Chandigarh, March 8
With the arrest of two accused last night for the murder of BJP leader Rakesh Malik of Tosham in Bhiwani, the police claimed to have solved the case, giving a clean chit to Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Choudhry and her MP daughter Shruti.

Malik, the president of the Tosham Beopar Mandal, was gunned down by two motor-cycle borne youths at his office on February 21. The family of the deceased had alleged that Choudhry and her daughter were behind the killing and had refused to cremate the body till a case was registered against them.

The matter was raised by the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha. Choudhry had, in a letter to Governor Jagannath Pahadia and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, sought a thorough investigation into the case and alleged that her name and that of her daughter were being unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. She had blamed it on politics.

Inspector General of Police Shatrujit Kapur confirmed that the police had arrested the accused and personal enmity was found to be behind the killing. “There is no involvement of any politician whatsoever. The two conspirators had a personal score to settle with Malik,” he said.

With the case being sensitive, given the allegations of Malik’s family, the investigations were carried out by the special task force led by inspector Jeet Singh. Police sources said the police first tracked down Jasbir, one of the shooters of the February 21 incident, in Assandh on the basis of his call location on March 1.

Based on his interrogation and further investigation, the police tracked down Mandeep, the second shooter, and Rakesh Chahal, allegedly the mastermind behind Malik’s murder.

The sources said Mandeep, wanted in a murder case that took place in December 2013, had a personal score to settle with Malik, who had, back then, staged a demonstration to press for the former’s arrest following the murder. Mandeep had been declared a proclaimed offender in that particular case.

Chahal wanted to avenge the registration of a 2009 attempt-to-murder case against his family by killing Malik. The sources said Malik’s brother, Krishan, was the eyewitness in the attack on their paternal uncle, in which Chahal and his brother were named.

Malik was instrumental in pushing for the registration of the case. While Chahal was absconding, his brother was already behind bars. Mandeep and Chahal had joined hands and gunned down Malik at the first opportunity they got.

The sources said six arrests have been made in the case so far. With the arrest of the two shooters and Chahal, all three carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on their heads, the investigation had been completed and there was no hint of involvement of anybody else, they said.

Faridabad, March 8
Despite the model code of conduct already in place for the Lok Sabha elections, government hoardings and billboards continue to dot public places in Faridabad.

Government buildings, civil hospitals, primary health centres, state government offices, the Mini-secretariat and sports complexes are some of the places where the government hoardings can still be seen.

“Despite the announcement of the poll schedule, the officials concerned have not ensured an immediate removal of such hoardings and billboards," claimed a retired government official.

He said the local administration, which works under the direct command and supervision of the Election Commission, was expected to ensure that the code was followed.

On the other hand, Pardeep Kaushik of Sector-7 said a majority of the residents had no inkling if such boards were a gross violation of the election process.

Mohan Singh of Palwal said besides the government hoardings at public places, posters and banners of political leaders and their parties could also be seen on national highways and notice boards.

Demanding a strict action, he blamed the lethargic attitude of the authorities for the violations.

The Deputy Commissioner, who is also the District Electoral Officer, said directions had already been issued for the removal of such government hoardings.

Bhiwani, March 8
Amid speculation whether or not he is following the path of Rao Inderjit Singh and Venod Sharma, who quit the party recently, Congress MLA from Sohna Assembly segment Dharambir Singh will organise a show of strength here tomorrow to decide his future political course.

Dharambir Singh, who belongs to Talu village in Bhiwani district, had to settle for Sohna Assembly segment in Gurgaon in the last Assembly elections after he failed to get the ticket from his preferred Tosham or Badhra Assembly segment in the district.

Now he made it clear that he would not leave his home district and expressed the desire to contest the Lok Sabha election from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh on the Congress ticket. Ramdev Tayal, organiser of his rally, maintained that Dharambir Singh would disclose his next political move at the rally.

With the party high command repeating incumbent MP Shruti Chaudhry, Dharambir Singh seems to be in a rebellious mood. He organised the rally to discuss his future political plans with his supporters and put up a show of strength.

Significantly, Dharambir Singh has a personal liking for the colour saffron. His rally venue has been decked up in saffron. There had been speculation that he was trying for the BJP ticket from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, but refused to reveal, leaving the question of his future to his supporters. Sources said much would depend on the turnout at his rally, being organized at Kirori Mal Park in Bhiwani.

"It is possible that he has been trying to pressurise the party high command to assure him about the ticket from his preferred Assembly segment in Bhiwani in the next Assembly elections. He has expressed his desire to contest Lok Sabha elections, but it is not clear whether he will approach any other party or contest as an independent. Doors of the Congress have almost been slammed on him from Bhiwani Mahendragarh," said a Congress source.

Sirsa, March 8
State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar’s wife Avantika Maken Tanwar said here today that her husband would contest the upcoming elections from Sirsa.

She was addressing women at a function organised under the banner of the Lalit-Geetanjali Maken Trust to celebrate International Women’s Day. She said media reports suggesting Tanwar’s nomination from Ambala instead of his constituency Sirsa were untrue and he would seek re-election from Sirsa.

She said people of Sirsa had given Ashok Tanwar their support when the Congress fielded him for the first time in the 2009 elections.

“Our family cannot forget the love and affection showered by the people of this constituency. It is due to their support and blessings that Tanwar has been appointed president of the Haryana Congress,” she said.

She congratulated women on International Women’s Day and felicitated some achievers. In another function organised to mark International Women’s Day, former minister Gopal Kanda’s daughter Sushila Kanda and Haryana Mahila Congress general secretary Shilpa Verma felicitated women.

In a function at Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Vice Chancellor Radhe Sham Sharma, Registrar Manoj Siwach, associate professor Deepti Dharmani and Dr Shalini from Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak addressed the participants.

Kurukshetra, March 8
While all political parties have been maintaining a fair distance with former Union minister and sitting Ambala MLA Venod Sharma’s ‘Jan Chetna Mahayagya’ after the recent developments, the Brahmin Samaj, supporters from Rajput and backward classes, are expected to reach here to extend their support to the leader.

Sharma would conclude his four-month-long awareness yatra here at the theme park with ‘Jan Chetna Mahayagya’ on March 9.

Local Congress leaders, who were earlier actively participating in the preparations, have dragged their feet after his resignation. Now the Lok Seva Panchayat is solely making all the preparations.

The organisers are expecting more than 1 lakh people from across the state.

Sources said no Congress leader was expected to reach, but those who have proximity with Venod might send their supporters here.

Ram Bilas Sharma, BJP state chief, said, “The senior leaders of the party were not happy with the HJC’s decision, hence Sushma Swaraj expressed her displeasure and HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi agreed to her.” However, he denied making any comment on the mahayagya.

Sanjeev Sharma, a resident of Mathana village and a Brahmin Samaj activist, said, “Though I am a Congressman, I will attend the mahayagya with other people from my village.”

Sukhdev Sharma, ex-president, Karnal District Brahmin Sabha, said about 5,000 people were expected to attend the mahayagya in Karnal district on Sunday.

“I will also go for it. Hooda Government has always been biased towards the Brahmin Samaj and we would not bear this discrimination anymore.”

Hisar, March 8
Members of the Congress and the INLD have lodged a complaint against the AAP nominee from Hisar Yudhbir Singh Khyalia with the Deputy Commissioner-cum-district returning officer. They alleged that he had violated the code of conduct by staying in the official residence even after retirement.

The AAP candidate, however, has denied any violation of the poll code, stating that he was entitled to stay in the official residence for four months after retirement.

Congress district chief Jai Prakash and INLD leader Dushyant Chautala have also raised an objection over Khyalia's staying in the Commissioner's residence.

Refuting the charges, Khyalia, who was posted as the divisional commissioner here before taking voluntary retirement on February 3, said, "A government official is entitled to stay in the government accommodation for four months after retirement. I have not conducted any political activity from the residence. I haven’t received any notice from the Election Commission," he said.

The AAP leader alleged that the other parties, including the Congress, the INLD and the HJC, had been making every effort to discredit him and malign his image. “I have been getting overwhelming response in the election and these parties are feeling insecure.”

Hisar, March 8
The state government has served a show-cause notice on a medical officer (MO) in the cash-for-injury scam.The scam involved several government doctors and private practitioners preparing false medico legal reports (MLRs) after inflicting injury to frame rivals in criminal cases in Hisar and Bhiwani districts.

The Principal Secretary, Health, intimated the Punjab and Haryana High Court in compliance report yesterday that while Dr Bhoop Singh Khatri had been removed from services on February 11, another doctor, Vishal Goel, has been served a show-cause notice by the punishing authority to give him an opportunity of personal hearing.

The police had registered 16 criminal cases against the MOs, some private practitioners and other staff who have been facing trials in Hisar and Bhiwani courts on the charges of forgery, fabricating false evidence, issuing false certificate, causing hurt etc. However, the police had sought six more weeks to complete the investigation in the ongoing cases. The court has fixed May 16 as the next date of hearing in the case.

The Justice (retd) OP Garg commission had inquired Dr Khatri, who was facing charges of preparing over 30 fake MLRs in 2009 by adopting modus operandi of deliberately inflicting injury on the skull of a person who wanted to frame his rival in criminal cases. After showing a deep injury, which is life threatening, an MLR was prepared. The inquiry concluded that the charges against Dr Khatri were proved by the preponderance of evidence. Garg observed in the report that "in view of the matter, it stands fully established that Dr Khatri had created a racket in connivance with doctors of private hospitals and received huge amount from opposite parties to give them a benefit for implicating other parties in brawl cases. He gave them false injury reports and the possibility of preparing 30 MLRs by proving false injuries as true/genuine by Dr Khatri cannot be ruled out".

Hardeep Singh, a Hisar-based lawyer, had busted the racket with the help of the police in March 2010 when he was booked in an attempt to murder cases even though he was not involved in any such case. Following leads that a racket of doctors was instrumental in issuing MLRs by inflicting 'doctored' injuries, he laid a trap with the help of the police and took the lid off the racket.

Injury on choice The scam involved several government doctors and private practitioners preparing false medico legal reports (MLRs) after inflicting injury to frame rivals in criminal cases The racket of doctors had been instrumental in issuing MLRs by inflicting 'doctored' injuries

Fatehabad, March 8
A minor was allegedly gang-raped by three brothers at Bhattu Kalan in Fatehabad. The police booked Mauji, Bhajju and Naresh, who were absconding after the incident.

In her complaint to the police, the victim, a resident of a village in Rohtak district, stated that she had come to Bhattu Kalan to attend the wedding of her maternal brother.

She reported that she went to the house of her maternal uncle's neighbour at Krishna Nagar of Bhattu Kalan to change clothes when the three overpowered and raped her.

Sonepat, March 8
Additional District and Sessions Judge Manisha Batra today awarded life imprisonment to six members of a family of Murthal village for murdering a 68-year-old man, Baljeet, in 2012.

The judge also fined Ram Phal, Ramesh, Sonu, Somvir, Krishan and Pawan Rs 30,000 each.

Baljit’s brother Jeet Singh, in his complaint on March 9, 2012, alleged that Ram Phal, his brother Ramesh, sons Somvir and Sonu and nephews Krishan and Pawan attacked their house and stated that Baljit had been killed by them in the fields.

Jeet Singh said when he reached the fields, he found Baljit injured. Doctors at the Civil Hospital referred him to the PGIMS Rohtak where he succumbed to injuries.

The land dispute was stated to the cause of enmity between two families. — OC

Ambala, March 8
The body of a four-year-old boy was found in a water tank of a building in the Nahan House area at Ambala City today. He has been identified as Mayank of Baldev Nagar. The body was taken to the Civil Hospital.

Sources said Meenu, the mother of the deceased, had come to her brother’s house at Nahan House with Mayank two days ago after a dispute with her husband.

The boy disappeared this morning and was found in a water tank located on the roof of a building. The cover of the tank was locked, indicating someone had murdered him.

The mother of the child has alleged that her husband might have abducted her son. The police are interrogating his father. — OC

Karnal, March 8
Women of Karnal, Jind, Hisar, Panipat and Rohtak today pledged to shun the veil (ghoonghat) system at a state-level convention on social reforms at Kalidas Rangsala here today.

The convention was organised by Search, a state resource centre (SRC), and the Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) to mark International Women’s Day.

The women decided to fight against other social customs that hinder women’s progress and adopted over 70 villages of the state to educate women against the system.

SRC member Kamla presented a report of the survey conducted by SRC and HGVS volunteers among 1,500 respondents of 70 villages of Karnal, Kaithal, Jind and Hisar.

She said most of the men supported the system which forces women to cover their faces.

Karnal Mayor Renu Bala Gupta debunked the practice of the ‘purdah’ system as it stiffed the growth of women’s personality.

She urged the women to resist not only the “purdah” system, but all kind of social evils.

Nonika Dutta, a professor at Miranda House, Delhi, said, “Women have always played an important role in social transformation and will continue to do so in future as well.”

Artistes of the HGVS and the SRC presented a play and exposed the obstacles that come in the way of women PRIs while discharging their duties.

Sirsa, March 8
As many as 11 women of the families of brick-kiln labourers began a one-day fast outside the mini secretariat to protest “indifferent” attitude of the authorities concerned towards them on International Women’s Day.

They said they would not consume food or water for 24 hours to press for stricter implementation of labour laws.

Saroj, Champa Devi, Lakshmi Devi, Shanti Devi, Suman, Kamlesh, Sheela, Lila Devi, Krishna, Jarnail Kaur and Meera Devi will end their fast on Sunday morning.

“There are labour laws in the country, but these are never implemented by the authorities in brick-kilns. Officials of the Labour Department visit these kilns merely for receiving their monthly bribe from brick-kiln owners and in return allow them to exploit us at their will,” alleged Sheela.

Other members of the Lal Jhanda Bhatha Mazdoor Union, who are also sitting on the dharna, alleged that there was no arrangement for clean potable drinking water in their brick kilns and there were no health facilities for them.

“In the absence of any schools in the vicinity, we are not able to send our children to schools,” they said.

Leaders of the Lal Jhanda Bhatha Mazdoor Union alleged that their members did not get the minimum wages prescribed by the government and they had not been issued any pink card meant for the poor.

Yamunanagar, March 8
Educational institutes of the district today celebrated International Women’s Day.

The Electronics Department of Mukand Lal National College, Yamunanagar, organised a two-day seminar on “Women empowerment through education and technology”.

College principal Shailesh Kapoor welcomed guests, including Karlstad University director Caroline Wamala, Wolkite University president Admasu Shibru, Prof Euphrasia Susy Suhendra, Emmy Indrayani, Maulana Ali, Teddy from Gunadarma University, Indonesia.

Organisers GK Sethi and Anil Pundir said over 200 delegates had registered for the seminar.

Karnal, March 8
The child sex ratio has improved by 33 points in Karnal district. It now stands at 880 in comparison to 847 in 2012. However, it is still below the 1,000 mark set by the district administration.

As many as 29,568 children were born, including 15,731 boys and 13,837 girls, in Karnal in 2013. The ratio in rural areas of the district stands at 927 while in urban areas it was recorded at 863.

In Gagsina, Indri, Bhadson, Khukhni, Nissing, Barota and Sambhli primary and community health centres, the child sex ratio was recorded at 1,129, 1,385,1,115,1,084,1,178,1,194 and 1,063 respectively. The lowest sex ratio (519) was recorded at the Nilokehri community health centre.

In urban areas like Assandh, Gharonda, Indri, Tarori, Nilokehri, Karnal and Nissing, the child sex ratio was recorded at 888, 888, 888, 920, 862, 853 and 879 respectively. These figures are much lower in comparison to rural areas.

Dr Vandana Bhatia, Civil Surgeon, said they were worried over the marginal improvement in the ratio in urban areas.

Explaining about reasons behind the low sex ratio in urban areas, she said people in urban areas were aware of medical facilities to prevent the birth of a girl child.

"The Health Department has taken required steps to prevent female foeticide. The department has raided many ultrasound centres in the past couple of months. As many as seven persons, including two doctors, have been convicted under the PNDT Act," she said.

Rewari, March 8
Despite efforts of the Health Department, as many as 80 villages in Rewari district have witnessed a sharp decline in the child sex ratio in 2013.

As per the figures collected by the department, the sex ratio in the under-six age group stands in the range of 615 to 740 in these villages. In 2012, the ratio stood at 796 in the district.

Dr Sarabjit Thapar, Deputy CMO, Civil Hospital, Rewari, said, “These are the villages where the child sex ration was the lowest as per the 2001 Census. Though we are persistently running awareness programmes on the issue, the decline in the sex ratio is worrisome.”

“After going through the figures, we have decided to rope in NGOs and social activists for the awareness programmes being run in these villages to bring a significant improvement in the gender ratio,” said Thapar.

Meanwhile, Virender Hooda, a social activist, said the downward trend had raised doubts over awareness programmes. “Though the latest figures are as per the department's birth registration records, it indicates towards a grim situation, which can lead to disastrous consequences, if not controlled,” said Hooda.

Fatehabad, March 8
A couple has been booked under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, for allegedly marrying off their 14-year-old daughter. The bridegroom, his parents, and a mediator have also been booked in the case.

“This is the first FIR registered in Fatehabad ever since the Act has come into force,” said Rekha Agarwal, prohibition officer appointed under the Act for Fatehabad.

A student of Class IX, the girl lived with her grandfather at Hyderwala village in Fatehabad.

Her parents, Ram Dass and Kamla Devi, who worked at a brick-kiln, clandestinely married her off to Dalip Singh (24) from Laluwas village on December 21 last year at Tohana.

When the girl’s grandfather, Diwan Singh, came to know of the fact, he lodged a complaint with the police and the accused were booked.

Kurukshetra, March 8
A youth killed his mother over a petty issue in Kohlapur village today. Sources said Kuldeep (20) had a heated argument with his mother when she refused to give money to him. Infuriated, Kuldeep hit his mother with an iron rod. She died on spot.

The body of the deceased was handed over to the family after the post-mortem at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. The police said the accused had been arrested and the investigation was on.