Kaithal, July 6
Hundreds of crores spent on development yet civic amenities remain in bad shape. The first monsoon showers here today saw major roads submerged in water for hours because of poor drainage.

This put commuters to great inconvenience. Many low- lying residential colonies were flooded. Residents expressed resentment over the failure of the authorities to clean the drains before the onset of the rainy season. They pointed that no major desilting operation was carried out and almost all major nullahs constructed in the past few years remained choked, aggravating the situation.

In several areas where residents with no sewer connection have directly connected their toilets with the open drains, the stink was unbearable, they said.

The Public Health Department also drew a flak as no drive was launched by the department to clean sewer lines.

Interestingly, Randeep Singh Surjewala, local MLA, is Public Health and PWD Minister.

He has ensured development at a huge expenditure running into hundreds of crores, yet basic civic amenities remain a distant dream. An alert has been sounded in the state with the entire Ambala town and over 12 villages in the region flooded with up to 5 ft water due to a breach in the Tangri river, throwing rail and road traffic out of gear.

The Army has been summoned to plug the breach.

Chandigarh, July 6
The first six days of this month brought three times more rainfall in Haryana as compared to the corresponding period last year and many times more than the rain during the same period in 2008-09. According to sources in the Revenue Department, the entire state received 4,851 mm rainfall from July 1 to 6 (8 am to 8 pm), while it had rained 1,654 mm during the first six days of July last and 403 mm in the same period during 2008-09.

Heavy rains have created havoc in the state with many areas waterlogged. Ambala, which is witnessing flood-like situation, received 182 mm rainfall as compared to 59 mm last year. Naraingarh received 92 mm (12 mm); Jagadhri 152 mm (20 mm); Chhachhrauli 125 mm, Mustafabad 114 mm (39 mm) and Radaur 232 mm (42 mm).

The rainfall recorded in other areas of Haryana is as follows:

Bhiwani 109 mm (29 mm); Dadri 79 mm (18 mm); Loharu 2 mm (7 mm); Siwani, Bawani Khera and Tosham 16 mm each (7 mm each); Faridabad 34 mm (18 mm); Ballabhgarh 24 mm (2 mm); Gurgaon 159 mm (5 mm); Farukh Nagar 190 mm (12 mm); Sohna 111 mm (24 mm); Pataudi 212 mm (65 mm). Hisar 23 mm (10 mm); Hansi 18 mm (9 mm); Adampur 9 mm (2 mm); Jind 42 mm (4 mm); Narwana 41 mm (44 mm); Safidon 72 mm (72 mm); Julana 70 mm (24 mm); Uchana 23 mm (23 mm); Pilu Khera 47 mm (25 mm); Karnal 105 mm (12 mm). Assandh 38 mm (53 mm); Indri 145 mm (35 mm); Nilokheri 123 mm (25 mm); Gharaunda 58 mm (23 mm); Panipat 45 mm (56 mm); Israna 43 mm (9 mm); Samalkha 42 mm (6 mm); Kurukshetra 58 mm; Pehowa 95 mm (2 mm); Kaithal 61 mm (5 mm); Kalayat 39 mm (6 mm); Guhla 85 mm (12 mm); Narnaul 39 mm (21 mm); Mahendragarh 16 mm (7 mm); Bawal 72 mm (59 mm); Rohtak 27 mm (20 mm); Gohana 97 mm (10 mm); Kalka 68 mm (2 mm); Panchkula 85 mm (2 mm); Fatehabad 49 mm (1 mm); Ratia 37 mm; Tohana 36 (10 mm). Bahadurgarh 41 mm (4 mm); Taoru 67 mm (12 mm); Nuh 88 mm (29 mm); Punhana 15 mm (4 mm); Hodal 57 mm (15 mm); Palwal 38 mm (11 mm) and Hathin 40 mm (13 mm).

Karnal, July 6
Barring stray incidents, the polling for the panchayat elections in Assandh, Gharaunda and Nissing blocks in Karnal district passed of peacefully.

An estimated 78 per cent voters cast their votes in Gharaunda, 72 per cent in Nissing and 75 per cent in Assandh in spite of intermittent rain.

A clash between two candidates in the fray for the post of sarpanch at Peont led to a traffic blockade.

The two women candidates - Kalawati and Kasum Lata - were in the fray and during the counting, Kasum Lata, who was trailing after the second round, reportedly created a furore alleging malpractices following which her supporters blocked traffic.

Later, they were convinced by officials that the election was being conducted in a fair manner following which the blockade was lifted and the counting prooceeded.

In Ballah village, miscreants snatched EVMs and threw them into a river.

PANIPAT: Amidst reports of clashes between different groups, the panchayat elections passed off peacefully in five blocks of the district on Tuesday. Around 80 per cent polling was registered.

Residents of Khukrana village, which is located near the Panipat thermal power plant, boycotted the elections. No one had filed nominations form this village to register their protest against non-fulfilment of their demands, which included shifting of the village to some pollution-free area.

Meanwhile, the panchayat body in Umajondhan Kalan village was elected unanimously. The remaining 165 villages went to the polls. There were reports of villagers damaging an EVM in Pathari village of the district.

GURGAON: The polling for the panchayat elections ended peacefully here. Despite rain, more than 80 per cent polling has been estimated in all 210 villages of the district.

According to District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kataria, panchayats in nine villages of the district were elected unanimously. He said 12 sarpanches and 852 panches were elected unanimously.

Karnal, July 6
Polling was deferred in Dadupur village of Nissing Block after the body of a Rajinder (23) was found hanging from a tree. The incident left the villagers, preparing to cast their vote, in a shock.

The father of the deceased, Mamu Ram, alleged that his son had been murdered and had not committed suicide.

The election observer visited the village and postponed the poll on the request of the contestants. Mamu Ram alleged foul play and demanded that the police thoroughly investigated the case. In another incident, eight personnel of a police patrol party deployed in the Gharonda block were injured when the canter in which they were travelling overturned between village Shekhpur and Khorakheri.

The eight seriously injured cops-Mukesh, Raj Kumar, Ram Dharshan, Krishan Kumar, Sandeep, Ajay, Satish and Sandeep-were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Gharaunda. The polling in Bassi village in Assandh was also postponed following complaints about registration of bogus voters.

Rohtak: The polling for panchayati raj bodies in the district was held amid reports of several skirmishes among supporters of candidates. Voting was disrupted after EVMs at two booths in the district were damaged by residents and had to be replaced by the authorities. The polling was held for election of panchayats of 146 villages besides the five block samitis and the zila parishads. The polling percentage was reported to be around 80 per cent.Despite over 5,400 personnel of the Haryana Police and Home Guards on duty, there were several incidents of violence and clashes, though none was hurt seriously.

The anti-social elements damaged EVMs at two places, disrupting polling for a while. The police control room here under the direct supervision of the IG, Rohtak range, received as many as 500 complaints. At booth No. 80 of Bharan village, soon after the polling started this morning, there was a clash between two groups.

This resulted in damage to EVMs. These were replaced and the polling resumed. An EVM was damaged in Pillana village near Kalanaur by some persons. A total of 799 polling stations were established in the district for electing panchayats of 146 villages.

Hisar: About 80 per cent voters exercised franchise in the panchayat and zila parishad polls in the district today. Barring minor incidents, the polling was peaceful. In Anipura village supporters of two candidates exchanged brickbats, injuring three persons.

Polling was brisk and long queues were seen at almost all booths. A repoll will be held in Parta and Bhaya Khera villages where polling was cancelled today because of snags in electronic voting machines. The repoll will be on July 10.

YAMUNANAGAR: Barring three minor incidents of heated arguments between agents of candidates, the panchayat elections passed off peacefully in Chhachhrauli, Bilaspur and Sadhaura blocks here. Nearly 80 per cent voters turned up to exercise their franchise. Heated arguments took place between representatives of candidates at Taruwala following allegations of fake votes, said police sources.

Chandigarh, July 6
Haryana’s former DGP SPS Rathore attempts to use the factor of “delay” as a tool to dig holes in the prosecution version in the Ruchika molestation case did not, prima facie, find favour with the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

As the appeal against conviction and 18-month sentence awarded to Rathore in the case came up for hearing before Justice Jitendra Chauhan this afternoon, his wife-cum-counsel Abha Rathore made attempts to convince the court that much reliance could not be placed on the memorandum submitted to the then Chief Secretary about the incident on account of delay.

The argument apparently did not impress the Bench as Justice Chauhan observed in the open court: “Some delay is natural as at stake is the reputation of a child, and such matters involve some kind of a stigma”.

Justice Chauhan’s observations were made in the open courtroom and cannot be construed as the court’s final opinion on the matter. At the most, it can be said that the arguments, on the face of it and at this stage, did not convince the court.

Building up the case, Abha Rathore told the court that much has been said about the delay of two days between the alleged incident on August 12, 1990, and Ruchika informing her elders about it on August 14, 1990.

But even after that there was a delay of over 45 hours before the authorities were informed.

Abha said Madhu Prakash, mother of Ruchika’s friend-cum-eyewitness Aradhana, was an advocate and knew what to do in such cases.

Also, a police post was just eight houses away and police station less than a kilometre. Even top cop RR Singh, who later inquired into the matter, lived in the vicinity.

Yet from August 14, 1990, till 3.30 pm on August 16, 1990, the matter was not reported.

Abha said if they were afraid to proceed against Rathore as he was IGP, the circumstances remained unchanged even after two days.

Going into technicalities, Abha pointed out that not much reliance could be placed on an FIR if there was a gap between the incident and its reporting to the police. The memorandum, treated as an FIR, too could not be relied upon for the same reason, she argued.

Chandigarh, July 6
Acting on a petition filed in public interest alleging mass irregularities in Karnal jail, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion to the state Home Secretary, the Director-General of Police (Prison) and the Jail Superintendent to file their reply.

The petition, filed by a non-governmental organisation, the Lawyers for Human Rights International, through advocate Navkiran Singh and a lifer in Karnal jail, has also sought directions for a CBI probe or a judicial inquiry into the allegations of human rights violations and corruption against the jail staff.

Directions were also sought to the Sessions Judge (Vigilance), Punjab, or any other high court officer, to conduct a raid at the jail to verify the allegations.

The petitioners alleged rampant corruption and violations of human rights of the prisoners with impunity. There were around five kitchens in the jail. The dispatched ration was at least five times more on the papers than the actual supply.

Resultantly, the prisoners either had to survive on less food or were forced to purchase raw food from the canteen, where items were allegedly sold to the prisoners at higher rates.

The petitioners added that on record, clothes, footwear and other articles provided by the state through the Prison Department were shown to be distributed free of cost, but were actually sold through the canteen run by the jail.

Sirsa, July 6
The runaway couple that approached the National Commission for Women for seeking protection against the fury of the girl’s parents last week came back to Sirsa today.

The couple arrived here today under the protection of a police party from Panchkula and was taken straight to the local City police station, where the police provided them local security guards.

The couple - Manmohan, a Punjabi Khatri boy, and Shakti, a Brhamin girl - had married against the wishes of their parents in a local temple on May 29.

Although Manmohan’s parents had reconciled to their son’s decision, family members of Shakti did not accept the marriage and were angry.

The couple had sought police protection by filing a petition in the local court, but, as per the version of the police, they disappeared before security could be provided to them. The couple then approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for protection.

The couple later approached NCW chairperson Girja Vyas on June 29 with the complaint that the local police was hand in glove with the girl’s family, which had good connections in the area.

The couple alleged that while they were seeking police protection in the Sirsa court, the girl’s family was tipped off and they had to flee fearing threat to life.

The couple also alleged that the girl’s family had beaten up two kin of the boy on June 29.

However, the local police maintained that Rajesh Mehta and Jai Kalra, the two kin of the boy, were injured in a brawl over the panchayat elections.

Manmohan said in the local police station that Shakti and he would now stay with his parents in Sirsa.

“My parents had already given their approval to our marriage, while Shakti’s family, except her ‘bua’, has also accepted us as husband and wife now,” he said.

Later, the boy’s kin received the couple in their grain market residence.

Jhajjar, July 6
Haryana Education and Health Minister Geeta Bhukkal today urged UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to lay the foundation stone of the teaching block and auditorium of Postgraduate Government College in Jhajjar.

Talking to The Tribune on phone, the minister said the college was closely related to the Nehru-Gandhi family. It was named after Nehru as its foundation stone was laid by him when he was a Prime Minister on December 7, 1958. She further said the cherished memory of the college was also associated with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

She said the enrolment drive of the college was launched by the then President of the All-India Congress Committee, Indira Gandhi, on July 2, 1959 and the first girl student who was enrolled in the college was Krishna, daughter of Ch Ghansi Ram of Chhudani village in Jhajjar district.

She said that the delegation that arrived with Indira Gandhi at that time was received by Ch Ranbir Singh.

Kaithal, July 6
In a bizarre incident, a man allegedly strangled his wife and one-and-a-half-year-old daughter to death and then committed suicide by hanging himself in a colony on the Khurana road here last night.

A petty fight between husband and wife is stated to be the reason behind the incident. The incident came to light this morning. The police team led by Inspector Ashwani Sharma, SHO City, reached the site and later a postmortem was conducted at the Civil Hospital here.

Harikesh (26) and his wife Meena (22) used to quarrel frequently. Meena had gone to her parents’ house some time ago, alleging that she was beaten up by her husband.

However, after some elders from both the sides intervened and Harikesh assured that he would not harass Meena, she returned to her husband’s house.

An altercation took place last night, following which Harikesh reportedly killed his wife and daughter. Later, he hanged himself.

Meanwhile, Sumit, brother of Meena, has alleged that Meena’s in-laws are responsible for his sister’s death. However, the in-laws have denied all allegations. The police has registered a case.

Faridabad, July 6
A visitor from Mumbai, who came here about a fortnight ago, has been tested positive for swine flu. The patient had come to meet his relatives staying . However, three days later he started suffering from ailments like cough and fever. He has been admitted to the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences here.

His sample was sent to a laboratory in Delhi, which confirmed the infection. Experts said the virus took about three weeks to mature. Hence, the probability was that he got infected in Mumbai. — TNS

Gurgaon, July 6
The police arrested two kidnappers and reunited an eight-year-old boy with his parents at their Gandhi Nagar residence here today.

Hrithik was allegedly kidnapped by Habibur Rahman, alias Raju Khan, who had been living as tenants with the family since 2001, for a ransom of Rs 5 lakh on July 3. The incident came to light when Hrithik did not return home till 4 pm on Saturday, ever since he was last seen with Khan.

His father Krishan Kumar reported the matter to the Gurgaon police and a case of kidnapping was registered at the City police station, said DCP (west) Ved Prakash. The police traced the accused and an accomplice identified as Bablu. Khan belongs to Medhpura village of Bihar while Bablu was a resident of Muzzafarnagar district in UP.

Khan took the boy out in the absence of his father on the pretext of showing him to a doctor on Saturday. Raju was known to the family, so Hrithik did not call for help and he accompanied him,” said the DCP.

After kidnapping Hrithik from Gurgaon, Raju took him to Bagpat in UP. Later, Bablu joined him.