Yamunanagar, January 12
Naib Tehsildar Anand Singh Rawal, who was “missing” since January 3, has returned home. Although he is tightlipped about the episode, his brother-in-law Arun Kumar said he was brought from Delhi last night.

A case under various offences, including manhandling, was registered against the Naib Tehsildar at Gharaunda police station in Karnal district, on the complaint of a dhaba owner, Dharambir Sharma. He and hundreds of other people met Superintendent of Police, Yamunanagar, Sibas Kaviraj and demanded strict action against the officer.

“We had to face harassment without any reason. Some of our helpers were interrogated by the police. From the beginning itself, we were saying that the family of the Naib Tehsildar was indulging in a false drama about his kidnapping,” alleged Dharambir.

Sources said the Naib Tehsildar had told the police that while he was returning from Jagadhri to Chhachhruali by his car on January 3, he was being chased by some people in a car. He claimed when he reached near Panjeto village, close to Chhachhruali, he turned his car towards some fields. He claimed that he got off the car and hid himself in the fields for five hours.

He told the police that he went to the Jagadhri bus stand to reach Ambala. From Ambala, he went to Delhi and then, to Lucknow and Agra before returning to Delhi.

Sources said he told the police that his mental state was not alright.

A team of Yamunanagar police visited Panipat, where the Naib Tehsildar is admitted in a private hospital.

Sources said names of three to four persons had emerged who helped the Naib Tehsildar in hiding himself. Superintendent of Police Sibas Kaviraj said the Naib Tehsildar would be brought here to record his statement on January 14. 

Dhaba owner demands action

A dhaba owner, Dharambir Sharma --- on whose complaint a case under various offences, including manhandling, was registered against the Naib Tehsildar --- and hundreds of other supporters met Yamunanagar Superintendent of Police Sibas Kaviraj and demanded strict action against him. He alleged that the officer and his family had staged a drama about his kidnapping.

Sirsa/Fatehabad, January 12
Post-Delhi Assembly elections that saw the emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the national level, almost every single politician cutting across political spectrum is trying to be identified with a common man.

A perfect example of this Aam Aadmi phenomenon was observed at Begu village of Sirsa today when former Union minister and Ambala City MLA Venod Sharma refused to sit on a sofa placed on the dais for him. Instead, he went among people to interact with them on the floor.

“I believe politics is undergoing a change and people are fed up with politicians flouting VVIP status. It is high time politicians feel the pulse of the common people and change their ways,” said Sharma.

The other day, Sharma had advocated the introduction of Right to Recall or some other mechanism, whereby voters could force their representatives to unseat after half of their term if they failed to live up to their expectations.

The Congress MLA, who is credited with getting 10 per cent quota for economically backward classes comprising Punjabis, Aggarwals, Brahmins and Rajputs, is on his statewide Jan Sampark Yatra to feel pulse of the people.

A close confidant of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Sharma was also instrumental in the enactment of the Haryana Dholidar, Butimar, Bhondedar and Mugraridar Act, 2010, by the state government.

The Act helped thousands of people from Brahmin and other communities to get proprietary rights of the land that were given to them by zamindars nearly two centuries ago.

Sharma, meanwhile, addressed meetings in nearly six villages of Sirsa and Fatehabad on the final day of his three-day tour of the two districts.

Ambala, January 12
Daughters’ Day was celebrated at Barara here today. Over 100 women attended the programme. An organisation with their motto as “Sankalp Uthao Beti Bachao” (Take a pledge to save daughters) organised the programme.

The event was organised to honour the mothers and to celebrate Lohri. Rajbir Deswal, IG Telecom, Haryana, exhorted the gathering to inform the police about the illegal ultra-sound operators who go for female foeticide. He said the modern society did not differentiate between a boy and a girl. aAshok Mehta, former Information Commissioner, appealed to the gathering to shun the practice of killing daughters. Over 20 women were awarded for their services in spreading awareness among the rural masses against female foeticide.– OC

Karnal, Januarty 12
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may contest three Lok Sabha and 45 Assembly seats in the state. This was decided at a meeting of the state executive committee held here yesterday

Chaudhary Vedpal, a former Deputy Speaker of Haryana and state NCP president, said a report would be sent to the party high command in this regard.

Chaudhary Vedpal stated that Karnal and Kuruklshetra were their primary choice while the third seat could be Ambala or Sonepat.

He stated the party had beenconducting workers’ meetings at the village and booth levels.

Gorakhpur (Fatehabad), January 12
Officials of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said here today that the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Project (GHAVP) was completely safe and the apprehensions on its safety were false.

The Parmanu Virodhi Morcha, a coalition of the anti-nuclear energy associations, has announced a protest against the launch of the project tomorrow and the INLD has extended its support to it.

Brushing asides the apprehensions regarding the safety aspect of the project, TR Arora, Project Director, GHAVP, said the NPCIL had 371 reactor years of experience for safely operating such nuclear power plants.

The NPCIL will be responsible for setting up, designing, engineering, construction, commissioning and operating to decommissioning the plant, he said.

Arora said in four decades, the NPCIL had fully mastered the various aspects of the technology encompassing design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup and operations of the nuclear power projects.

Assuring the maintenance of the best of safety standards, Arora said the NPCIL had organisational culture and management system for setting up of nuclear power plants in safe, efficient, responsible and sustainable manner, ensuring highest standards of safety and security. The NPCIL, he said, had adequate and proven infrastructure in respect of waste management for systematic planning and safe implementation of all waste management technologies.

Arora said initially, the NPCIL plans to complete the first of the four reactors of 700MW each within five years of the zero date (the date of the first pour of concrete) and the next within one year and the next two would also follow in succession. 

In safe hands

* The NPCIL has 371 reactor years of experience for safely operating such nuclear power plants.

* It will be responsible for setting up, designing, engineering, construction, commissioning and operating to decommissioning the plant

* Officials have assured maintenance of the plant in the best of safety standards

Faridabad, January 12
Four cases of rape were reported in the district in the past 48 hours. The police on Friday recovered a 17-year-old Sanjay Nagar resident, who was allegedly abducted by a youth identified as Jugal on January 6. Jugal, an employee of a private company, allegedly raped the victim during confinement.

Family members of the victim lodged a complaint with the police when she failed to return home on January 6.

In another case, a resident of Sector-85 had alleged that her brother-in-law had raped her when she was alone in her flat recently.

She alleged that accused Sandeep Kumar not only sexually assaulted her after serving her tea laced with some sedatives, but also made an MMS of the crime and blackmailed her on several occasions in the past.

In the third case, a resident of Rahul Colony, NIT, has alleged that Mohar Singh, a relative of her neighbour, had raped her several times on the pretext of marrying her.

The victim, who is already married, had developed relationships with the accused and even accompanied him about a fortnight ago, said a police official.

In the fourth case, a married woman from Sanjay Enclave has alleged that she was raped by Ram Narain of the same colony on Friday night. She said she was attending to her cattle in her house when the incident happened.

The accused managed to flee with help of another person after committing the crime.

Teen gang-raped, 3 booked

Hisar: A 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three youths at Khedar village in the district on December 25 last year.

On a complaint filed by the victim’s family, a case was registered against the accused yesterday.

In the complaint, the victim, a student of Class VI, alleged that when she was going to meet her mother at the power plant, three youths identified as Vikram, Baljit and Balhara forcibly took her to a field and took turns to rape her.

The accused threatened the minor girl with dire consequences if she narrated the incident to anyone.

However, the girl informed her mother about the crime yesterday. After registering the case, the police took the girl for medical examination.

Barwala police station SHO Balbir Singh said investigations were on in the case.

19-yr-old abducted

Rewari: The police have registered a case of abduction of a 19-year-old girl against Ajay Yadav, a resident of Mohdinpur village in the district.

In a complaint lodged with the Jatusana police, family members of the girl, a resident of Nainsukhpura village, alleged that she was allegedly enticed away by Ajay on January 7.

A senior police official said efforts were on to trace the victim.

Rewari, January 12
Irate residents of Dahina village today blocked the Rewari-Mahendergarh and other approach roads by placing their dead buffaloes on the road as a mark of protest.

Shouting slogans against the government, they demanded free treatment for their diseased buffaloes and other animals. The protesters also demanded adequate compensation for the dead cattle.

The blockade, which lasted for about six hours, was lifted after Brahmjit Singh, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Nasib Singh, SDO of the same department, and Tehsildar Naurang Rai assured the villagers that their diseased animals would be treated free at the veterinary hospitals.

Cattle owners said nearly four dozen buffaloes had died due to a mysterious disease in the past fortnight.

About 40 carcasses that had been lying in the open were today buried.

Gurgaon, January 12
Rebel Congress MP from Gurgaon, Rao Inderjit Singh has taken up cudgels on behalf of farmers in some 20 villages of this district. HUDA wants to acquire their land and acquisition notices were recently sent to them.

Last week Rao Inderjit Singh wrote to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda demanding that the notices be scrapped. The letter - dated January 9, but made public today - is accompanied by farmers’ representations to Rao opposing the acquisition.

The development assumes significance as Rao is tipped to join the BJP soon.

Rao alleged that the state’s notifications were under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. In his letter to the CM he argued that if land has to be acquired, it must be as per the provisions of the Land Rehabilitation and Re-Settlement Act, 2014.

He stressed that Parliament passed the new Act on September 25 last year and the it received Presidential assent on October 1. The Act, however, was notified by the Union government on January 1, this year.

The Haryana government issued the land acquisition notifications to farmers in these villages on December 13 and 31.

Rao highlighted that, although the state’s notifications under the old Act were issued before the new Act was notified by the Union government, they were after it was passed by Parliament.

The letter reads: “This clearly shows the malafide intent of the acquiring authority and is intended to bypass the provisions of the new Act”.

“The motives are dubious, ill-timed and not in interest of the farmers whose land is sought to be taken over by them by these surreptitious activities”, Rao added.

Among the villages where land is sought to be acquired under the old Act are Badshahpur, Palra, Nurpur, Fazilpur, Akilpur, Ullawas, Bairampur, Nawada, Kakrola, Bhagrola, Wazirpur, Basai, Mubarakpur and Naurangpur.

Chandigarh, January 12
The Haryana Education Department has formulated a re-employment policy for engaging teachers, who have retired as primary, trained graduate and postgraduate teachers.

An official spokesman said here today that the department had decided to set up a panel of retired teachers, as leave reserve to the extent of 5 per cent of the sanctioned strength. To achieve it in a regular manner, a panel of suitable retired teachers would be prepared every year.

Teachers were entitled to various types of leave like half-pay leave, commuted leave, earned leave and study leave. Woman teachers were also entitled to maternity leave for six months up to two children and childcare leave for two years.

The District Education Officers would prepare a panel of PGTs in various subjects while the district elementary education officer would prepare a panel in respect of PRTs, TGTs and C and V language teachers.

All three categories of teachers would be entitled to the entry-level pay in the pay band on the government pattern plus grade pay.

The maximum age up to which re-employment was admissible was 65 years.

Karnal, January 12
A BTech final year student was found dead in his college here today. He was allegedly drunk and fell off a roof. He has been identified as Gourav Sharma (22) of Jahanabad, Bihar.

The police have taken the body in custody and his family members have been informed. — TNS

Sonepat, January 12
A seven-member team of the NSS volunteers from BPS Women University, Khanpur Kalan, will participate in the 18th National Youth Festival to be held at Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, Punjab, from January 12 to 16.

Shushma Joshi, Pooja Sharma, Pooja Rani, Pinki, Usha, Sonal and Manisha are the team members.

Yamunanagar, January 12
Policemen had a narrow escape when alleged cattle smugglers tried to crush them under their vehicles. The Jathlana police have booked 10 persons for attempt to murder on a complaint of head constable Mange Ram.

Mange Ram said during routine checking at the Ghumthala naka, two vehicles were signalled to stop.

However, instead of stopping, the vehicles tried to crush them.

Mange Ram said the vehicles were carrying cattle for slaughter in Uttar Pradesh.

Mange Ram said one of the cattle smugglers was identified as Subhash Chand. The cattle smugglers wereat large. 

Rohtak, January 12
A newborn girl was found abandoned on a heap of cattle dung at Chidi village in the district yesterday. Manju, a resident of the village, found the baby in the morning and took her home and her husband informed the police.

Following that, the infant was sent to the local PGIMS. The hospital authorities handed over the baby to a social organisation after providing her first aid.

The police have registered a case on the basis of a complaint lodged by former panchayat samiti chairman Dharampal Kala.

The parents of the child had not been traced till the time of filing this report, though investigations were on in this regard. 

Hisar, January 12
Three Haryana girls have won bronze medals in the Third Nations Cup Women Boxing Tournament being held in Serbia. The pugilists include Arjuna Award recipient Kavita Chahal from Bhiwani, Sonia Lathar from Jind and Pavitra from Rewari.

Kavita, who is ranked third in the world, represented the country in the 81+ kg category, while Sonia and Pavitra had participated in the 54 and 57-kg categories, respectively. Around 30 countries are participating in the tournament.

Kavita said she tried her best but lost the bout in a close contest in the semifinals. “I am feeling fit and fine and have been preparing for the Asian tournament, Commonwealth Games and Asiad. 

Kurukshetra, January 12
Kurukshetra University (KU) won the All India Inter-University Hockey (Women) Championship 2013-14 by defeating Punjabi University, Patiala, 5-4 at the Markandeshwer Hockey Stadium, Shahabad (Markanda) here today.

Punjabi University was declared runners up. The winning team scored 3 goals in the last 10 minutes of the game and won the title. From KU, Navjot scored 3 goals while Jaspreet scored 2.

Dr Dalel Singh Chauhan, Director, Physical Education and Sports, KU, said Jiwaji University, Gwalior, secured third position by defeating MD University, Rohtak, 1-0 in a close match. Sunita scored a goal for Jiwaji University. MD University, Rohtak, stood fourth.

Col (retd) Balbir Singh, former Indian Hockey player, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Sonepat, January 12
Panjab University (PU) emerged winner of the six-day North Zone Inter-University Basketball Men's Championship, which concluded at the DCR University of Science and Technology, Murthal, today.

Played on the league basis, Punjabi University, Patiala (PUP), Delhi University (DU) and Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, stood second, third and fourth , respectively, in the championship.

All four teams have qualified for the All India Inter-University Basketball Championship to played at Banaras Hindu University from February 6 to 11.

Sonepat Superintendent of Police (SP) Arun Singh gave away the prizes. Teams from 34 universities of Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh participated in the championship. aIn the first league final match, Panjab University defeated DU 74-64 and PUP scored a win over GNDU 81-66. In the second league, PU defeated GNDU 76-73 and PUP defeated DU 76-62.