Chandigarh, December 31
While condemning the recent incidents of crime against women, including instances of molestation and rape, the Haryana Cabinet today resolved to file challans in the court in all cases relating to women, children and weaker sections within 30 days.

Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the ministers reassured the residents of the state, especially women and children, regarding security and safety. “We have already taken a number of steps to check crime against women and children yet we plan to take more measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen,” he said.

Hooda said the ministers “unanimously and unequivocally condemned such acts of barbaric insensitivity and violation of the human dignity and expressed heartfelt sympathies with the victims and their families, who have suffered the trauma of these tragedies. The ministers resolved to bring the perpetrators of such heinous crimes to quick justice.”

Earlier, Chief Secretary (CS) PK Chaudhery said he had apprised the Council of Ministers of various steps taken by the state government to ensure the safety and security of the women. He said an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) had been appointed to exclusively supervise the measures taken to check crime against women, and to ensure speedy trial of the criminals involved in such crimes.

Chaudhery said a lady police officer holding the rank of DSP or Inspector had been appointed to act as nodal officer for all police stations in such offences.

With a view to strengthening the institutional mechanism for monitoring crime with special reference to crime against women in general and atrocities on SC/ST women in particular, the district magistrates had been directed to specially review the progress in the committee consisting of the DM, SP and District Attorney.

The CS said a four-digit women helpline No. 1091 had been activated for the entire state.

He said the police had set the target for the investigating officers to arrest the accused persons within 24 hours of registering an FIR and complete the investigations in cases of crime against women in less than a month.

Chaudhery said two women police stations had been set up in Sonepat district and proposal to set up two more women police stations in Gurgaon and Faridabad had been sent to the government for approval.

In response to the state government’s request, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued directions to all district and sessions judges to ensure expeditious disposal of the trial relating to heinous crime against women, including cases under Sections 376 and 304-B of the IPC, Chaudhery said.

“At present, the police has approximately 6.5 per cent lady police officials in the total posted strength. The department is to make it approximately 10 per cent in the near future,” he said.

“The state government has made it mandatory for all senior officers to visit the places of occurrence of such crimes and personally monitor investigations and trial,” the CS added.

Jhajjar, December 31
A 20-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two youths in a car in Bahadurgarh town last evening. The Bahadurgarh police has arrested the accused, identified as Anil of Barahi village and Subhash of Bullaheri village.

In a complaint lodged with the police, the victim stated that the accused abducted her in a car when she was taking a walk in a park located adjacent to her house in Sector-6 at Bahadurgarh. The accused took her to an isolated place on the Barahi Road and allegedly raped her in the car. Later, the accused dumped her near her house.

The victim reached her home and narrated the incident to her family members who approached the police and lodged the complaint.

“Taking swift action on the complaint, we nabbed the accused within hours after carrying out raids at their possible hideouts in the wee hours,” said Devender Dangi, a spokesman for the Jhajjar police.

He said the medical examination of the victim had confirmed the rape.

Two held for rape

Sirsa: The police arrested Sukhchain, a resident of Rangri village of Sirsa from Faridabad, for allegedly raping a minor for days. The police also arrested Balwant, an accomplice of the accused, who had helped him kidnap the victim on December 15.

It has been established in the medical examination that the girl was raped.

The victim belongs to Dhigtanian village in Sirsa. The court sent the accused to judicial custody.

Chandigarh, December 31
Bowing to the pressure to declare zero-tolerance towards crime, the state Cabinet that met today denounced all kinds of violence against women. Entering the pre-election year tomorrow, mere rhetoric would not suffice for Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Haryana tops the list of states in terms of crime against women.

This New Year, Haryana will have to make its policing effective and immune to political considerations.

The Congress government needs an image makeover as the state remained in the news this year for all the wrong reasons, starting from agitations aimed at brow beating the government, honour killings, politician Gopal Krishan Kanda’s involvement in the 
Geetika Sharma’s suicide case and people taking the dictates of the Khaps as gospel.

Since Khaps are an integral part of the state’s social system, politicians would find it hard to 
balance their response to the radical view on women expressed by some Khap leaders.

Both Haryana Vidhan Sabha and the Parliament will go to polls in 2014. Therefore, the government is unlikely to take any harsh decisions like levying new taxes, etc.

Owing to its political compulsions, the government is expected to go slow in cracking the whip on agitators and protestors. The government is also likely to make a concerted effort to woo Jats who are threatening agitation, besides cajoling protesting farmers whose lands are being acquired for developmental projects. The state is therefore also expected to see a frenzy of political activity and largess bestowed on the common man.

The government is also needs to boost investor confidence after the Maruti strike that tarnished the state’s investor-friendly image. Earlier labour unrest was also witnessed in factories like Hero Honda, Rico, Orient Craft, Sunbeam, Eastern Medikit, etc. The government will also have to work overtime to generate investor confidence. Due to traffic snarls not many people are willing to set shop in Manaser and adjoining areas.

Another major setback to the infrastructural growth was seen when the Reliance SEZ in Gurgaon was shelved and the company was asked by the government to return 1,383.68 acres of land it got from the government to the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HSIIDC).

An important development that will help Haryana’s economy is development of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). “It is an ambitious infrastructure programme aiming to develop new industrial cities as ‘Smart Cities’ and converging next generation technologies across infrastructure sectors. The objective is to expand India’s manufacturing and services base and develop DMIC as a ‘Global Manufacturing and Trading Hub’.

In the coming year, the state is also likely to see growth of the Rajiv Gandhi Education City near Sonepat, besides starting of work on the nuclear power project at Gorakhpur.

Following the Supreme Court directive, the Haryana Speaker is expected to give his judgment on the issue of disqualification of five Haryana Janhit Congress MLAs after they defected to join the Congress after the 2009 polls for the state Assembly. 

Fatehabad, December 31
Protesters gathered to pay tributes to the Delhi gang-rape victim burnt posters of Gopal Kanda, former minister facing trial in the case of suicide by his employee Geetika Sharma. The posters wishing Kanda a happy birthday on December 29 had surfaced recently.

Several residents also met Deputy Commissioner ML Kaushik today and demanded removal of all hoardings with pictures of the former minister.

While paying tributes to the Delhi gang rape victim, who died in a Singapore hospital, one of the speakers remembered the suicide by Geetika Sharma after Kanda allegedly exploited her. Following this, some angry men and women, removed and burnt his hoardings near Papiha Park.

Later, the residents met the DC under the aegis of Jan Adhikar Suraksha Samiti and submitted a memorandum urging the administration to remove posters carrying Gopal Kanda’s photographs. — TNS

Ambala, December 31
Dense fog in the region for the last few days has led to the delay and cancellation of several trains causing considerable inconvenience to the passengers.

Train number 13008 from Shri Ganganagar Mughal Sarai Junction was cancelled along with the inter-city super-fast connecting Jalandhar city to New Delhi today.

Besides several trains, including the Kalka to Kolkata Howrah Mail, Jammu Tawi to Rajinder Nagar Archana Express, Jammu Tawi to Ajmer Pooja Express, Amritsar to Bandra (Mumbai) Paschim Express, Amritsar to Kolkata Howrah mail, Ferozepur Cantt to Dhanbad Ganga Sutlej Express, Amritsar to Saharsa Jan Sewa Express, Amritsar to Darbhanga Jan Nayak Express, Amritsar to Katihar Express, Jammu Tawi to Chennai Andaman Express, Jammu Tawi to Tatanagar Express, Amritsar to Bilaspur Chattisgarh Express, Amritsar to Visakhapatnam Hirakund Express, Firozepur Cantt to Mumbai central Janata Express and Jammu Tawi to Ahmedabad Express had been delayed due to the fog.

Besides, the Punjab Express from Firozepur Cantt to Mumbai central-Chandigarh to Lucknow Express, Amritsar to Nanded- Sachkhand Express, Amritsar to Mumbai-Dadar express, and Jammu Tawi to Pune Jhelum Express have also been delayed.

The railway officials maintained that all efforts were afoot to ensure that least inconvenience was caused to the passengers. They said elaborate arrangements were in place to disseminate information about the current status of the trains and also about those which had to be canceled due to the fog.

Earlier this month, the Railways had drawn up a safety plan to tide over the problems created due to fog. The Railways had decided to limit the train speeds to 60 kms/hr in case of reduced visibility.

Chandigarh, Dec 31
The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) has acquired 500 acres of land for the development of an international market at Ganaur in the National Capital Region. Mapping of the market had been assigned to the French consultancy firm "Semmaris Rungis". The project will cost Rs 1,500 crore.

A spokesman for the HSAMB said here that cold chain facilities would be created in 11 cities at a cost of Rs 57 crore provided under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM). While the projects had been made functional at Abubshahar, Karnal and Shahabad, others were ready for outsourcing. Work on setting up 17 plant health clinics had been allocated to the HSAMB. He said the board had sanctioned Rs 49.58 crore for the development of new mandis facilities.

Chandigarh, December 31
Members of the Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum (CGRF) of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) will visit the area in January for hearing grievances of the consumers and entertain new complaints.

A spokesman here today said the proceedings of the CGRF would be held at Rohtak on January 2 and 21, Karnal on January 3 and 22, Kaithal on January 4 and 25, Yamunanagar on January 7 and 28 and Panipat on January 8 and 30. They would also visit Kurukshetra, Sonepat, Jhajjar, Ambala and Jind on January 10, 11, 15, 17 and 18, respectively. The consumers from distant places would not be required to go to the forum office at Panchkula for redressal of their grievances.

The CGRF would take all grievances/complaints of consumers like billing problem, voltage complaints, problems in metering, disconnection and reconnection of power supply, interruptions, failure of power supply, efficiency, safety, reliability, non-compliance of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission orders etc. However, the cases of theft and unauthorised use of electricity, offences and penalties as specified under Sections 135 to 139 of the Electricity Act, accidents and inquiries as under Section 161 of the Act would not be considered by the forum.

Sirsa, December 31
Students blocked the national highway outside the bus stand here today. They were protesting after the death of the 23-year-old Delhi gang rape victim in Singapore.

Led by Roshan Suchan, state convener of the All India Students Federation (AISF), students from colleges sat on the highway and disrupted traffic for more than an hour.

The students marched from Kartar Singh Sarabha Bhawan to the bus stand and blocked traffic. They held placards and raised slogans against the atrocities on women like the Delhi gang rape case.

Addressing the students, Suchan alleged that the government had failed to provide protection to women and atrocities against women continue unabated.

Jagjit Singh, district president and Bhola Ram, secretary demanded that the steps be taken to ensure safety for women, a ban be imposed on porn websites as well as Khap Panchayats and fast-track courts be set up to provide speedy justice to rape victims.

City Magistrate Satish Kumar met the striking students and accepted a memorandum of demands submitted by them.

Gurgaon, December 31
Four students sustained burn injuries while burning the effigies of UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the protest against the Delhi gang rape in Old Gurgaon yesterday.

The victims accidentally poured kerosene on themselves and got burnt. They were rushed to the Civil Hospital as they sustained burns on their faces, hands and legs.

Protests were also held across the city as hundreds of people came out in places like the Leisure Valley and MG Road, expressing angst over the death of the rape victim. A condolence meeting was also organised at Bhuteshwar Mandir Chowk.

The student demanded better security for women.

Members of the Mayfield Gardens Resident Welfare Associations Joint Federation and Sectors 52, 57, 47, 48 and 49 started the march from White House in Sector 57 and walked up to the traffic police office, carrying posters.

Manesar Industrial Association members protested at the Leisure Valley park in Sector 29, while members of an NGO staged protested outside Sahara Mall.

Sonepat, December 31
Hundreds of activists of different organisations today organised a silent protest march in the town against rising crimes against women and handed over a charter of demands to Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Aggarwal demanding safety and security for the women.

The activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Janwadi Mahila Samiti, Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha, CITU and Sarv Karamchari Sangh started their protest from the local bus stand after observing a two-minute silence to pay homage to the Delhi rape victim and took a pledge to oppose such evils in the future and reached the Mini-Secretariat.

The protest was led by senior union leaders, including Sharadha Nand Solanki, Raj Kumari Dahiya, Saroj Laxmi, Hawa Singh, Chander Bhan, Anand Sharma, Ram Mehar Sharma, Jai Bhagwan Dahiya, Ram Niwas Rana, Sheelak Ram Malik, Janardhan Prasad Kothari and Mahender Singh Bhanwala among others.

Hisar, December 31
The Supreme Court’s interim order of permitting states to conduct their own PG entrant tests for medical colleges but barring these from declaring the results have put the aspirants in a state of dilemma.

The aspirants, who have already appeared in the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) organised by the National Board of Examination (NBE) held from November 23 to December 6, are in a state of quandary after the interim orders.

While they were eagerly waiting for the declaration of their results, the aspirants now may need to appear in entrance tests of various states, not sure whether these states would be allowed to announce their results.

“It is a very cumbersome and costly exercise taking our wards to various states for tests ,” said a man whose daughter is aspiring for a PG seat this year.

After over two years of consultations with various stakeholders, the Central Government had announced the holding of NEET for all medical colleges.

However, the result is still awaited. The Supreme Court, while hearing petitions on this issue, has permitted the states to conduct their own exams as an interim remedy.

The court has however, barred these from declaring their results pending a decision on the petitions.

Aspirants maintain that the NEET was held after the consent of the Health Ministry, Human Resource Development Ministry, Medical Council of India (MCI) and all colleges.

They were in a dilemma whether to wait for the NEET result or appear in the entrance tests of private colleges. They have sought immediate intervention of the authorities concerned. 

Apex court’s interim order

The Supreme Court has permitting states to conduct their own PG entrant tests for medical colleges but barring these from declaring the results.The aspirants are in a dilemma whether to wait for the NEET result or appear in the entrance tests of private colleges.

Chandigarh, December 31
‘A house for each family in Haryana’ is the New Year resolution for Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

He disclosed this while addressing the general body meeting of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee on the occasion of the 128th foundation day of the All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) yesterday.

Hooda said the Congress was the biggest and the oldest political party and its members should feel proud of being associated with it. Lauding the role of the Congress in the freedom struggle, Hooda said even after Independence, the party continued to work for the unity and integrity of the country. The credit for this goes to the party leadership, he said.

Hooda said the Congress governments had implemented a number of programmes and policies for the welfare of all sections of the society.

In a scathing attack on the opposition parties, Hooda claimed the BJP was misleading the people by claiming that Gujarat was way ahead in development but the reality was that Haryana was far ahead of Gujarat in many spheres, be it the per-capita income, per-capita investment, old-age pension, widow pension, scholarships to children, plan budget etc. Underscoring the development factor, Hooda said during the 11th Five Year Plan, “Haryana had a budget plan of Rs 35,000 crore for resource mobilisation but we achieved more than 192 per cent. But Gujarat could not even achieve its target.”

Referring to the BJP boasting of forming the government in Gujarat for the third consecutive term, Hooda claimed the Congress too would form the government in Haryana for the third consecutive term.

Pointing towards the declining base of the BJP, Hooda claimed the party stood nowhere. While in the Assembly elections in UP, Punjab and Gujarat, the graph of the BJP had declined in terms of the number of seats; Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand had slipped out of its hands, he said. He said the state government had implemented a number of policies and programmes for the welfare of all sections of the society. It is now the duty of party workers to ensure that the benefits of such schemes and programmes reached the real beneficiaries. He said 19 lakh students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, backward Classes and BPL categories were being given monthly scholarships ranging from Rs 75 to Rs 400 in Class I to XII. Similarly, free water connections have been provided to nine lakh SC families and 3.85 lakh families of the BPL, SC and Backward Classes have been allotted free residential plots measuring 100 sq yards each.

Ambala, December 31
During a special search operation, officials have recovered eight mobile phones allegedly used by four inmates of the Central Jail here.

The matter came to light after the intelligence wing of the police found that certain phones were being used from within the jail premises. They informed the jail authorities about the presence of eight mobile phones.

During the search operation which lasted for a few hours, the jail officials finally managed to recover eight mobile phones from the possessions of Kuldeep, Randeep, Jagtar and Sandeep, who were undergoing imprisonment after being convicted in several cases. The jail officials later got a case registered against the accused under various sections of the IPC at the Baldev Nagar Police Station.

Chandigarh, December 31
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has stressed the need for providing more facilities to mediapersons. As journalism was a challenging profession, they needed extended facilities to boost their self-confidence, he added

Hooda was speaking after handing over a cheque for Rs 10.5 lakh on behalf of the Haryana Patarkar Sangh to two sons of late Liladhar Shastri, a journalist, here . The Chief Minister said Rs 3 lakh each would be given to both children.

It may be recalled that Shastri had died in an accident in 1998. With a view to facilitating upbringing of the two children-Lalit and Papal--the Haryana Patarkar Sangh has provided financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh by way of a fixed deposit. Presenting the cheque to them, Hooda lauded the role played by the Haryana Patarkar Sangh for the welfare of journalists. Expressing concern over the commercialisation of journalism, Hooda said it was not in the interests of society.

KK Khandelwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, said Haryana was the first state to set up a ‘Media Relief Fund’ with Rs 50 lakh which benefited both accredited and non-accredited mediapersons. Besides, various other facilities were being provided to mediapersons in the state. 

Chandigarh, December 31
The Haryana Transport Department will observe 21st Road Safety Week from January 1, 2013, in the state on the theme of “stay alive, don't drink and drive”.

A spokesman for the Transport Department here today said the department had written to all Deputy Commissioners for organising various activities by involving the departments concerned. Enforcement campaigns would also be launched during the week to underscore the seriousness about the safety of road users. A state-level function would be organised at Rohtak with a view to promoting the concept of road safety, he added.

He said, "Road Safety Week is observed throughout the country every year in the month of January. Drunken driving has been one of the major causes of road accidents.” He said seminars, lectures, painting, slogan-writing and poster-making competitions would be organised during the week.