Bhiwani, February 15
A team of the Vigilance Bureau today arrested Satbir Singh Jangu, an HCS officer of the 2003 batch, who was posted at Tosham in the district, on charges of corruption.

A case of corruption was registered against Jangu in August, 2010, when the accused was posted as the SDM of Mahendragarh.

A complaint was received by the Vigilance Bureau from Pardeep, a resident of Bhiwani district, who alleged that he was harassed to pay a bribe for plying his dumper truck from Rajasthan to Haryana. The vehicle was stopped time and again by the SDM’s reader, Dharamvir, who used to collect the bribes from drivers and issue challans if the money was not paid. The reader used Jangu’s official vehicle and a blank challan book signed by him. The complainant was asked to give Rs 7,000 and pay the amount to Raj Kumar at the Kisan Dharam Kanta.

Taking action on the complaint, a Vigilance Bureau team accompanied by Surjit Singh, City Magistrate, Narnaul, as the Duty Magistrate laid a trap and arrested Raj Kumar while he was accepting a bribe.

Raj Kumar admitted to being a conduit for receipt of money on behalf of Dharamvir, who later surrendered in the court. Dharamvir said he used to pass on the money to Jangu. Jangu had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for anticipatory bail. However, his petition was dismissed.

Chandigarh, February 15
A farmer using irrigation water for his fields is not a consumer and disputes relating to the supply of canal water for irrigation cannot be covered under the Consumer Protection Act, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled.

In a significant order having a wide impact on the state, a Bench comprising Justice RS Madan, president, and BM Bedi, member, ruled “remedy is available under the Haryana Canal and Drainage Act.” “It is settled principle of law that where there is a separate remedy under a special Act, then the jurisdiction of the consumer forum is barred,” the order said.

The order was pronounced on an appeal filed by the Irrigation Department, Sirsa, against the orders passed by the District Consumer Forum, Sirsa, in a complaint filed by Sultan Singh, a farmer from Barasari village in the district. In his application before the forum, the farmer said he was getting canal water for irrigating his land from outlet 8000-R Jamal minor in the village after paying ‘abhiana’ to the department. He alleged that he was suffering a huge loss due to improper water supply to his land, as the level of the outlet was very high.

The forum directed the department to change the level of the outlet from existing position and also make a proper arrangement for water supply for irrigating the land of the complainants. It has also awarded Rs 4,000 as compensation to Sultan Singh.

Aggrieved by the order, the department moved the commission. The commission accepted the contention of the government that the complainants did not fall within the definition of “consumer” and therefore the complaint should have been dismissed as not maintainable by the forum itself.

The commission held that “the outlet is adjusted at site as per approved design and the same is discharging the supply of water properly. The Irrigation Department is not a commercial concern or profit-earning organisation but a public welfare department and provides canal water to share holders at highly subsidised rates. The forum cannot issue direction to the opposite parties to change the outlet against the approved design by the competent authority.”

Fatehabad, February 15
Some private medical practitioners, who use same needles on more than one patient, are the biggest contributing factor behind the outbreak of hepatitis C in Ratia.

During an ongoing survey by the health authorities, this fact has come to the fore that families who have been getting treatment from such doctors are among those found infected with the virus.

At the end of second day of the 14-day survey by the health authorities, the number of people testing positive for hepatitis C has reached 308. The survey team took samples of 500 persons out of which 150 tested positive for the disease on the second day, said Bharti Sharma, an epidemiologist at Fatehabad. She said the health authorities had found 158 persons infected with the virus during their survey on Monday.

Hepatitis C, unlike normal water-borne jaundice, is transmitted through blood, said Dr RB Jain, a professor of community medicine at the PGIMS, Rohtak, whose team is supervising the entire operation. He said given the large number of people infected with the virus, people ought to observe certain precautions to make sure that it did not spread. He said pricking with used needles, administration of infected blood, unsafe sex, use of infected razor by barbers and use of infected equipments by dentists could transmit the virus from one person to another. Drug addicts run a greater risk of contacting this infection, as they normally use same needles repeatedly.

Rohtak, February 15
Around 3,000 contractual employees of the Power Department face losing their jobs due to wrong policies of the department authorities as the officials concerned were looking to get rid of them. However, the All-Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union said it would not let the authorities to have their way in this matter.

A spokesperson of the workers union said while the policy of hiring staff through contractors was itself controversial and unjustified, the authorities seemed to be acting smartly by getting the employees retrenched or reappointed on fresh contracts to ensure that these employees did not raise the demand for regularisation in near future though they could have been working for the past several years on a temporary basis.

Asking the state government to extend the employment contracts of such employees without any change, he said the authorities ought to consider the options of regularising the services of daily wagers and contractual employees who were serving for a period of over two years.

He said while the employees’ body had staged a protest at all subdivisions recently, the workers federation would launch an agitation and would be taking part in a nation-wide strike on February 28. Around 3,000 employees who had been working in the department as assistant linemen, data entry operators, draftsmen, gardeners, drivers and watchmen were given extension in their jobs after every six months but these employees had been awaiting extension of their services since first week of February.

Manesar, February 15
The National Security Guard (NSG) personnel will conduct collaborative training programmes with the police forces of different states so that they are acquainted with the local/regional lingo and socio-cultural environment.

NSG Director General RK Medhekar said this would help in coordination between the NSG and the state police personnel, which becomes crucial in the event of a joint operation.

Addressing the mediapersons on the campus of the special force here today, Medhekar said support of local residents was crucial for the success of various operations aimed at ensuring public safety and national security.

Four operational hubs of the NSG had been set up at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, he said.

Meanwhile, three-day 12th international seminar of the NSG’s National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) commenced on the campus today. The theme of this year’s seminar is “Emerging Trends of Terrorism in India with Special Emphasis on Defeating IED attacks”.

Delivering the keynote address, Medhekar said amidst an environment of constant change and terrorism threat, the improvised explosive device (IED) stood out as a unique weapon, which has “turned the entire spectrum of conflict on its head”. An equipment display was organised and the NBDC journal “The Bombshell” was released on the occasion.

Chandigarh, February 15
The state government has said that if a government employee dies during duty, the period of 10 years for payment of enhanced family pension will be counted from the date of his or her death.

However, the order will not be applicable in the cases where the period of seven years for the payment of enhanced family pension had been completed on January 1, 2006 or earlier, an official press note said here.

It said a pensioner or family pensioner after completing 80 years of age would not be entitled to get additional pension or family pension from the first day of the month of his birth.

If an employee had died during duty on December 10, 2011, and the period of his qualifying service was more than 10 years, he/she would be entitled to get enhanced family pension for 10 years and if an employee died during duty on August 10, 2006, and the period of his qualifying service was more than seven years, he/she would also be entitled to get enhanced family pension for 10 years .

It has been clarified that if an employee died during duty on or after January 1, 2006, and the period of his qualifying service is more than seven years, he/she would also be entitled to get enhanced family pension for 10 years.

In case an employee dies after his retirement and his date of retirement is August 10, 2006, the family pensioner would be entitled to get enhanced family pension for seven years.

If an employee retired from service on April 30, 2003, and died on June 2, 2006, the family pensioner would be entitled to get enhanced family pension for seven years, it added. — PTI

Surajkund, February 15
Curtains came down on the 15-day 26th Surajkund Crafts Mela today amidst much fanfare. Governor Jagannath Pahadia, who was the chief guest at the closing ceremony, distributed prizes among craftspersons.

Pahadia stressed on promotion of traditional arts and crafts. He said it provided opportunity of self-employment and such events strengthen the unity of the country.

Performances by dance and cultural troupes from various states and abroad livened up the finale. Dhanpat Singh, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, said more than nine lakh persons visited the mela this year, which was a record. More than 600 craftsperson from all states and abroad took part in the mela in which Assam was the “Theme State” and Thailand was the “Participating Nation”.

Anuradha Kuli Pegu of Assam was winner of the “Master Craftsperson Award” for her works on sarees and “makahala chaddar”. Besides, prizes were given in “Kala Mani Award”, “Kalan Nidhi Award” and “Kalan Shri Award” categories. Winners in the Kala Mani category are as follows: Anuradha Kuli Pegu, Ait Chakhap and Biju Kalita (Assam), Chanchal Chakraborty (Delhi), Mohammed Aleem (UP), Ram Soni (Rajasthan) and Gouri Bala Das (West Bengal). In the Kala Nidhi category, Samir Kumar (West Bengal) and Dayben Dohat (Gujarat) were the winners. Winners in the Kala Shri category are: Shorab Ali and Narottam Kumar (Assam), Nemi Chandra Sakya (UP), Trilok Thakur (MP), Sinde Shriramulu (AP), Sova Rani Bhatacharjee (Tripura) and Niha (Haryana).

Panipat, February 15
Thermal engineers today held protest meetings at the state’s three thermal plants in protest against the suspension of two power engineers posted at the Yamunanagar plant for two tube leakages in the boiler of unit number 1 recently.

Terming the suspension as unjust, Hardeep Sangwan, general secretary of the Haryana Power Generation Engineers Association, said the suspension of executive engineer Rajesh Arora and assistant executive engineer Sarvjeet Kumar was not acceptable as boiler tube leakage was a common phenomenon and was beyond human control.

It may be mentioned that executive engineer Himanshu Gupta is already facing suspension for the failure of Chinese design and technology at unit number 2 of the same plant. Sangwan said that an inquiry committee had already concluded that it was not a human error but a system failure as a result of which unit number 2 had ceased operations on September 25 last year.

The action taken by the management of Haryana Power Generation Corporation Ltd(HPGCL) was nothing short of victimisation and the association would oppose it at every forum. 

Rohtak, February 15
Not disappointed by the failure to get united with her lover during a four-day stay in Ajaib village, 23-year-old lovelorn Mumbai girl Sunita left for home today. She said she would come back but through the legal course to earn the status of a wife as her efforts to solve the tangle through a dialogue did not materialise. She said: “I am ready to fight a legal battle as it is a matter of life and death for me.”

Sunita told The Tribune that she was overwhelmed by affection and cooperation of the sarpanch and residents of Ajaib, paternal village of her lover Sanjay. Though she had come here all alone, she did not face any problem as local residents extended help and support during the stay, she said. “Sarpanch Nirmala and others helped me to meet the police and other officials, besides providing board and lodging facilities,” she said.

“Since I have been successful in highlighting my grievance and producing proof regarding my association with Sanjay, I am confident that the police and the villagers have understood the issue and do not doubt my claim,” she said.

According to her, Babli, wife of Sanjay (whom he married in December), rang her up last night and asked for proof of her association with Sanjay and the claim that he had fathered her unborn baby. Sunita said it appeared that Babli had been misled by Sanjay. She added that anything less than marriage with Sanjay was not acceptable to her. Regarding the allegation levelled by Sanjay that she was blackmailing him in order to get property and cash, Sunita said she was seeking justice as she had been exploited mentally and physically.

She said she had not met Sanjay after the registration of the FIR in Mumbai.

Sanjay said his family had lodged a complaint with the Meham police against the girl’s attempt to disgrace him.

Kaithal, February 15
In a joint operation, teams of the Kaithal police and crime branch of the Gurgaon police arrested three criminals following a brief encounter on the Kalayat Sajuma road in the district last evening, while other two criminals managed to escape. The police seized three pistols, one revolver and cartridges.

Kaithal SP Simardeep Singh said here today that the arrested criminals were identified as Vikas of Chabri in Jind district, Anil of Kheri Sherkhan and Ajay Rajasthani of Chair in Rajasthan.

The criminals said they were planning to eliminate another criminal, Satbir Jhabbal of Kithana, who was on parole. They were involved in many cases of murder and loots in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. 

Karnal, February 15
The Karnal police today arrested three members of a gang of criminals.

The police seized a countrymade pistol, a 32-bore Mauser, a .32 bore revolver, four catridges, a battery and a stolen Indica car from them. They were booked under Sections 398,401,379,411 and 42 of the IPC.

The cops got a tipoff last evening that three armed persons, Randeep Singh , Pradeep and Ram Mehar, were planning to loot passers-by near a bridge over the SYL canal in an Indica car with a fake registration number.

They rushed to the spot and nabbed all three and seized their weapons and the car.

The arrested gang members reportedly confessed their involvement in a number of crimes. They also named their other accomplices, Ranbir Sharma, Rajesh and Dilbag Singh.

Rewari, February 15
The Dharuhera police has arrested two youths- Karan Singh of Gurgaon district and Davender of Khatavali village, near Dharuhera.

Sources said Karan Singh and Davender raped a teenager at Khatavali village on the night of February 13.

They were today produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajesh Kumar Bhankhar, who remanded them in 14-day judicial custody.

Fatehabad, February 15
Ramesh, driver of a Tata Magic, was killed and five schoolchildren were hurt when it collided with a Honda City car near Bhoda Hoshnak village on the national highway this afternoon.

The driver used to ferry schoolchildren from Bhoda Hoshnak to a school at Agroha. When Ramesh was taking a turn towards Bhoda Hoshnak village today, a Honda City car, going from Ganganagar towards Delhi, collided with the Tata Magic, killing him on the spot.

Hisar, February 15
Three youths have been booked for gang rape on a complaint of a teenaged school student.

The girl hailing from Gangwa village has complained that she was abducted by three youths in a jeep when she was waiting for an autorickshaw after attending school near Nagori Gate here yesterday.

She alleged she was taken to an isolated room in the fields of Satrod village where she was raped by the trio. She said she was dropped outside the HAU campus after the rape.

The girl said she reported the incident to her parents who took her to a police station to file a complaint. However, she refused to undergo a medical examination.

The police has booked Karan and his two companions. Police officials said they were investigating the complaint but the girl’s version has raised several inconvenient questions. They said the boys would be charged if the investigations proved them prima facie guilty.