Panchkula, January 4
A CBI court in Panchkula today framed charges against two Haryana MLAs, Zile Ram and OP Jain, in the Karnal sarpanch abetment to suicide case.

The charges have been framed under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) against the two MLAs and Jain personal assistant, Rajinder.

The court also summoned three crucial witnesses. There are over 100 witnesses in the case.

It was after the CBI filed a chargesheet against the three mentioning their role that the charges were framed. In a 31-page chargesheet, the CBI has explained how the accused ran a cash-for-jobs racket.

Sharma and Jain are lodged in Ambala Central Jail. It was on September 21 that the three had surrendered before the court.

Sharma is an MLA from Karnal while Jain represent a constituency in Panipat.

Karam Singh, former sarpanch of Kambopura village of Karnal, was found dead on June 7, 2011, a day after he had lodged a complaint against the two MLAs for allegedly duping him and his relatives of Rs 13 lakh with the promise of getting them government jobs.

The CBI had raided the residences of OP Jain, a former transport minister, and Zile Ram Sharma, a former Chief Parliamentary Secretary, at Panipat, Karnal, Chandigarh and Panchkula.

Gharaunda (Karnal), January 4
Members of the Sarpanch Association of Gharaunda, who are on an indefinite fast, have locked the block-level government offices at Gharaunda.

The protesters tried to lock the police station and demanded the release of Choura sarpanch Rajinder Kumar and transfer of Karnal Superintendent of Police.

However, the protesters staged a dharna outside the police station. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mukul Kumar and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joginder Rathi assured them of a fair inquiry into the case.

The protesters, led by Ajay Kumar, president of the association, said they had already submitted their resignations to the Chief Minister and were on a dharna outside the BDPO’s office in support of their demands but to no avail.

“We have locked the offices of the BDPO, tehsildar and the SDO (Electricity),” said Ajay Kumar.

Chandigarh, January 4
The INLD has demanded a white paper into all recruitments during the nine years of Congress rule, alleging favouritism and “back door” appointments. Stating this at a press conference here today, Abhey Chautala, party MLA and son of Om Prakash Chautala, said recruitments made during the tenure of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were guided by regionalism rather than merit.

Threatening to file a PIL after consulting legal experts, Abhey also demanded that all recruitments made by the Hooda government be probed by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court or at least the high court.

By seeking the resignation of Nand Lal Punia, who is a close relative of Hooda, for alleged irregularities in the Teachers Recruitment Board, the Chief Minister was trying to cover up the irregularities committed on his own instructions, Abhey alleged.

The INLD leader said his party would support the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the forthcoming elections.

Rohtak, January 4
Kalawati Devi, a Dalit widow of a policeman crushed to death by liquor smugglers during prohibition in Haryana, continues to live in a state of penury despite tall promises made by the state government and police authorities.

Kalawati’s husband Bhim Singh was posted at Rohtak in 1997 when liquor was prohibited in the state of Haryana. He got a tip-off on the arrival of liquor smugglers in the Indira Colony area and rushed to the spot.

On seeing the police party, the liquor smugglers crushed Head Constable Bhim Singh under their vehicle and fled the scene. Bhim Singh was critically injured and died within a few days.

The state government as well as police authorities told Kalawati that she could not be given a job on compassionate grounds as she was educationally unqualified.

Nonetheless, they assured her that her son would be accommodated in government service once he attained the requisite age and educational qualification. However, more than 16 years after the tragic incident, Kalawati continues to wait for the authorities concerned to fulfill their promises.

“Her elder son Satender could not study due to the disturbing circumstances following the tragic death of his father. The younger son, Ravinder, has done his graduation and MBA, but he was denied a government job citing a change in policy,” maintains Kalawati’s cousin brother Surajbhan.

He laments that his sister did not even get the monetary compensation fixed by the government policemen killed in the line of duty.

Since 1997, Kalawati has been working as a labourer to support her family. Her elder son rears buffalo for a living, younger son Ravinder works for a private concern in Punjab. To date, Kalawati’s family has received only assurances from the authorities concerned. Neither government job, nor monetary compensation have materialised.

Some members of her family maintain that they have been treated unjustly because they belong to a Scheduled Caste.

“Had an upper-caste cop laid down his life while performing his duty, his family would have been given a decent job as well as a handsome amount as compensation,” observes a relative.

Kalawati’s family members point out that the Delhi Government has recently given Rs 1 crore compensation to the family of a Delhi Police constable who was allegedly beaten to death by the liquor mafia. They have demanded a government job or adequate monetary relief for the family.

Yamunanagar, January 4
The naib tehsildar of Chhachhruali, Anand Raval, was allegedly kidnapped by unknown persons last night.

The car in which he had gone to Jagadhri was found in the sugarcane fields of Panjeto village, situated on NH 73-A today. On the complaint of Raval’s uncle, Brijpal, the Chhachhruali police has registered a case of kidnapping against unknown persons. The police said the naib tehsildar had gone to Jagadhri from Chhachhruali in his car last evening. However, he did not return to his residence. — TNS

Faridabad, January 4
The police have registered a case against five persons, including a woman, on the charges of abducting and raping a 17-year-old girl on January 1.

In her complaint, the victim alleged that on December 31, she was asked by one of her female friends to accompany her to Delhi to celebrate the New Year. The victim was allegedly raped by three youths, identified as Aman, Sunil and Deepak, who met them near the Badarpur border.

Another youth, identified as Michael, was also present at the incident site. The complainant, a resident of old Faridabad, alleged that she was subjected to sexual exploitation with the involvement of the girl.

It is claimed that the youths consumed liquor at a secluded spot near the Badarpur border and took turn to rape her despite her protest and opposition. The kin of the victim approached the police today to lodge a complaint after the victim narrated the incident to her family members.

A case under various sections of the IPC has been registered against five persons, including the girl. However, no arrests have been made so far.

Rewari, January 4
The police have registered a case against Bawal Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr JS Mehra for sexually harassing a laboratory technician.

The police have also booked SMO’s office clerk Vinod Kumar in this regard.

The case was registered against Dr Mehra and Vinod Kumar on the directions of Superintendent of Police (SP) Pankaj Nain yesterday.

In her complaint to the SP, the victim had alleged that the SMO had been pressing her to have sexual relationship with him.

She alleged that when she resisted, she was threatened with dire consequences. Vinod Kumar too had forced her to have sexual relationship with the SMO with allurements of easy and speedy promotion, she alleged.

The Bawal Station House Officer said Deputy Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar was probing the matter.