “Know India Programme” sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

Lt-Gen DDS Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, who joined the students at lunch and interacted with them regarding opportunities of higher education for overseas students at Kurukshetra University, said, “Such programmes provide a unique forum to students to visit India and share their views, expectations and experiences. The diaspora youth has a great role to play in the economic development of the country.” During their visit, the students attended a lecture by Prof Brajesh Sawhney, Chairman, Department of English, on the mythological and historical significance of Kurukshetra. Amrita Nandini Sahay from New Zealand said, “I’ve heard about the Mahabharata and the Bhagwadgita from my parents, but it is an altogether different feeling coming to Kurukshetra and seeing the place of action.”

Karl Ramsarup from Durban said, “Understanding ones roots is important as it is linked with identity and history,” she added.