Kosli (Rewari), April 3
As the latest development in the on-going row between Kosli and Bhakli villages, over naming of development projects, a panchayat of Kosli villagers has announced to boycott the coming Lok Sabha elections to register their protest against the apathy of the authorities.

The panchayat, held in Mukteshwar Puri Math here yesterday, also resolved to socially boycott the villagers found exercising their franchise.

The panchayat alleged that the authorities had betrayed them by making hollow assurances whenever they raised their voices to get their rights.

“The authorities had assured us to nab the killers of Mahavir Singh within a week but no
firm action has been taken so far, causing acute resentment among the villagers, who are now planning to fight a decisive battle against the authorities,” said Vijay Singh Kaushal, who presided over the panchayat.

Mahavir (62) was killed and 12 others were injured when people of Bhakli village allegedly attacked Kosli village residents who were taking out a march on March 5 to protest against naming the Railway Over Bridge (RoB) and Kisan Rest House after Bhakli village.

Thereafter, the police had lodged a criminal case against several people of Bhakli villages.

Kaushal said Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Rao Daan Singh had come to the village after the incident and had ensured the arrest of the alleged killers but the accused were roaming freely.

“Such irresponsible attitude of the authorities is not confined to this issue alone. Several such incidents have been reported in the past wherein the authorities deliberately had a biased approach towards Kosli town. But we will not tolerate this approach now,” said the villagers at the panchayat.

Thereafter, the panchayat resolved to boycott the poll in the coming elections so as to attract the attention of the state government towards their grievances.

Sonepat, April 3
“The INLD is a party of committed workers, the common man and has never indulged in the politics of caste, region and communalism. It enjoys support from every section of society and it will be proved in these elections.”

This was claimed by INLD’s star campaigner Abhay Singh Chautala while addressing an election meeting today at Gohana, in support of party’s candidate Padam Singh Dahiya.

He lambasted the Congress for propagating that the INLD would be wiped out in the elections and claimed that the party had deep roots in the soil of Haryana and it had been proved from time to time in the past.

Chautala reiterated his allegations that the Congress had conspired to send Om Prakash Chautala, Ajay Singh Chautala and others in jail and the people would teach Congress a lesson in these elections by supporting the INLD.

Abhay cautioned the people that the BJP wanted to elevate Narendra Modi, but for achieving it, the party had borrowed candidates from Congress.

“In protest against such a move, the BJP leaders are leaving the party,” he said.

He appealed to the voters not to give any more chance to the Congress, which had “looted the country from both hands” during the last 10 year. Haryana was also no exception in this era of loot, corruption and inflation, he added.

Others who addressed the meeting included candidate Padam Singh Dahiya, state spokesman Dr K C Bangar, party constituency observer Brig O P Chaudhary and other senior leaders of the party.

Panipat, April 3
In an effort to get sympathy votes, INLD distributed copies of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala's emotive letter written during his ongoing captivity.

Copies of the one-page letter, written in Hindi by Chautala from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on March 12, were distributed among the gathering at an INLD election rally organised at Circus Ground in Panipat today. The rally, held in support of Karnal INLD candidate Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, was addressed by Chautala's younger son Abhay Singh Chautala and state president Ashok Arora.

In the letter addressed to Haryana residents, Chautala stated "Despite my imprisonment for the last 14 months during the last leg of my life, I am worried about the poor condition of the state but I am helpless in providing jobs to the youth due to my captivity."

Claiming that he had been serving the state with full responsibility since his father late Deputy PM Devi Lal's death, Chautala appealed to the electors to vote and support INLD candidates in the elections.

Meanwhile, addressing the rally, Abhay flayed Congress but did not say anything against the BJP whereas other INLD leaders, including state president Ashok Arora, Israna MLA Krishan Lal Panwar and former speaker Satbir Singh Kadian criticised both BJP and Congress.

Abhay Chautala said, "Hooda, who used to fly in a chopper or an aeroplane, now has to travel in a bus to seek votes. Instead of alighting from the bus, fearing ‘chappal’ throwing incidents as he cheated the public in the name of development and providing jobs for the last 10 years, he is addressing the gathering from the bus itself."

Going a step further, Abhay Chautala alleged, "Only policemen in plain clothes are attending Hooda's meetings."

Without naming sitting Sonepat Member of Parliament Jitender Malik, the INLD leader further stated "The condition of Congress may easily be understood from the fact that its leaders are avoiding contesting elections."

Flaying the Hooda government for the deteriorating law and order situation, Abhay alleged "One person is murdered every eight hours, two girls are raped every 12 hours and a person is kidnapped in each 16 hours. No one is secure under the Congress rule."

Criticising the party for making 'false' promises in its manifesto, of providing jobs to 10 crore youths, he said "Who forbade it to provide jobs during the last 10-year rule."

Speaking on the occasion, INLD state spokesperson Dr KC Bangar said "Devi Lal's two generations are in jail. Vote for INLD candidates on April 10 to pay him the real homage."

Karnal, April 3
Former Union minister and sitting Rajya Sabha member Kumari Selja and Rajya Sabha member Birender Singh have campaigned for Congress candidate Arvind Sharma. They exhorted party workers and urged voters to elect Arvind Sharma for a third term.

Addressing a political meeting at Kamboj Dharamsala, Kumari Selja praised Arvind Sharma and claimed that he had always helped the poor and needy. She said he had brought many projects for Karnal and another term for him would bring more development to the constituency.

“Elections are always fought on agendas, not on a wave,” said Kumari Selja, claiming that the Congress would win all 10 seats in Haryana as the Congress had done a lot for the people.

Birender Singh praised Arvind Sharma and urged voters to ensure his victory as he had the full support of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. He counted the achievement of the UPA government and said the Congress had always thought of everyone.

Arvind Sharma appealed to voters to cast their vote in his favour. The sitting MP urged voters to elect him for a third term for more development.

He said he had brought many projects to his constituency like Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College, inclusion of Karnal in the NCR, domestic airport, approval of railway foot overbridge for Ram Nagar, approval of rail line from Karnal to Kaithal and from Karnal to Yamunanagar, rubber plant and elevated flyover in Panipat.

Panchkula, April 3
After struggling for nearly 30 hours to get permission for landing a helicopter carrying national Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh in Barwala to address a public gathering in support of Ambala candidate Rattan Lal Kataria, the local unit of the party complained to the Chief Election Commission (CEC) of Haryana, accusing the Panchkula and Ambala district administrations of harassment.

BB Singal, liaison officer, BJP, Panchkula, in a complaint to the CEC, alleged that district elections officers were delaying them permission for landing and takeoff of choppers, holding rallies and 'nukkad sabhas' and setting up sound systems during elections. Apprehending sabotage in the campaign of the BJP, Singal alleged that the district administration authorities were adopting cumbersome procedures at the behest of the ruling party.

Singal alleged in the complaint that the election commission had announced a single-window system for various permissions, including rallies, roadshows and 'nukkad sabhas', playing of loudspeakers and setting up of sound systems during elections, but the authorities concerned had laid down long and cumbersome procedures. This had not only been forcing them to face hardship, but delaying mandatory permissions as well, he claimed.

It was more annoying when the Market Committee of Barwala demanded rent and market fee from BJP office-bearers for organising a rally at the grain market of Barwala, he added. He asked whether or not places designated for rallies and 'nukkad sabhas' were at the disposal of the Election Commission till the elections were over and whether or not permission granted by the competent authorities was sufficient to hold rallies.

"For getting permission for vehicle and sound system, an application has to be submitted to the returning officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Ambala. After getting permission for vehicle from the returning officer, a separate application for sound system has to be submitted to the respective Subdivisional Magistrates of Panchkula and Kalka," Singal elaborated.

"Then a no-objection certificate is sought from the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Panchkula to finally grant permission for vehicle and sound. The same procedures have to be followed in case one need permission from the Panchkula returning officer," he explained.

Denying any delay on his part, SS Phulia, district election officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula, said the BJP was given the required permissions within 48 hours as per guidelines of the Election Commission.

Jind, April 3
A day after Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal criticised Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) leaders during his rallies in support of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidates, HJC chief and Hisar candidate Kuldeep Bishnoi hit back at SAD.

He advised SAD leaders not to work for corrupt politicians and follow the clean politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its alliance partner. He urged the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab to clarify whether or not Punjab would give the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal water to Haryana. If the answer was in the negative, on what basis had he been seeking votes from the people of Haryana, he asked.

He criticised the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister for dragging the name of his father Bhajan Lal in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. "During the Gohana rally, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had clarified that they would never have any alliance with corrupt INLD leaders. But strangely, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister is still trying to promote the corrupt by ignoring the message of the top leadership of the BJP," said Bishnoi during a meeting in Uchana.

Asked whether any action would be taken against SAD leaders, Bishnoi said only the BJP high command could say anything on the issue and he had no authority to say anything on the matter. Attacking Ramdev, a Narendra Modi supporter, for comparing him with Dushyant Chauatala, Bishnoi advised Ramdev to concentrate on teaching yoga instead of making such illogical statements.

Referring to allegations against his father Bhajan Lal, Bishnoi said it showed that Sukhbir Singh Badal did not have knowledge about basic facts of history. "Bhajan Lal always worked for the welfare of society and never supported any riot. Sukhbir Singh Badal must understand that levelling such a baseless allegations against a deceased leader is illogical. People know everything about everyone," Bishnoi said.

Kurukshetra, April 3
It seems that the state leadership of the BJP has failed to persuade SAD leaders who are canvassing for INLD candidates in the state, as after Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would hold three rallies in the state.

Badal will hold rallies in Kurukshetra, Sirsa and Hisar in support of INLD candidates on April 8.

BJP state Chief Ram Bilas Sharma had registered his resentment with the party high command, stating that the SAD was a part of the NDA and Badal’s move of canvassing for the INLD had hurt the party workers’ sentiments.

Talking to mediapersons, Sukhbir said, “We have already made it clear that the SAD has a permanent alliance with the INLD. Though we have an alliance with the BJP, there is a blood relation between the INLD and SAD and there is no difference between both the parties. We tried to bring the INLD back into the NDAm but unfortunately it couldn’t happen.”

On Tuesday, Sukhbir addressed a huge gathering at the grain market of Pehowa and sought support for Balbir Singh Saini, INLD candidate from the Kurukshtera Lok Sabha seat.

Badal lambasted the Congress and said, “The Congress has a history of silencing people who dare to speak against it. The same happened with OP Chautala. But now, the Congress will not exist after the Lok Sabha elections.”

He said, “There is an anti-Congress wave in the country and we should not miss this opportunity to trounce the party in the elections. The incumbent government has failed to control inflation and has always launched anti-farmer polices.”

Sukhbir said, “I am confident that the INLD will win all 10 seats in Haryana.”

On the occasion, INLD state Chief Ashok Arora, Kurukshetra candidate Balbir Singh Saini, Karnal candidate Jaswinder Singh Sandhu and many other local leaders addressed the gathering.

Sirsa, April 3
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s campaign for the INLD yesterday and his attack on HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi and his father Bhajan Lal has led to confusion within the BJP in the state.

The cancellation of Narendra Modi’s April 7 Fatehabad rally has also left a section of the party leaders bitter and upset.

Ganeshi Lal, a former minister and a former state president of the BJP, today hit out at Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and alleged that the SAD patriarch was killing the very spirit of the NDA, of which he was the national convener.

Lal also castigated his own party in charge for the state Jagdish Mukhi, though without naming him, accusing him of flattering the Badals, who, he said, were making all efforts to defeat not only the HJC nominees, but also those contesting poll on the BJP ticket.

Mukhi yesterday played down Sukhbir’s campaign for the INLD, saying the SAD did not have any alliance with the BJP in Haryana.

Lal said the Punjab Deputy CM had campaigned against BJP candidates in Ambala, Karnal and Kurukshetra also.

“Fatehabad is in the middle of Hisar and Sirsa. We had planned the rally with the hope that Modi’s address a day before the end of the campaigning will boost the prospects of the HJC on both parliamentary seats. Perhaps Modi could not find time for this rally due to his busy schedule,” the former minister added.

BJP’s reaction Former state BJP president Ganeshi Lal Thursday hit out at Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and alleged that the SAD patriarch was killing the spirit of the NDA. He also indirectly slammed party in charge for the state Jagdish Mukhi for accusing him of flattering the Badals

Jhajjar, April 3
Carrying out the poll campaign in support of Congress nominee and his ailing son Deepender Hooda, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said today that the time had come to get rid of corrupt and dishonest persons by casting the vote in favour of responsible and development-oriented leaders.

He said the future of the nation was only in the hands of the Congress. He was addressing a series of public meetings in various villages of this district during his roadshow.

"Due to his ill health, Deepender Hooda is unable to participate in campaigning. He will be the first MP who will win the election even without campaigning for himself," the Chief Minister added.

He added, "Our family has served the people for many generations. Continuing with this tradition and with the support of the people, they will continue to serve them and contribute to the development of the state."

The Chief Minister appealed to the people to cast their vote in the favour of honest and trustworthy candidates and save the state from those leaders with ulterior motives who practised politics of fear and terror.

Hooda said homogenous development of the state had taken place during the nine-year tenure of the Congress government, which had led to uplift of status of people belonging to all strata of society.

"There is a need of progressive thinking for development of state and the nation. BJP leaders have lowered their level in the elections as they had sold the party ticket in Haryana and some aspiring candidates had to bargain to get the ticket," Hooda said.

He was accompanied by Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal, senior Congress leader Prof Virender and Youth Congress leader Vikas Ahlawat.

Sirsa, April 3
Campaigning has intensified in the Sirsa parliamentary seat, where state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar is locked in a keen contest with Charanjit Singh Rori of the INLD and Sushil Indora of the BJP-HJC alliance.

Fifteen other candidates, including Poonam Chand Ratti of the AAP, Ram Kumar Bahbalpuria of the CPM and Mange Ram Dahiya of the BSP, are also in the field, though the political observers feel that the main contest is likely to remain between the first three.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be addressing an election rally for Tanwar at the HUDA grounds in Sirsa on April 6 and his supporters have been working overtime for mobilising support.

Former minister LD Arora’s daughter Sunita Setia, her husband Rahul Setia, who recently announced their support to Tanwar, today campaigned in different parts of Sirsa with MP’s wife Avantika Maken Tanwar.

Tanwar, who is seeking re-election from the Sirsa seat, today campaigned at Fatehabad, Bhuna, Tohana, Jakhal, Ratia and Sirsa, where he addressed booth-level workers and also sought votes from people.

AICC secretary Asha Kumari, minister Rao Narender Singh and others today campaigned for Tanwar, while former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is scheduled to come tomorrow.

Addressing a meeting at Fatehabad today, Asha Kumari, who is the co-in charge of Haryana in the AICC, said when the BJP did not have time to release its manifesto, what welfare of could one expect from the saffron party?

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will address a rally in support of INLD nominee Charanjit Singh Rori on April 8.

Besides, Abhay Singh Chautala will address rallies at Rania and Dabwali on April 5.

Meanwhile, Karan Singh Chautala, who has been campaigning extensively on Sirsa seat, today went door-to-door in Fatehabad to seek votes for Rori.Veer Bhan Mehta, who recently joined the INLD, has also started campaigning in Rori’s favour.

Though workers of the HJC and BJP in Sirsa are disappointed at the cancellation of Narendrs Modi’s proposed rally at Fatehabad on April 7, former minister Ganeshi Lal, senior BJP leader Jagdish Chopra at Sirsa and HJC leader Dura Ram at Fatehabad have intensified their candidate Sushil Indora’s poll campaign.

AAP candidate Poonam Chand Ratti led a ‘padyatra’ of his supporters in different markets of Sirsa town today.

The next four days are likely to witness hectic electioneering by all candidates.

Ambala, April 3
Banking on the welfare policies of the Congress government, the party candidate from Ambala, Raj Kumar Valmiki, today sought votes here during a roadshow in and around Ambala.

The road-show commenced at Baldev Nagar where a number of party workers assembled to extend support to Valmiki. District party chief Harish Shashan, Municipal Corporator Tony Chaudhary and Rajesh Mehta also participated in the roadshow. On reaching Nahan House, Valmiki was joined by Mayor Ramesh Mal, Rajan Guglani and other local leaders.

Addressing a gathering at Jaggi Colony, Valmiki said that all sections of society had benefited equally from the Congress welfare policies and the party was all set to form the third consecutive government at the Centre.

Valmiki later held a meeting with lawyers at the bar room, where legislator from Panchkula DK Bansal addressed the gathering and promised a slew of development projects for Ambala. Valmiki promised that if voted to power, he would 
ensure that all pending development projects in Ambala were completed at the earliest.

In the afternoon, the roadshow reached Prem Nagar after passing through Manav Chowk. Valmiki said that the opposition parties were using the media to create a fake “Modi wave”. The election results would expose the lies of these parties, Valmiki claimed. 

Chandigarh, April 3
The housing scheme for MLAs and MPs in Haryana may soon run into oblivion. In a significant development, Haryana Additional Advocate-General Kamal Sehgal told the Punjab and Haryana High Court today that the Haryana Government was considering withdrawal of the scheme.

The development is significant as stalwarts of Haryana politics - Deepender Singh Hooda, Kiran Chaudhary, Kumari Selja, Naveen Jindal, Hans Raj Bhardwaj, Chander Mohan, Karan Singh Dalal and Randeep Singh Surjewala - are among the 79 Haryana MPs and MLAs put on notice by the High Court in the plot allocation case.

They were allotted 14 marls plots each in the Sector 6 Mansa Devi Complex (MDC) near Sukhna Lake and the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park at a “throwaway price” of Rs 28 lakh against the open market price of nearly Rs 1.5 crore.

In an attempt to substantiate his contention, Sehgal today also placed before the High Court a letter by the Haryana Chief Secretary on reconsideration of the scheme by the government.

Taking up the matter, the Bench of Justice Surya Kant directed the Haryana Government to place on record its final decision in the matter by May 1. The scheme’s purported objective was to provide adequate accommodation to MLAs and MPs elected from Haryana during their visits.

During the course of hearing of the case, Haryana had even amended the policy to say “any sitting MLA and MP would be eligible for allotment of flat/plot only in Panchkula. No allotment of land shall be made for construction of flats/houses at any other station, including Gurgaon....”

“Only those MLAs/MPs from Haryana would be eligible, who do not own a flat/house or any other dwelling unit in Panchkula, whether acquired by way of allotment or otherwise….”

The petitioner, the Panchkula-based Herald Group Housing Society, had earlier sought directions to the respondents to quash the communication issued by the Chief Administrator to the Haryana Speaker.

Counsel for the petitioner argued that HUDA had nowhere mentioned in the reservation chart that MLAs and MPs were a distinctly identifiable category deserving specific reservation. As such, the HUDA communication, informing the Speaker about such a reservation was wholly illegal and arbitrary and deserved to be quashed.

Ambala, April 3
Following the directions of Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Deputy Commissioner and MC Commissioner Dr Saket Kumar ordered large-scale removal of encroachments from Sadar Bazar, Bajaja Bazar and Subzi Mandi in the Ambala cantonment today.

SDM Vinay Partap Singh, along with the police force and employees of the corporation, started the encroachment removal campaign early this morning, which continued till late in the evening. Some of the shopkeepers protested against the drive.

Advocate of Ambala cantonment SKS Bedi had filed a PIL for removal of encroachments from the markets, as a result of which the Punjab and Haryana High court had asked the district administration to remove these.

The administration, besides removing the encroachments, had also asked the people to remove them voluntarily.

Former DC of Ambala KM Pandurang had led the campaign in October 2013 to remove encroachments in the Bajaja Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Subzi Mandi, Bans Bazar Dal Mandi, Gur Mandi and other markets and also warned the people to shun from encroaching upon the government land.

In the tenure of Sekhar Vidharthi also, encroachments in large number were removed from Railway Bazar, Cross Road No 12, Gawal Mandi, Kabadi Bazar and the shopkeepers were also challaned.

The officers of the administration have held interactions with the office-bearers of the shopkeeper associations a number of times and have also asked them to remove the encroachments.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, during a hearing in March, had expressed displeasure at the slow pace of implementation of its orders and had asked the administration to take strict action and submit an action taken report by April 11. The court had also warned the district officials of strict action for dereliction of their duty.

The court had also directed the current and former district officials to appear before the court.

Chandigarh, April 3
The interviews for recruiting Assistant Superintendents (Jail) in Haryana have come under a cloud. Acting on a petition alleging that the mode of selection was unfair, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has summoned the relevant records of the interview held at Ambala.

Justice Ritu Bahri has also set May 19 as the deadline for production of the record while taking up a petition filed by a “successful candidate”. Haryana has also been put on notice for the same date. In all, 12 posts of Assistant Superintendent (Jail) were advertised in the general category.

Throwing a challenge to the selections, Harvinder Singh Nain through counsel Vipul Jindal asserted that he was directed to appear for a physical test, including height and chest measurements, after he applied for the post.

The petitioner was declared successful in the results declared on July 20, 2012. He was then called for an interview vide a communication dated August 9, 2012, he added.

Jindal claimed the commission forwarded similar intimation letters to all successful candidates. They too were told to appear at various places in Haryana. The petitioner was interviewed by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission at Ambala.

Jindal alleged the mode of selection was, however, unjust“as there was only one member of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission, who interviewed different candidates”.

He also alleged violation of the relevant rules in the selection process. Preference was not given to sportspersons for selection though it was admissible under the Punjab Jails Department State Service (Class III Executive) Rules, 1963.

Quoting the rules as applicable in Haryana, he said: “Preference will be given to those persons who are sportsmen and are otherwise eligible for appointment in accordance with the provisions of these rules.”

Chandigarh, April 3
Two doctors of Government Hospital, Karnal, are in the dock with the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) imposing a fine of Rs 3 lakh on them for allegedly preparing ‘motivated’ medico-legal reports(MLRs) and medical negligence. They also face prosecution.

Pronouncing the order on a complaint filed by Laskhmi Devi, a resident of Kulbehdi in Karnal district, Justice Vijender Jain and Justice HS Bhalla, Chairman and member, respectively, ordered Dr Ashish Verma and Dr Pratik Sharma to pay Rs 1.5 lakh each from their own pockets to the complainant and Ankit.

On May 28,2012, Noratti Lal, along with five or six persons allegedly attacked Lakshmi Devi and members of her family. However, the police, allegedly in connivance with the opposite party, booked Lakshmi Devi.

In her complaint to the commission, she alleged that though eight persons sustained grievous injuries, these two doctors, allegedly in connivance with the opposite party, did not examine them properly and incorporated wrong facts in the medico-legal reports.

The order said the doctors, who examined the patients of the complaining party in the first instance, had mentioned that the injuries were simple in nature. However, it was found during re-examination on May 31,2012, that four persons had received grievous injuries.

Even the inquiry report by Civil Surgeon Vandana Bhatia indicted the doctors. “There was a serious lapse on the part of Dr Verma and Dr Sharma, who showed extra interest in doing medico-legal reports and admitting patients of the opposite party although his duty timings were over,’ Dr Bhatia’s report to the commission had said.

“A direction is further issued to the Chief Secretary to prosecute the doctors to set an example for the rest of the fraternity, who are tasked with preparing free and fair reports to assist in the administration of justice,” the order asserted.

The order also directed the ADGP of the commission to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to conduct an impartial inquiry into the role of the Karnal SSP, DSP and ASI Multan Singh. The SIT will submit a report within two months.

Sirsa, April 3
A car in the entourage of Congress nominee from Sirsa Ashok Tanwar was allegedly pelted with stones last evening at Jalalaana village under the Kalanwali assembly seat of Sirsa.

Tanwar was not in the vehicle, as he had already left and the vehicle, hired for his campaigning, was returning.

Sources said a windowpane of the vehicles was smashed in the incident. A complaint was lodged with the Kalanwali police station in this regard.

The police, however, said investigations had revealed that some villager had thrown stones to scare away the pigeons and Tanwar’s campaign vehicle was not the target.

Sirsa/Fatehabad, April 3
Five persons were killed and two injured in three accidents involving motorcycles and tractor-trailers in Sirsa and Fatehabad in the past 24 hours.

Two youths were killed and another was seriously injured when their motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer near Bakrianwali village in Sirsa last evening.

The deceased-- Sunil (17) from Rohidawali and Ravi (17) from Jamal and Rakesh from Jodhpuria--- were were going towards Bakrianwali on a motorcycle that collided with a tractor-trailer while overtaking it.

Rakesh has been shifted to hospital.

In another accident, Chela Ram (45), a labourer, died when his motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer near Darbi village of Sirsa. The victim hailed from Sangar Sadha village of Sirsa.

In yet another accident near Dariyapur village of Fatehabad this afternoon, two persons were killed when their motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer and a bus.

While Ravi from Ramsara and Harpal from Nthusari Chopta village died on the spot, Bhairo, a bus passenger, was injured.