Chandigarh October 22
Justice Nirmal Yadav (retired) today appeared in the CBI special court of Vimal Kumar for hearing in the bribery case. Yadav, who is an accused in the case, moved an application requesting the court to summon the order from the competent authority vide which her prosecution sanction was granted. The case was adjourned to November 9 for reply and arguments on this application.

Meanwhile, CBI special prosecutor Anupam Gupta told the court that he was keen to argue on merits of the case today and tomorrow. He told the court that evidence in the case is sufficient for framing of charges against the accused and thus he may be allowed to argue.

In the application moved today, former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Nirmal Yadav has requested that the entire records related to grants of prosecution sanction from the Government of India, the Supreme Court as well as the CBI be summoned to the CBI court.

Counsel for Ravinder Singh, co-accused in the case, requested the court for permanent release of his passport and moved an application. The CBI opposed the application and argued that hotelier Ravinder Singh had earlier absconded for over a month in August 2008 when the case was registered. The CBI court, however, allowed the application for permanent release of Ravinder’s passport.

In August 2008, an amount of Rs 15 lakh was delivered at the house of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur in Chandigarh. The matter was reported to the police. It was stated that the money was actually meant for Justice Nirmal Yadav, which had been sent by Delhi hotelier Ravinder Singh Bhasin and had been delivered at the wrong address by mistake. The investigation of the case was later handed over to the CBI.

The charge sheet was filed against her by the CBI in the Special Court on March 4 last year, a day after Yadav, then posted as a judge of the Uttarakhand High Court, retired.

Earlier, the CBI had filed closure report in the case on the ground that prosecution sanction had been declined, but the special CBI judge had refused to accept the report.

On being approached again by the CBI, the President had granted sanction for prosecution on March 1 last year.

On August 27 last, Yadav had appeared for the first time before the CBI special court hearing the case and was granted bail after furnishing a bond of Rs 25,000. The CBI had on March 4 filed a charge sheet against Yadav and four others for alleged criminal conspiracy and corruption.

The others include advocate Sanjeev Bansal, Delhi based hotelier Ravinder Singh Bhasin, Chandigarh-based businessman Rajiv Gupta and Nirmal Singh.

Jind, October 22
With the state government coming under attack over the incidents of rape in the district and the visit of the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the 11-member delegation of the Standing Committee of the Parliament for the Welfare of the SC/STs to the houses of the two Dalit rape victims, the district authorities have announced the release of Rs 12.25 lakh for the families of the victims.

The aid, however, has eluded the victims in which the guilty hail from the same category. Two Dalit victims have been denied such help so far though kin of one of the victims has been given Rs 2.5 lakh from the funds of the ruling party.

Deputy commissioner Yudhvir Singh said the financial help has been released to the kin of five victims of the cases that surfaced in the district during the past one year and in which the accused had hailed from the other category (general category) and Dalit Act had been added to the case besides the Sections related to rape.

He said there were eight cases of rape in which the victim belonged to the SC/ST category. In three cases the accused hailed from the same category of the victim and thus were not covered by the Act.

While Rs 3.75 lakh was released to the kin of two victims, families of three other victims have been given Rs 1.20 lakh, Rs 60,000 and Rs 60,000, respectively.

The 30-year-old victim of gang rape of Pillukhera in the district, who hails from the BC category said she had not got any help from anywhere so far.

Karnal, October 22
Over an alleged attempt to hush up the case regarding unnatural sex with a one-year-old girl, the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA) has sought the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to order a high-level inquiry into the entire episode.

In a letter addressed to the Chief justice of high court, Pritpal Singh Pannu, chairman, NIFAA, said he was taking up the case as he considered it his moral duty to seek justice for the affected family that was scared and under pressure from influential people to close the case.

Pannu said he had videographed the statement of the parents of the victim and was shocked to hear the horrid account of pain and sufferings the family had undergone.

Releasing a copy of the letter to the Press, Pannu said the family was so scared that it had agreed to reach a compromise with the family of the accused under pressure in spite of the fact that the boy had been caught and thrashed by people but he somehow managed to escape.

“We narrated the entire incident to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and told him that the family was scared but ready to give a statement before you. The SP agreed to get the statement recorded as per the provision of the law,” Pannu said, adding that he met the SP around 5pm and also told him that he was in possession of a video recorded statement of the family.

“Surprisingly at about 9pm, a DSP along with a tehsildar reached the victim’s place and recorded the statement of her mother in which she stated that no such incident took place and she did not want to make any complaint in this regard,” he said.

Pannu demanded a fresh medical examination of the girl by a team of doctors from the PGI, Chandigarh, and a high-level inquiry into the matter by the high court.

Kaithal, October 22
A 40-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl, who were admitted to a private hospital here yesterday after consuming ‘poisonous’ tea, died today. While 10 other persons, who also consumed the tea, were still hospitalised.

Sources said some labourers of a colony near the sugar mill here were working in the fields. Being a holiday on Sunday, children of some of the labourers also reached the fields. The labourers and their children started vomiting after consuming some ‘poisonous’ tea and were rushed to multi-specialty government hospital here.

Not satisfied with the facilities at the hospital and apprehending risk to patients’ lives, their relatives shifted them to a private hospital. The patients were put on ventilators, but two of them, Ram Rati (40) and Manu (10), died this morning.

In protest against inadequate medical facilities at the multi-specialty hospital, relatives of the deceased blocked the Jind-Kaithal bypass road for about 40 minutes.

Later, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Singh Yadav reached the spot and pacified the protesters. Bodies of the deceased were handed over to their family members after the post-mortem examination.

Civil surgeon Dr Surendra Nain said those admitted in the hospital were given the best possible treatment. He admitted that there was no ventilator available in emergency ward and these were available only in the operation theatre.

Sources said Dr Nain was the only physician in the district and only 19 doctors were available in the hospital against the required strength of 42 doctors.

Interestingly, the government had spent over Rs 20 crore on this hospital. Haryana Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, also a local MLA, had been claiming that superspecialty treatments would be available in the hospital and patients of this district would not have to go to other towns for treatment.

Ambala, October 22
Eight days after a minor girl reportedly went missing from her house in Ashok Vihar of Ambala City, the district police has recovered her from the Amritsar railway station.

The girl had gone missing on October 12 following which her parents had alleged that she had been kidnapped by Rahul, a resident of Lyallpur Basti, Ambala City, who worked as helper at a cloth merchant’s shop.

The police had registered a case against the accused on a complaint filed by the girl’s mother on October 17. She had alleged that Rahul had been making advances towards her daughter and, in all probability, he must have taken her away. She had told the police that her daughter was at home till midnight, but the next morning she went missing.

The police tracked Rahul’s mobile phone and traced the two to Amritsar and brought them here late last evening. The girl was handed over to her parents after recording her statement that the youth had promised to marry her and lured her to elope with her.

The police said it had got the girl’s medical examination conducted at the local civil hospital, the report of which was awaited.

Meanwhile, Rahul, who was arrested, was produced before the magistrate and remanded to police custody for two days.

Rewari, October 22
When a minor girl aged 17 and her paramour appeared in a local court today to seek the registration of their marriage, her parents too reached the court.

Officials of the Government Railway Police (GRP), which had earlier recorded a report regarding the disappearance of the girl on her father’s complaint, also arrived.

While the parents managed to take away their daughter, the youth also fled the spot.

The GRP officials took her to the police station where she finally consented to return to the village with her parents. She was allowed her to go with her parents who did not file any complaint against the youth who had allegedly eloped with the girl from the station here yesterday.

Jind, October 22
The Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat is keeping a watch over the issue of corruption, especially in public places, and it is likely to take up the matter for discussion in its next meeting.

A spokesperson of the mahpanchayat claimed that recent developments involving the high and mighty in the incidents of corruption and bungling in funds was a matter of concern and had attracted their attention.

He said the mahapanchayat had declared its support to the movement launched by Anna Hazare on the issue of the introduction of a strong Lok Pal in the country. — TNS

Gurgaon, October 22
While the city administration and government hospital authorities continue to be in a denial mode, one more city resident is suspected to have lost his life to dengue, taking the “unofficial” toll to 10 while the official toll still stands at one.

Lalit Kumar of Samastpur village, who was brought in a critical condition to a private hospital after being referred from a clinic, died today.

While the hospital authorities refused to give an official statement, a senior doctor said, “His condition was critical and the platelet count extremely low. The doctor was treating him for viral while it was dengue.”

The death comes days after a Jacompura resident lost her three-week-old foetus to the disease.

While dengue has become epidemic-like with the number of patients crossing the 1,000 mark, the district health department has confirmed only 201 cases.

Moreover, 610 cases of malaria and six of swine flu have been reported from private hospitals.

Paras Hospital has had the maximum number of dengue cases -- over 200 --and Artemis has confirmed 79 cases. Fortis and Alchemist hospitals claim to have got 15 suspected cases.

Saying that the figures are exaggerated, a senior health department official said, “Dengue is confirmed only when the IGM serelogy test is positive, but the majority of private hospitals are basing their figures on the rapid kit and NS-1 tests which cannot be used to officially confirm dengue. We have no clue about the latest case.” 

Kurukshetra, October 22
Shortage of staff and lack of basic facilities in the local Civil Hospital have been adversely affecting the health services. The heavy workload is taking a toll on the efficiency of doctors and patients are being forced to turn away.

Hospital sources say that against 29 posts of medical officer, only 20 doctors are available. Of them, two remain on night duty and one is usually busy in courts regarding some case or the other. Thus, only 15 doctors are available for the average of 600 patients who visit the outdoor patients department (OPD) daily.

There is little space for doctors to examine the patients.

Three or four doctors sit in one OPD. A small, old portable ultrasound machine is insufficient to cater to the needs of the whole district.

The hospital also lacks in basic facilities. The patients have to go to private laboratories for most tests, including dental X-Ray as there is no machine in hospital.

The posts of eye surgeon and ENT specialist are lying vacant for two years.

To make the matters worse, the primary health centres (PHCs) in villages exist only in name. Most of the medical staff posted there are deputed at the Community Health Centre, citing reasons of acute public interest.

As a result, the patients have to rush to Kurukshetra.

Senior medical officer Vandana Bhatia says that she has already written to the deputy commissioner and the higher health authorities regarding these issues. “Four doctors have resigned and four are absent from duty as they have gone for higher studies,” said Dr Bhatia.

Kurukshetra, October 22
Kurukshetra University Vice Chancellor Lt-Gen DDS Sandhu today inaugurated a section dedicated to weapons and coins at the Dharohar Haryana Museum on the university campus here today.

Sandhu said, “These weapons and coins will add to the rare collections of the museum. Students and citizens, who will come to the museum, will get a chance to know about the history of weapons and stories of warriors and people who used these weapons in times of war and peace.”

A number of weapons from the Mughal, British and post-Independence periods of India have been displayed in the weapon section. Some of the weapons date back to 1300 AD and carry stamps and marking of Mughal kings. The weapons of the British period have golden stamps and British crown.

Some of these weapons were donated to the museum by Dev Raj Sirohiwall, District Public Relations Officer, Kurukshetra.

The coin section has a rare collection of coins dating back to 3rd century BC. Coins of periods including that of Indo-Greek, Indo- Parthian, Pal dynasty, Chandragupta Maurya, Prithviraj Chauhan, Kushan dynasty, Gazni dynasty, Tughlak clan, Muhammad Gauri, Sikandar Lodhi, Giyashudin Balban, and Akbar have been displayed.

Sirohiwal said the most decent weapons had been the swords of “Taroari” make. He said these were used in wars that took place in the northern part of the country in 12th century. One such sword was used in a battle between Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohammad Gauri in 1192 AD.

The staff weapon of Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi used in the first war of Independence in 1857 is also present in the collection.

“It is a matter of fact that the shape and sizes of swords and royal weapons kept on changing with time,” he said.

The sword had a length of about 42 inches about 1,000 years ago. Later, the length was reduced to about 24 inches. The most famous weapon used in the country was the ‘Sirohi’ sword, also known as the Rajput sword, which is over 1,000 years old. These swords, known for toughness, were used by Mughal kings.

Chandigarh, October 22
A day after activists of India Against Corruption (IAC) protested in Delhi against the alleged “favours” bestowed upon DLF and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, a Haryana minister “condemned” the action and took recourse to “moral” posturing.

Haryana Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement today that the action of IAC activists (most of whom were workers dismissed by Maruti Udyog pursuant to the carnage, arson and death of a Maruti executive) to “force their way into the family residence of Chief Minister’s son and MP Deepender Singh Hooda at Pandit Pant Marg, New Delhi, by breaking police barriers, indulging in rampant violence and obstructing traffic is deeply condemnable, undemocratic and sets a new ‘low’ in the discourse of democratic process”.

Surjewala claimed that Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues ought to know that the house they were protesting outside was not the official residence of the Chief Minister but that of his MP son. Maintaining that the Haryana government had “amply” replied to all allegations, the hooliganism reflected a total disregard for the rights of families of individuals targeted.

Posing questions on the conduct of IAC acticvists, Surjewala sought to know if these were merely publicity gimmicks and asked if it was fair to trample upon the rights of families of leaders by sheer hooliganism and attempts at forced entry into their residences.

Fatehabad, October 20
Fatehabad District Magistrate Rajiv Rattan today issued prohibitory orders banning burning of paddy stubble . Action would be initiated against the offenders under section 188, IPC, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Stubble burning is not only injurious to human health due to environmental hazards but also harmful for the farmers as several friendly pests that save crops from harmful pests were burnt in the fire.

The state government had banned the burning of wheat and paddy straw after the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders in this regard a few years ago.

However, farmers in the state continue to burn wheat and paddy stubble during the harvesting season despite a strict warning from the government.

Hisar, October 22
HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi, MP, has sought permission from the Deputy Commissioner for installing CCTV cameras in all main markets of Hisar, Hansi, Barwala and Adampur towns at the party’s cost.

In a letter to the DC today, he said the HJC was concerned over rising crime in the district. Businessmen of these towns had met him and they had suggested the installation of CCTV cameras in the main markets to curb crime.

He said the cameras would go a long way in providing important clues to the police should an incident take place in a market. Since the project could not be financed through his MPLAD funds, his party would bear the cost of installation.

He said experts had surveyed the areas and as per their estimate it would cost Rs 18.68 lakh to install high-quality CCTV cameras, computers and wi-fi connectivity equipment.

Bishnoi told newsmen that his party was considering a proposal to install such equipment in other cities of Haryana also. However, Hisar had been chosen as the first town for implementing the project. 

Sonepat, October 22
Raising slogans against the Central Government, activists of the BJP and HJC organised a protest march with an effigy fixed with 10 faces of the UPA Government in the town and burnt the effigy at Kalupur Chungi Chowk last evening.

The projected faces in the effigy included Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sharad Pawar, Digvijay Singh, Shubodh Kant Sahai, Prakash Jaiswal, Suresh Kalmari, Kanimojhi, D Raja, Robert Vadra and Salman Khurshid.

Former party MP Kishan Singh Sangwan, MLA Kavita Jain, state media in charge Rajiv Jain, HJC’s city president Dr Adish Jain led the protesters.

They alleged that the corruption in the Manmohan Singh’s government had crossed all limits and the government had lost faith of the people of the country.

Rohtak, October 22
The district court has sentenced four persons to life imprisonment in a case of loot and murder here about four years ago.

The accused had shot dead the owner of a house they had entered with the intention of loot. Ashok, Naresh, Tutiya and Risal had forced their entry into the victim’s house in Uttam Vihar here on the night of May 17, 2007, to commit a robbery.

However, the victim got up and resisted their attempt. This led to the opening of fire by the accused, leading to the victim’s death on the spot. Two of the convicts hail from Rajasthan.

Kaithal, October 22
A 40-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl, who were admitted to a private hospital here yesterday after consuming ‘poisonous’ tea, died today. While 10 other persons, who also consumed the tea, were still hospitalised.

Sources said some labourers of a colony near the sugar mill here and their children started vomiting after consuming some ‘poisonous’ tea and were rushed to multi-specialty government hospital here. — OC