Chandigarh, April 15
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked Haryana to treat son and daughter on a par for the grant of family pension. Sub-rule (ii) of Rule 4-B of the Haryana Rules talks of lifetime entitlement of disabled children to family pension. But the disabled daughter becomes ineligible for family pension from the date she gets married under sub-rule (viii). The same is not in the case of a disabled son.

“Necessary amendments are required to be made to pay the son and the daughter at par,” a Division Bench has now ruled. The ruling by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli came on a petition by Yudhveer Singh against Haryana Director-General, State Transport, and other respondents.

He had challenged the order dated April 15, 2013, rejecting his claim for pensionary benefits after his father’s death. His claim was allegedly turned down on the ground that he was married although he was under 25 years. As per the respondents, family pension was admissible only to the unmarried son.

Taking up the matter, the High Court rejected his claim after observing: “The petitioner in the present case though is not 25 years of age, got married and, thus, his entitlement for family pension does not exist as per the 2009 rules”.

At the same time, the Bench referred to certain perceived anomalies in the pension regulations previously noticed by a Single Judge of the High Court. The Bench added the state government was required to appreciate the Single Judge’s order dated August 2, 2013, in its “correct perspective so as to make an endeavour to remove the anomaly and not to justify it as an anomaly needs to be removed”.

The Bench added: “In sub-rule (ii) and (iii) of Rule 4-B of the Haryana Rules, it is only the eldest eligible child, who would be granted family pension and the other children would become eligible only on the ineligibility of the eldest child. This needs to be modified to ensure that the eldest child will get the pension for the benefit of all the children…. Once the eldest child goes beyond 25 years, the next eldest may receive on behalf of remaining children and so on….

“Under sub-rule (xi) of Rule 4-B, the benefit is admissible only to eligible disabled children whether born before or after retirement, but with a proviso that such son or daughter should be from the marriage which takes places before the retirement of the government employee. There is no such stipulation in respect of other categories of dependents, for wives and non-disabled children and, thus this qualification is required to be eliminated”.

Rohtak, April 15
A 14-year-old daughter of an Army personnel was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by some youths of her own village. The police has arrested four youths named by the victim’s kin but the girl again went missing from her home.

The mother of the girl has been running from pillar to post for justice for several months, but to no avail.

According to police records, the girl of Myna village on the outskirts of Rohtak studied in Class IX at a private school in the town.

As per the girl’s mother, she did not return from school on October 27, 2013. The family looked for her, but she was untraceable.

The next day, they lodged a complaint with the police. The girl was found in Delhi on December 20, 2013.

As per the police complaint, Pradeep and Ashok, alias Dheela, of Myna village got the girl kidnapped through Vicky. They allegedly took her to Kathura village in Sonepat district and raped her at gunpoint.

The girl said she was kept in a room in fields where two other youths, Narender and Rohit, also raped her. The girl was kept there till December 16, 2013.

The youths took her to Panipat and abandoned her after threatening her with dire consequences in case she revealed the incident.

The girl’s mother alleged that after her daughter returned home, they were pressured for a compromise.

On December 31, 2013, the girl again went missing.

The police swung into action and arrested four of the five accused named in the complaint. As of now, they are in jail under judicial custody.

Faridabad, April 15
The opening of some schools here on Ambedkar Jayanti yesterday sparked a controversy, with the Abhibhavak Ekta Manch, a parents' body, complaining that it was in violation of norms.

"We have come to know through parents and students that Ambedkar Jayanti was a working day at some private schools in the district," said Kailash Sharma, general secretary of the manch.

"Norms say all gazetted holidays should be observed at private educational institutions. This was not done at some schools affiliated to the CBSE and the Haryana board," he claimed.

He said he had taken up the matter with the district Education Department and decided to submit a formal complaint in this regard.

He said parents had to suffer without reason and institutions which did not follow guidelines should be brought to book.

When contacted, District Education Officer Rajiv Arora said schools could not make their own rules on gazetted holidays and Ambedkar Jayanti should have been observed as a holiday by all institutions.

He said the department would serve a show-cause notice on the schools which had violated the norm if a complaint was lodged.

A spokesperson of the Private Schools Association claimed that the authorities could not enforce holidays on schools except the three national holidays of Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti.

Chandigarh, April 15
The Haryana Government has placed the services of Arun Kumar, Principal Secretary, Fisheries and Science and Technology Department, at the disposal of the Centre for appointment as Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Faridabad, April 15
The CIA wing of the police has been charged with torturing two Dalit brothers at a village in the district for a crime which was not committed. The victims and the district unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lodged a police complaint and submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Police, seeking a probe and action against the policemen responsible.

A team of the CIA staff posted at Unchagoan in the district picked Ashok and his brother Suresh from their houses at Harijan Mohalla of Mandhawali village on April 1 after Suresh's wife Anita went missing.

Ashok said Anita left her house on March 22 on her own without telling anyone and Suresh was turned away when he went to the police station on March 25 to lodge a complaint.

Ashok said the police picked them, claiming that Suresh had killed his wife, detained them and subjected them to third degree torture for two or three days to make them admit that they burnt Anita to death.

Ashok said the police released them after they were told that Anita was safe and had returned home, but they were admitted to the Civil Hospital for several days for treatment of injuries suffered during the police torture.

Said Abhash Chandila, district AAP convener, "Being poor and Dalits, they were afraid to lodge a complaint with the police. The matter was taken up by the party, which lodged the complaint and submitted the memorandum."

Commissioner of Police AS Chawla said, "The matter will be probed and action taken against the culprits if the allegations are found to be true."

Jind, April 15
Hundreds of quintals of wheat rotting in Julana has once again exposed the insensitive attitude of the Confed authorities. The department has chargesheeted the officials concerned and shifted the rotten stock to another godown of the city to make space for fresh stock.

Market committee officials of Julana, Confed, said they had purchased around 3,249 metric tonne (MT) wheat in 2012 in Julana and Shamlo purchase centres and stored that in the new grain market of Julala. But officials, after purchasing the stock, never paid heed to its storage and left the crop in open. Due to lack of proper storage arrangements, the condition of stock deteriorated to such an extent that it started emitting foul smell.

Devi Ram Sharma, executive sectary of the Julana market committee, confirmed that Confed had shifted all stock to another godown, as over 2,400 quintals of wheat had deteriorated to such an extent that now it was unfit even for animals.

“Confed officials forgot about the stock after storing it here. We had written to them many times and they finally shifted the stock from the grain market. The department must ensure covered storage for future stock rather than just shifting the stock to another place,” said the sectary.

Yamunanagar, April 15
After polling for the General Election in Haryana on April 10, village-level leaders of different political parties are busy arranging labour for harvesting their wheat crop in the district.

Most of them are finding it difficult to find labour as workers hailing from their villages had been hired by others in the villages while the leaders were busy in the elections.

"I was busy campaigning for the elections. I could not meet labourers and they were hired by other persons of the village. My wheat crop is ready for harvesting. I have to wait for my turn," said a political leader.

Yamunanagar district has an area of 85,000 hectares under wheat cultivation. It does not have labour from outside the district and has to depend on local labour.

Farmers said the wheat crop in Yamunanagar district had ripened a week late as the district had more rain during the rabi crop season.

"The wheat crop ripened late, but the crop in the entire area got ready for harvesting together, resulting in an unprecedented increase in the demand for farm labour," said Polla, a farmer of Bhilpura village.

Farmers said taking advantage of the circumstances, farm labour had increased their labour charges for harvesting the crop. They were charging 125 kg per acre compared to 110 kg per acre last year, they added.

The Agriculture Department expected a bumper wheat crop as the climatic conditions had been favourable for the wheat crop. Aditya Pratap Dabas, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Yamunanagar, said the yield was expected to be between four and five quintals more per hectare. Production was about 45 quintals per hectare last year, he added.

Sirsa, April 15
The forecast of inclement weather for the next couple of days is sending shivers down the spine of farmers who are in the process of harvesting their wheat crop. Partly cloudy weather with light rain or thundershowers is expected in the western zone of Haryana due to western disturbances.

This has been predicted in an advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University in Hisar for the next three days.

The advisory said the rain would be accompanied by winds with speed ranging from 6 kilometres per hour to 12 kilometres per hour.

The weather-based agro advisory of the university said farmers were advised to put on hold the harvesting and threshing of wheat in view of the forecast.

The advisory further said the harvested crop should be kept tied to save it from being blown away by winds. The advice was given for the gram crop as well.

"I am worried as I started harvesting my crop just this morning," said Mange Ram, a farmer at Bhattu Kalan village in Fatehabad district.

He said crop over a large area had been flattened by the thunderstorm that hit the region a few days back, but it did not cause much harm to them. He said rain and storm now would harm his crop.

Gurjeet Singh Mann, a progressive farmer of Kirpal Patti village in Sirsa district, said a little rain or a thunderstorm was unlikely to cause any loss at this stage.

"It may prove a blessing in disguise for farmers in this area, where harvesting has not been started. A little fall in temperature will provide the crop a day or two more to mature and result in better yield of wheat," he added.

He further said similar inclement weather throughout April had helped farmers get a bumper produce of wheat in the harvesting season of 2012.

He admitted that the wheat crop of farmers with clay soil fields had matured and were ready for harvesting. He pointed out that such farmers did not need to take precautions as per the advisory.

Karnal, April 15
Manjeet Singh, District and Sessions Judge and Chairman, Legal Services Authority, today inaugurated a conciliation centre at Assandh attached to the District Legal Services Authority. 

The District and Sessions Judge said the mediation centre was intended to resolve disputes through reconciliation. —TNS

Sirsa, April 15
Though polling in Haryana is over, the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda is still drawing attention of political parties and their leaders from the region.

Top politicians — Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, Haryana Janhit Congress supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi and state BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma from Haryana, former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from Punjab, Union Minister Rajiv Shukla — were among those present during a “Rubru Nite” organised by the dera in Delhi on the night intervening April 13 and 14.

With Punjab goes to the polls on April 30 and the Assembly elections in Haryana to be held by October, several political leaders from Punjab and Haryana have been making a beeline for the dera seeking blessings from its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Sources in the dera said Capt Amarinder Singh’s wife Perneet Kaur, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Patiala, and MP Vijendra Singla, who is seeking re-election from Sangrur, have recently visited the Dera Sacha Sauda.

“Our political affairs wing has started an exercise at blocks and districts level in Punjab for deciding which candidate to support in various parliamentary segments. The wing will take a final call only after ascertaining the views of the followers,” said a source in the dera.

Though Dera Sacha Sauda has been meddling with politics in the region ever since its present chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh took over, its political role came in to prominence during the 2007 Punjab Assembly elections when its followers took a decision to vote in favour of the Congress. The Shiromani Akali Dal (B) lost a majority of seats in the Malwa belt of Punjab where the dera wields considerable influence.

Later, the dera chief was embroiled in a dress-related controversy in Salabatpura dera of Bathinda (Punjab) and a case of blasphemy was registered against him for allegedly imitating the dress of Guru Gobind Singh during a congregation at Salabatpura near Bathinda.

Though the number of politicians visiting the dera to seek support during the elections has increased since then, the Punjab episode has also forced the dera go guarded in its strategy.

The episode has also dented the dera’s authority over the votes of its followers, as the SAD won many seats in the Malwa belt in the 2012 Assembly polls and even the dera chief’s relative lost the battle from Bathinda.

Similarly, the dera’s role is being considered key for the Assembly polls in Haryana, which are due in October this year.

Chandigarh, April 15
More than a year after the Haryana Power Department launched first-of-its-kind assured 24-hour power supply scheme, there seems to be no takers. In fact, the scheme for “providing uninterrupted supply of power on select urban and industrial feeders after applying reliability surcharge” came a cropper, officials said.

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) recently dismissed two petitions regarding the provision of uninterrupted supply to private hospitals having a connected load of more than or equal to 250 KW by levying an additional charge.

“In view of the above and the fact that no consumer has opted for uninterrupted supply of power and a reliability surcharge thereon, the petitions have become infructuous and hence dismissed,” an order issued by the HERC Director(Tariff) said.

On March 14, 2013, the HERC approved the levy of an additional reliability surcharge of Rs 1.50 per unit over and above the existing tariffs for consumers seeking 24X7 power .

The scheme was launched for those domestic and commercial consumer, who were willing to shell out more for assured power supply.

Rewari, April 15
Commuters will have to shell out more while travelling from Rewari to Rohtak as the Kurukshetra Express Company has hiked toll by 10 per cent at the Gangayacha plaza in Rewari and the Dighal plaza in Jhajjar despite stiff opposition by residents of the Rohtak district against high toll at the Makdauli plaza.

Residents of Rewari and Jhajjar districts are up in arms against the sudden and substantial hike. They have announced their decision to start an agitation to get the hike withdrawn. A meeting of social and non-political organisations, youth outfits and social activists has been called for April 19 at Rao Tula Ram Park to decide the course of action.

The Kurukshetra Express Company, which has been looking after construction and maintenance of National Highway 71 from Rewari to Rohtak, has enhanced toll from Rs 5 to Rs 30. This is the second time in the last eight months that the company has revised toll at both plazas. Commuters will have to pay Rs 95 at the Gangayacha plaza and Rs 40 at the Dighal plaza. The distance between Rewari and Rohtak is 85 kilometres.

“Charging Rs 135 as toll for a distance of 85 kilometres is violation of guidelines of the National Highways Authorities of India as no company can demand more than 65 paise per kilometre as toll from commuters,” said Virender Hooda, chief of the Toll Hatao Sangharsh Samiti Haryana, carrying out an agitation against toll in Haryana for several months.

“The company cannot impose toll without completing the toll road and providing all other facilities likes streetlights and ambulance. It is astonishing that all toll companies are charging toll without completing essential work across the state,” he added. The Kurukshetra Express Company started charging toll tax from September 1, 2013, but faced a lot of criticism owing to high rates compared to other toll plazas in the state.

“The company had adopted a discriminatory approach while fixing toll rates. Toll at the Gangayacha plaza is more than double the toll at the Dighal plaza,” said Azad Singh, a resident of Rewari. “Local residents had opposed the hefty toll initially, but were later pacified. This time, they will not relent without getting the increase in toll withdrawn,” he added.

Ramesh Ahlawat, a resident of Dighal village, said the company had betrayed villagers by enhancing toll without reason after promising not to increase it. “Villagers are infuriated over the unexpected hike in toll and will oppose it,” he added. A company official said the hike in toll would not be withdrawn as it had been done following guidelines from the National Highways Authorities of India.

Sirsa, April 15
Dera Sacha Sauda today welcomed the Supreme Court order granting legal recognition to transgenders as the “third gender” and claimed credit for it.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, Pawan Insan, a spokesperson of the Dera, said Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh took the initiative for getting the transgenders the right of equality before law and gave them a respectable name of “sukhdua samaj”.

He said on the chief’s instructions, a writ petition was moved in the Supreme Court through the Pujya Mata Naseeb Kaur Ji Insan Women Welfare Society, an NGO of the dera.

Today’s order came on the dera petition and a similar petition earlier filed by the National Legal Services Authority.

The apex court had tagged both the petitions together.

The apex court today ordered the Centre and the states to recognise transgenders as a class apart from the males and females.

According them the legal recognition as the third gender, the Supreme Court ruled that they would be treated as a socially and economically backward classes for being given various special rights.

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and state governments to frame various social welfare and educational schemes for their uplift.

Terming this a historic verdict, Insan claimed that a number of transgenders had been thanking the Dera for its efforts in this direction. 

Ambala, April 15
Even as Kumari Selja has moved to the Rajya Sabha, leaving behind differences with the state leadership of the party, those still seem to linger in Ambala. Her supporters and party candidate Raj Kumar Valmiki are on the warpath over the issue of non-cooperation during the election campaign.

Valmiki had recently sent a letter to the party high command, accusing 35 Congress leaders from the Ambala constituency, including two sitting MLAs, of not supporting him during the election campaign. Most of the Congress leaders named in the complaint owe allegiance to Kumari Selja.

Those named in the complaint include Rajpal Bhukhri, sitting MLA from Sadhoura, and Venod Sharma, Ambala City MLA, who had not resigned from the Assembly yet. The name of Panchkula Mayor Upender Kaur Walia’s husband Dhanendra Walia also appears in the list of Congress men accused of anti-party activities by Valmiki.

Those accused of non-cooperation have reacted sharply to the allegation and decided to apprise the party high command of the politics allegedly being indulged in by Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Tanwar, at whose behest Valmiki was trying polarise party men in Ambala.

Some of these leaders today held a meeting at the residence of local leader Satish Saini, vice-president of the Saini Sabha. It was alleged that it Valmiki had decided not to seek their support during the election campaign.

Saini later said it was decided that the party men would meet party president Sonia Gandhi and apprise her of the petty politics Tanwar and Valmiki were indulging in in an attempt to prepare the ground to blame them in case he lost.

Panipat, April 15
Six vacant HUDA shops are proving to be a haven for drug addicts and other anti-social elements in Sector 29, Industrial Area Part I, of Panipat district.

Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has failed to auction these shops, built several decades ago for the convenience of industrialists and labourers of the area.

The shops were built in this sector, developed for industrial units in the 80s, to provide industrial accessories, including grease, v-belts, nut bolts, bearings and other raw material, tea, eatables and grocery items, to industry owners and labourers working there.

The HUDA authorities tried to auction these shops on free-hold basis several times but remained unsuccessful, reportedly due to high rates.

During a visit to the area, this correspondent noticed that the condition of the shops was dilapidated. Even shutters of some of the shops were found to be broken and weeds had grown in and around them.

Some syringes, seemingly used by addicts, were also found lying there.

Social activist NC Jain said "I have seen various anti-social elements, including drug addicts, using these shops as shelter. I brought the matter to the notice of senior police officials several months ago and the then ASP, Jagat Singh Hooda, raided the shops. It proved to be a deterrent as they stopped using the area for some time but some addicts and gamblers have started using it again for various activities in the recent past".?

On the other hand, SHO of the concerned Chandni Bagh police station, Rishi Kant, said "I have no information that these shops are being used by drug addicts and other anti-social elements even now".? State president of Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industries Pankaj Kapoor said “HUDA should auction these shops without any further delay so that they may be used for the purpose they were built for, especially to avoid their misutilisation by anti-social elements.”

Kapoor, whose factory is located near the shops, further said, “If HUDA fails to auction them because of high rates, it should make another attempt at it after slashing their basic rates.” When contacted, HUDA estate officer Vikas Dhanda said “We have already planned to auction them soon, the exact date of which will be finalised within the next few days. As far as reducing the basic rates for the shops is concerned, we will have to get permission from our higher-ups for that.”

Bhiwani, April 15
The Public Health Department has decided to take special measures to ensure adequate supply of potable water to the residents of the town and adjoining villages.

Gearing up to stop water wastage, the department has decided to impose a fine of Rs 200 on those found wasting water. While a special team comprising residents of the area and department officials would keep a check on the excessive flow and wastage of water being supplied in their respective localities.

Sanjiv Kumar Tyagi, executive engineer of the department, said they had decided to stop the supply of water to the service stations and the ice factories from May 1 to July 31.

“These are the highest water consuming units; so keeping in view the priority to fulfil the potable needs of the residents, we will not supply water to these units. Wastage of water will invite a fine of Rs 200,” he said.

Over 50 villages adjoining the district headquarters would also benefit from the new waterworks, said Tyagi. Suresh Kumar of Nai Basti said they had to face acute problem of water shortage in summers.

Nissing (Karnal), April 15
The family of a 27-year-old man who died yesterday and residents of Amupur village and its surrounding areas today protested against police inaction in the case. Irate over the incident, they blocked the state highway near the Nissing police station for 30 minutes.

Vikram Singh’s family alleged that the police had murdered Vikram and they were trying to protect the accused policemen.

Victim’s father Gurucharn Singh said he received a message last evening that his son was beaten up by the police. When he reached there, he found Vikram injured. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

He alleged that his son succumbed to death due to injuries given by the police.

Last night, family members of Vikram protested at the police station till DSP (HQ) Joginder Rathi, SDM Karnal Sushil Sarwan and Tehsildar Hari Om Attri assured them of speedy justice.

DSP Joginder Rathi said a case had been registered against four police personnel under Section 302 and 34 of the IPC on the complaint of Gurcharn Singh.

He said, “The exact cause of his death will be revealed when the post-mortem report is submitted.”

Karnal, April 15
Irate over the death of two cows, members of the BJP, ‘Gau (cow) Raksha Dal’ and many other organisations today blocked the GT Road for half an hour. They also raised slogan against police inaction in cases of cow smuggling.

The protesters lifted the blockade after the assurance of the police.

They said three cows were lying dead near the GT Road today and one was in a pickup vehicle near sector-4 here. Two were dead and two others were seriously injured.

Jagmohan Anand, state spokesperson of the BJP, alleged that it was a case of cow smuggling.

Krishan Garg, senior deputy mayor of the city, said, “Cows are being smuggled through Haryana and this trade should be stopped as it hurts the sentiments of the Hindu community. Cow is sacred for us and this incident shows the cruelty of a human.”

A case had been registered against the unknown person under the Animal Cruelty Act, said Hukam Singh, in charge, sector 4, police post.

Rohtak, April 15
Eighteen-year-old Kartik of Kamla Nagar here had to pay a heavy price for getting attracted to a girl. He was brutally murdered by another boy who also “loved” the same girl.

This triangular teenage-attraction theory was put forward by the police while producing a Class XI student at a local court today. The accused was remanded in police custody for two days.

Police sources said Kartik and Raja got attracted to a girl who studied with them.

A few days ago, Kartik reportedly went to a park in Shivaji Colony here to meet the girl. She, however, reportedly turned down his proposal and went away.

In the meanwhile, Raja also arrived there and the boys entered into an altercation. The clash soon got violent as Raja’s friends joined it.

Raja and his friends allegedly stabbed Kartik in the neck with a sharp-edged tool and fled the scene.

Some children saw Kartik lying badly injured and informed their parents. Kartik was immediately rushed to the local PGIMS but he could not be saved.

Kartik was the only brother of six sisters.

The police registered a case on a complaint lodged by Kartik’s father.

While Raja has been arrested, the police were looking for his accomplices in the crime.

Chandigarh, April 15
The Excise and Taxation Department, Haryana has prohibited the sale of liquor within the 3 km area adjoining the Rajasthan border in view of the General Election to the Lok Sabha in Rajasthan on April 17.

An official spokesman said here today that the sale and carrying of liquor would be totally banned in these areas from 6 pm of April 15 till the conclusion of poll on April 17. No liquor would be allowed on these days within the 3 km area adjoining the Rajasthan border in Sirsa district.

Similarly, no liquor would be allowed within the 3 km area adjoining the Punjab border in the district from 6 pm of April 28 to 6 pm of April 30 in view of the LS elections in Punjab.

Jind, April 15
The Narwana police found the bodies of two women from Sirsa canal near Dakal village today. Though the victims are yet to be identified, the police suspect that both bodies are of Brahmi Devi and Santosh, who had gone missing from Jind city on August 8, 2013.

Sources said some villageres informed the Narwana police about a car lying in Sirsa canal. When the police checked the car, the bodies of two women were found on its back seat.

The police sent both bodies to the PGI, Rohtak, for a postmortem and DNA test.

Karnal, April 15
A 20-year-old youth was crushed to death by a bus at the bus stand this afternoon.

The police found a slip from the victim's pocket on which words Vikas and Sonipat were mentioned. The police were trying to ascertain his identity after sending the body for a postmortem examination.

The bus driver was booked for negligent driving.

Karnal, April 15
A 65-year-old woman was murdered at her house at Rajivpuram in the district today. Family members reported that she was murdered with the intention of loot as her gold ring and earrings were missing.

Members of Kalawati's family said an unidentified person attacked her on the head with a brick when she was alone at home.

The police have registered a case.

Karnal, April 15
Demanding justice for Krishan Kumar, missing since February 1, family members, other residents and activists of the Fight for Justice Club of India took out a 'mashaal' march here last night. They raised slogans against the police and demanded Krishan's recovery.

The protest was led by Harish Arya, chairman of the club. He said two-and-a-half-year-old Krishan was missing since February 1. Family members and club activists had met the DC, the SP and other official many times and protested, but the police failed to trace Krishan.

He pointed out that a human trafficking gang was active in the town and the police had failed to trace members of this gang. He said this was not a single case and many other children had gone missing. He said the missing boy's parents would sit on a dharna in front of the IGP's office tomorrow.

Krishan's mother Rekha said her only son, born after four daughters, went missing from near home at SP Colony. She said they had searched for him everywhere and lodged a complaint with the police, but there was no clue about his whereabouts.

Krishan's father Shiv Kumar said they had sat on a dharna many times and handed over memorandums to the DC, the SP and other officers, but his son was yet to be recovered. Krishan's family members met local MLA Sumita Singh in this regard on Sunday.