H A R Y A N A   E D I T I O N

4 newborn die in 18 hours
Health varsity VC orders probe
Rohtak, June 4
Pandit BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, which is observing its second year of its establishment, has ordered a probe into the death of four newborn babies at the PGIMS within a span of 18 hours.

A green plan once again
Chandigarh, June 4
Haryana was once known for its highway tourism and highway plantation. When one drove to Delhi on the GT Road, tall eucalyptus trees not only provided shade but also a green hue to the black bitumen.

The national highway, which was once lined by green trees, wears a bare look after trees were cut for construction of a six-laned expressway. This picture was taken by Tribune lensman Ravi Kumar at Gharounda in Karnal district.

Progress must be eco-friendly, say experts
Karnal, June 4
Noted environmentalists today stressed the need for environment-friendly and sustainable development at a one-day workshop organised by the Directorate of Wheat Research, the Forest Department and an NGO, Shuruwat, here.

Retd SI kills himself
Was facing trial in abetment to suicide case
Rewari, June 4
Retired SI Lekh Ram, reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his house in Khoh village of Gurgaon district. Lekh Ram, along with Shri Ram Yadav, now retired, head constable Daya Nand and constables Munia Devi and Sushila Devi, was facing trial in a case of abetment to suicide in the court of Additional Sessions Judge, CBI, Ambala.

Whistle-blower Lt Col files contempt plea against Army
Was not considered for promotion despite AFT orders
Chandigarh, June 4
A Lieutenant Colonel who had alleged victimisation for blowing the whistle on his commanding officer today filed a contempt petition with the Armed Forces Tribunal against the Army on the grounds that it had not followed the tribunal’s order that he be considered for promotion.

Atrocities on Dalits on the rise: Uma
Karnal, June 4
Bharatiya Janshakti Party president Uma Bharti today advocated the carrot and stick policy to deal with Naxalites and terrorists and said the Army should be used as a last resort.

MC Chief’s Post
Seat reserved for women, but no candidate
Sirsa, June 4
A piquant situation has emerged in the Rania Municipal Committee that went to the polls on May 20 along with other municipalities of the state. The post of the president of the Rania Municipal Committee is reserved for women belonging to the Backward Classes.

Dera chief’s case adjourned till June 14

Sirsa, June 4 Anticipating some order from the CBI court on its application for cancellation of the bail of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a large number of his followers gathered on the local Barnala road outside the court complex, where the dera chief appeared through video conferencing in the case of sexual exploitation of sadhvis. Dera followers outside the district courts at Sirsa on Friday. Photo: Amit Soni

Prime accused in Chawla murder case held
Bhiwani, June 4
The district police today claimed to have nabbed the prime accused in the murder case of municipal council chairman Nand Lal Chawla. He has been identified as Pushpender, who had gone absconding three months ago. Pushpender was carrying a cash prize of Rs 50,000 on his head.

One demand accepted, but doctors adamant on strike
Chandigarh, June 4
The government has accepted one of the demands of its doctors, who have threatened to go on two-day mass casual leave from June 7, followed by a strike. The government today revised the salary of the doctors at the entry level to Rs 14,800+Rs 5,400 grade pay instead of Rs 12,090+Rs 5,400 grade pay.

Newlyweds seek protection Fatehabad, June 4 A newly wedded couple from Kumharia village of Sirsa today sought protection from SP Jagwant Singh Lamba fearing life threat from their families. Husband Sita Ram and his bride Pinki hail from Kumharia village falling under Nathusari Chopta block of Sirsa district. The couple at the city police station in Fatehabad on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Man shot at during campaigning
Sirsa, June 4
A man was shot at and injured in a clash over election to the post of sarpanch at Kingre village under Dabwali subdivision in this district last night. The victim, Sita Ram, who sustained injury from a bullet, was taken to the government hospital in Dabwali and later shifted to the general hospital here today.

Nirman Sadan wins award
Chandigarh, June 4
Nirman Sadan, the head office of the Haryana PWD (B&R) Architecture Department, has won the Award for Excellence in Built Environment for 2009 as the Indian Building Congress (IBC) considered it as “being the best building in India in all respects.”

4 newborn die in 18 hours
Health varsity VC orders probe
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Rohtak, June 4
Pandit BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, which is observing its second year of its establishment, has ordered a probe into the death of four newborn babies at the PGIMS within a span of 18 hours.

The infants, between two to 10 days old, were referred to the PGIMS from Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonepat districts on Tuesday.

They succumbed to their illnesses on Wednesday, the day the university was holding a function to celebrate its anniversary at which Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was the chief guest.

The health of the newborn deteriorated steadily and all four died within 18 hours, leading to resentment among the parents who staged a protest at the institute, alleging negligence.

While Health Minister Geeta Bhukkal has expressed concern over the development, the VC, Dr SS Sangwan, held a meeting of the staff of the paediatric department today.

He is said to have pulled up the doctors and nurses and ordered an inquiry by the Medical Superintendent of the PGIMS.

Nearly all OPDs and wards are overcrowded because of shortage of staff and equipment, claimed sources in the PGIMS.

Another block of the paediatrics department is under construction. In view of the patient turnout, the PGIMS is undergoing major expansion. An estimatedt 14 lakh patients attend its OPD every year.

It is learnt that one of the babies who died was born premature, another had been suffering from respiratory problems and was on ventilator. Two two others were suffering from some infection.

A green plan once again
Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4
Haryana was once known for its highway tourism and highway plantation. When one drove to Delhi on the GT Road, tall eucalyptus trees not only provided shade but also a green hue to the black bitumen.

The trees served as a carbon sink and absorbed most of the vehicular pollution. But gone are those days. Now, no tree greets drivers on the GT Road. This is the price of development. The trees have fallen victim to the widening of highways. The story is no different on other roads which have been widened.

The Haryana Forest Department, which had originally planted trees along the roads, has once again formulated a plan to green the bituminous stretches. However, the biggest hurdle in the plan is lack of land. Since most of the land along the highways belonged togovernment departments, the Forest Department could earlier undertake plantation on it. With the land being used for roads, there is no space to plant trees.

One alternative is to acquire additional land along the roads and plant trees there. However, the cost of acquisition is prohibitive, though experts feel that in the long run, the acquisition would be cost-effective in terms of ecology.

Haryana Forest Minister Ajay Singh Yadav says now the department will involve farmers, whose land fall along the roads, by giving them the entire produce, including timber, on maturity.

Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Forests, Keshni Anand Arora, says the department will undertake strip plantation along the highways in two close rows, which would also protect crops from high-velocity wind and the heat wave. The total forest area in Haryana is over 1,55,000 hectares, out of which about 50 per cent is in the form of strip forests along roads, canals, rail lines and bunds. Strip forests along the roads measured about 40,000 hectares. The area now has decreased by more than 50 per cent.

According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Pravez Ahmed, after plantation, the department will protect it for three years. After this, the plantation will be handed over to the farmers, who will be owners of the entire produce after the final harvest. The government will replant the shelter belt after the final harvest and maintain it again for three years.

The total cost of the scheme is expected to be about Rs 26 crore for three years.

However, the catch is that field officers of the department would have to work hard to convince the farmers about the benefits of the scheme.

Progress must be eco-friendly, say experts
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Magsaysay awardee Rajendra Singh

Karnal, June 4
Noted environmentalists today stressed the need for environment-friendly and sustainable development at a one-day workshop organised by the Directorate of Wheat Research, the Forest Department and an NGO, Shuruwat, here.

Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh, who was the key speaker at the workshop, dealt in detail how traditional ways of environment conservation helped in preserving the environment and ecology and also perennial water sources. He said, “We must blend the traditional wisdom with modern methods in all our environment conservation endeavours.” “Indian traditions are not anti-environment; in fact, these are broad guidelines and practices to live in complete harmony with nature. Environment degradation was not due to these traditions but due to the modern concept of development which has replaced the green cover by concrete jungles and raised environmental hazards”, he asserted.

Jaywanti Saughand, a retired IAS officer, held human beings responsible for ruining the environment and said there was need for regenerating biomass and eliminating interference with nature. Deputy Forest Officer Vasvi Tyagi said the environment protection programmes and schemes launched by the government would not serve any purpose unless people changed their attitude. Rajiv Ranjan of Shuruwat stressed the need for evolving a code of ethics for preservation of environment and ecology and motivating the people to voluntarily follow the code.

Retd SI kills himself
Was facing trial in abetment to suicide case
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

Rewari, June 4
Retired SI Lekh Ram, reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his house in Khoh village of Gurgaon district. Lekh Ram, along with Shri Ram Yadav, now retired, head constable Daya Nand and constables Munia Devi and Sushila Devi, was facing trial in a case of abetment to suicide in the court of Additional Sessions Judge, CBI, Ambala. The verdict was expected next week.

Ashok Agarwal, a resident of Azad Nagar Colony in Dharuhera was done to death. His body, abandoned at a deserted place, was recovered by the police on November 16, 2000.

Consequently, the Dharuhera police registered a case of murder. The wife of the deceased, Sita Devi, and her teenaged daughter, Sarika were allegedly detained at the police station and subjected to harassment.

The two committed suicide while in detention.

Sarika, in her dying declaration to the then Rewari SDM, Suraj Bhan, at the local Civil Hospital alleged that she and her mother had consumed poison due to police harassment.

Sita was survived by four minor children, Neeru, Neerja, Priyanka and Nikhil. A case of murder and wrongful confinement under Sections 302, 342, 34 of the IPC was registered against SHO Shri Ram Yadav, SHO, and SI Lekh Ram.

Later, the charge of murder under Section 302 of the IPC was converted to abetment to suicide under Section 306.

Neeru Agarwal then filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, following which Justice VM Jain entrusted the case to the CBI in February 8, 2002.

On completion of the inquiry, the CBI filed a charge sheet against SHO Shri Ram and SI Lekh Ram and constables Munia Devi and Sushila Devi under Sections 342, 305, 306, 323 of the IPC read with Section 34 of the IPC on May 29, 2003.

Simultaneously, the four were charge-sheeted under Section 120-B read with Section 218 of the IPC.

The verdict in the case was expected next week.

All accused were on bail.

While Shri Ram Yadav retired from service on June 30, 2002, Lekh Ram retired about two years ago.

The services of Sushila Devi and others were dispensed with in 2001 in compliance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High court in a separate case pertaining to recruitment of constables.

Daya Nand, now ASI, is in charge of the economic cell of the district police department here.

Whistle-blower Lt Col files contempt plea against Army
Was not considered for promotion despite AFT orders
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4
A Lieutenant Colonel who had alleged victimisation for blowing the whistle on his commanding officer today filed a contempt petition with the Armed Forces Tribunal against the Army on the grounds that it had not followed the tribunal’s order that he be considered for promotion.

In April, the tribunal had ordered that Lt Col BS Goraya’s name be included in the list of prospective candidates and he be considered for promotion to Colonel in the selection board that was to be held in May this year.

The selection board was considering him in December 2009, but a gap in his confidential report profile from September 2008 to May 2009 led to his name being excluded. The Army had debarred his commanding officer to write his confidential report.

The tribunal had ruled that the gap in confidential report for the said period not be taken into consideration to withdraw the officer from the board. The order given three days before the board was scheduled to be assembled, was faxed to the Army Headquarters immediately.

The board assembled on May 3, but the petitioner was not considered. According to the petition, he learnt that the board was again assembling on May 11 and he communicated the tribunal’s order to the authorities concerned.

The authorities were again requested to consider the case of the petitioner for promotion in view of the directions of the tribunal, but the result of the board, released on May 12, showed the petitioner as withdrawn case and no consideration whatsoever has been given to his case.

Colonel Goraya, Second-in-Command of an Army Supply Corps battalion, had complained against his commanding officer for various irregularities in May 2009.

A court of inquiry was ordered and the petitioner was attached to Headquarters Western Command in August last and he has since been attached to Western Command.

Atrocities on Dalits on the rise: Uma
Tribune News Service

Bharatiya Janshakti Party president Uma Bharti addresses mediapersons in Karnal on Friday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

Karnal, June 4
Bharatiya Janshakti Party president Uma Bharti today advocated the carrot and stick policy to deal with Naxalites and terrorists and said the Army should be used as a last resort.

Talking to mediapersons here, she said it was a paradox that the country was making fast progress but at the same time atrocities on Dalits and weaker sections were also increasing.

Expressing concern over rise in Naxalism and terrorism, she attributed growth of Naxalism to lack of development and neglect of rural, tribal and backward areas, leading to frustration and resentment against the government.

To a question, she said she was not in favour of khap panchayats but the government should listen to their viewpoint and at the same time the khaps should abide by the law of the land.

Referring to the Mirchpur incident where houses of Dalits were torched, she said all parties should sit together and contribute to creating a peaceful atmosphere and dispelling the fears of the Dalits.

MC Chief’s Post
Seat reserved for women, but no candidate
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, June 4
A piquant situation has emerged in the Rania Municipal Committee that went to the polls on May 20 along with other municipalities of the state. The post of the president of the Rania Municipal Committee is reserved for women belonging to the Backward Classes.

However, not a single woman from the Backward Classes has been elected from any of the 15 wards of the municipal committee. Of the 15 wards, nine went to the INLD, five to Congress candidates and one to an Independent.

There are councillors belonging to the Backward Classes in the newly elected municipal committee, but all are men.

Though the state election commission reserves the posts of president of the municipal committees, councils and corporations for various categories by a draw of lots, there is no provision of reservation of wards for women belonging to the Backward Classes.

Municipal secretary KK Nagpal said he had written to the state commission seeking guidelines in these circumstances.

Dera chief’s case adjourned till June 14
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, June 4
Anticipating some order from the CBI court on its application for cancellation of the bail of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a large number of his followers gathered on the local Barnala road outside the court complex, where the dera chief appeared through video conferencing in the case of sexual exploitation of sadhvis.

Thee case was listed for the cancellation of bail as well as evidence in the sexual exploitation case.

However, no order was pronounced today and the court recorded evidence of Dr AK Singh, an expert from the central forensic science laboratory in the sexual exploitation case.

Heavy police force was deployed in view of the heavy turnout of the dera followers near the court.

The court was to take up application for the cancellation of the dera chief’s bail on June 5 too, but now the case has now been adjourned to June 14.

Sources said the CBI court had already heard arguments in the CBI’s application for cancellation of his bail in sexual exploitation case and the order could come anytime now, while the arguments in the other two cases were pending.

The district authorities had moved an application before the court for an adjournment as the authorities said the police force would be preoccupied with the arrangements for the panchayat elections on June 5.

The dera chief will have to appear in the court on June 9 in connection with the Ranjit Singh murder case and again on June 15 in connection with scribe Ram Singh Chhaterpatti murder case. The dera chief entered the court at 8 am and remained inside the video conferencing room till 3.30 pm.

Prime accused in Chawla murder case held
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, June 4
The district police today claimed to have nabbed the prime accused in the murder case of municipal council chairman Nand Lal Chawla. He has been identified as Pushpender, who had gone absconding three months ago. Pushpender was carrying a cash prize of Rs 50,000 on his head.

In a press conference, SP Ashwin Shainvi said today that Pushpender, a resident of Sector 13 Colony and son of Satbir Singh, was the mastermind in the Chawla murder case.

He along with his accomplices Rajesh, Rajiv Mittal, Ravinder, Rakesh Didvadi, Sunil, Suresh Bairagi, Surender and Ajay hatched the murder conspiracy two years ago. Four more cases were registered against Pushpender in Bhiwani City and Civil Lines police station and Beri police station.

Pushpender was immediately granted interim bail after his arrest in the Chawla murder case on the occasion of his sister’s marriage in March and thereafter he absconded.

Shainvi said a special team was constituted under the headship of SI Chander Pal to arrest the accused. The team arrested Pushpender from Bangalore on May 31, 2010, and produced him before the court on June 1 and availed transit remand.

He said the police had arrested all accused in Nand Lal Chawla murder case except one, Rajesh, alias Badri, who was still at large.

The police has announced a prize of Rs 1.50 lakh to arrest Badri of Bahadurgarh. The police produced Pushpender before a local court that sent him in judicial custody.

One demand accepted, but doctors adamant on strike
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4
The government has accepted one of the demands of its doctors, who have threatened to go on two-day mass casual leave from June 7, followed by a strike. The government today revised the salary of the doctors at the entry level to Rs 14,800+Rs 5,400 grade pay instead of Rs 12,090+Rs 5,400 grade pay.

However, the entry-level salary has been revised for others also like engineers, veterinary doctors, DSPs, dental surgeons, assistant architects, DFSCs and all other Class-II posts whose pre-revised pay scale was Rs 8,000-13,500. The revision would be with effect from June 1, 2010.

This has failed to mollify the doctors. General secretary of the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association Rajesh Khayalia said they had also demanded class I status for the doctors at the entry level, besides other demands. He said the association would continue its agitation.

President of the association Kamla Singh said so far no official information had been received about the pay revision by the association.

Newlyweds seek protection
Tribune News Service

Fatehabad, June 4
A newly wedded couple from Kumharia village of Sirsa today sought protection from SP Jagwant Singh Lamba fearing life threat from their families. Husband Sita Ram and his bride Pinki hail from Kumharia village falling under Nathusari Chopta block of Sirsa district.

Arjun Dev Dhundhara, SHO of the city police station, Fatehabad, who provided security to the couple on the directions of the SP, said Sita Ram belonged to the Jat community and Pinki was from a Dalit family of the village.

The couple married at a temple in Chandigarh on May 24, 2010, and moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for protection.

They alleged that families of both the boy as well as the girl were furious at their marriage and they apprehended threat to their lives.

The High Court directed the district authorities to provide security to the couple as the two were living in a “dhani” of his maternal uncle near Bighar village in Fatehabad.

Man shot at during campaigning
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, June 4
A man was shot at and injured in a clash over election to the post of sarpanch at Kingre village under Dabwali subdivision in this district last night. The victim, Sita Ram, who sustained injury from a bullet, was taken to the government hospital in Dabwali and later shifted to the general hospital here today.

The police has booked six persons for attempt to murder. Sita Ram said in his complaint that he was campaigning for a candidate, Surjit Singh, when supporters of the other camp fired a shot at him.

However, Binder Singh, who is also contesting the election for the village sarpanch, alleged that the assailants had targeted him, but he somehow ran to safety.He alleged that another contender, Surjit Singh, has called anti-social elements from Punjab and Rajasthan and when he and his supporters were campaigning for the election, they allegedly fired a shot at him.

He maintained that the bullet fired by Surjit Singh’s supporter accidentally hit his own man.

Nirman Sadan wins award
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4
Nirman Sadan, the head office of the Haryana PWD (B&R) Architecture Department, has won the Award for Excellence in Built Environment for 2009 as the Indian Building Congress (IBC) considered it as “being the best building in India in all respects.”

Haryana PWD Engineer-in-Chief Mahesh Kumar said here today that of the 21 entries, the IBC selected Nirman Sadan for the trophy.

The main criteria for the selection of the best building was that it should be earthquake-resistant, based on intelligent building and green building concepts, having firefighting provisions, besides innovations adopted in the construction.

The award will be presented during the 16th Annual Convention of the IBC on June 17 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The building was constructed two years ago under the supervision of Mahesh Kumar after Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda ordered that all offices of the PWD should be brought under one roof. Earlier, the offices were scattered at 10 places in Sectors 19, 7 and 17.