Gurgaon, April 29
In what has elated enviornmentalists across the state and left realtors frowning, the NCR Planning Board has asked Haryana to rework its sub-regional plan to ensure that construction is within permissible limits in natural conservation zones (NCZs) and there is no tourism activity as planned by the state.

Sources reveal that the minutes which will be released shortly elaborate on measures that have been taken to save the depleting Aravalis along with its water bodies.

During a meeting, all parties, including the government, agreed to incorporate specific changes suggested by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to protect ecologically sensitive areas and ensure that there was no condition or exception to allow construction beyond 0.5 per cent. Mapping and delineation of forest area would be done by each member state.

A major part of the forest, including Mangarbani, was under the NCZ, where construction was restricted to 0.5 per cent, but Haryana proposed starting eco-tourism. The plan left enviornmentalists baffled as they feared that it was an excuse to to allow more construction in the garb of recreational activity despite the ceiling.

Several environmentalists had moved Central authorities and the Environment Ministry, expressing the fear that realtors would construct tourist complexes, adventure parks and resorts in the NCZ in the garb of tourism.

"The Aravalis has been misused to benefit realtors. Initially they kept declaring the forest as agricultural land, helping in the process of land conversion. When a major part was declared as a no-construction zone, they proposed eco-tourism, which would have commercialised the forest. The Aravali is ther sole lung and groundwater source for Faridabad and Delhi," said Chetan Aggarwal, an enviornmentalist.

The issue had hit the headlines recently when the Prime Minister's Office raised objections to construction activity in green areas. The Prime Minister's Offic had directed the Urban Ministry to sort out various objections to the proposal and send a compliance report.

This was followed by a meeting of the NCR Planning Board, chaired by Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath and attended by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The state was asked to address the concerns over allowing construction activity in the NCZ before finalising and notifying its sub-regional plan.

Hisar, April 29
Local MLA and Urban Local Bodies and Housing Minister Savitri Jindal faced the ire of local traders when she urged them to withdraw the bandh call in protest against incidents of crime in market areas here today.

The traders had announced that they would observe a bandh against the alleged police failure in maintaining law and order as several incidents of loot, theft and chain snatching had occurred in the town in the last about three months.

There was resentment among traders after trader Pramod Bansal was looted of Rs 2 lakh by two motorcycle-borne robbers on pistol point in Moti Bazar on Thursday.

Though the police got the video footage from the CCTV installed in the market, the police failed to identify and nab any accused.

The representatives of around 50 trader associations decided to down their shutters for one day to express their resentment and show solidarity among traders.

Jindal approached the traders this morning and called a meeting to discuss the issue. She urged the traders to withdraw their bandh call and asked for some more time so that the police could trace the criminals. She called police officials and instructed them to trace the accused and ensure the safety of traders.

Hisar Beopar Mandal president Ramesh Lohia said neither Jindal nor any representative came to attend the series of meetings held in the run-up to the bandh call.

“She wants us to withdraw the bandh call as a successful bandh will dent her image in the government. She has come to sympathise with traders as the Assembly elections are due in a few months,” he said. He added that the traders refused to withdraw the bandh call.

Trader Rajesh Bansal said, “Hisar is turning into Hansi, which is notorious for extortion threats to traders. We will not be bogged down by criminals even thought the police have not been able to put a check on incidents.”

He said a godown was broken into and goods worth Rs 5 lakh stolen in Bhimashah Nagar. He added that another trader escaped when robbers shot at him twice about two months back.

“A chain snatcher slapped a woman in the market as the chain he snatched from her the previous day turned out be a piece of artificial jewellery,” he claimed.

Police spokesperson Harish Bhardwaj said SSP Sibhash Kaviraj had takennote of the complaint and a special task force would be set up to trace the criminals.

Bhiwani, April 29
Tension is brewing in Charkhi village of the district after a youth was lynched by relatives of a woman for allegedly barging into their house and trying to sexually assault her today.

Joginder (28), alias Jagga, allegedly barged into the house of the woman in the village this afternoon and tried to sexually assault her.

Other family members reached the house. As he tried to escape from the spot, her family members caught hold of him and thrashed him.

They threw the injured youth out and he fell unconscious. Other villagers took him to the Civil Hospital in Dadri, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Family members of the woman lodged a complaint against the youth and took her to the Civil Hospital for a medical examination.

Both groups reached the police station in Dadri and held a meeting. Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Kumar said the police were in the process of taking action in connection with the incident.

Sirsa, April 29
A building contractor is alleged to have raped the 17-year-old daughter of a labourer who worked for him, at Odhan in Sirsa last night.

The police have arrested the accused after booking him under Section 376 (rape), 363, 366 (kidnapping) and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The victim’s father has alleged in his compliant that he worked for the accused, 40-year-old Ashwani Kumar, and his 17-year-old daughter used to help him in at work.

When he was at work yesterday, Ashwani lured away his daughter on some pretext, he added. When the girl did not return till late in the evening, the victim’s father lodged a complaint with the police.

The police called the accused Ashwani to the police station and questioned him. Initially, he denied any knowledge of the girl, but later he admitted that she was at his quarter.

The police recovered the girl from his quarter where he lived alone.

Today, the police took the victim to General Hospital for her medical examination.

The victim’s father has alleged that his daughter was first drugged and then raped by the accused.

Jhajjar/Rewari, April 29
Accusing Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of making false assurances of curtailing toll rates across the state, the Toll Hatao Sangharsh Samiti Haryana (THSSH) and Toll Virodhi Samiti Rewari (TVSR) have announced to strengthen their agitation campaign against the toll plazas.

The TVSR has decided to stage a dharna at Gangachay Toll Plaza in Rewari tomorrow to muster public support and register its protest against the CM’s inaction in reducing the toll rate even after 12 days.

Rajender Singh, chief of the TVSR, said persistent increase in the toll rates by Gangachay Toll Plaza had left the locals fuming and had made them demand an immediate reduction in the toll rates but the state was turning a blind eye towards their plight.

“In the prevailing situation, where public has to pay through its nose in the name of toll taxes, people belonging to middle and lower classes have no other option but to sound their concerns. Hence we shall first sit on a dharna tomorrow and then decide future strategies against the toll plazas,” he said, adding that social activists and representatives of various non-political organisations would also take part in the dharna.

Virender Hooda, chief of THSSH, said after the CM’s meeting with the NHAI officials in Chandigarh around two weeks ago, the people were expecting significant reduction in the toll taxes but the CM’s move had turned out to be a 'political stunt'.

“So, we have decided to strengthen our agitation in a broad way across the state, which has now become number-one in terms of higher toll taxes,” he said. Virender added that the samiti was all set to fight a decisive battle against the toll plazas for which it would decide its strategy on May 4.

New Delhi, April 29
A delegation of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) today submitted a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath on the issue of non-delivery of postal ballots to a large number of armed force and paramilitary personnel hailing from the Hisar parliamentary constituency where voting took place on April 10.

In the memorandum, the INLD alleged that a large number of postal ballots of the Hisar parliamentary constituency had returned undelivered to the Returning Officer as these were sent to wrong addresses. “The INLD had made a representation in this regard to the Returning Officer, Hisar, on April 22, but nothing seems to have been done so far,” the memorandum alleged.

The INLD demanded that the postal ballots should be sent at the correct addresses again so that the armed forces and paramilitary personnel could send them back before the counting date (May 16).

The delegation was led by INLD president Ashok Aroa. Arora said nearly 800 postal ballots from Hisar had returned undelivered.

The INLD has high stakes in Hisar as Dushyant Chautala, grandson of former Chief Minister and party supremo Om Prakash Chautala, is pitted against Hayana Janhit Congress president and sitting MP Kuldeep Bishnoi.

Karnal, April 29
To make farmers aware about not cultivating 'saathi' paddy and burning wheat stubble on the fields after harvesting, the Agriculture Department started an awareness drive today.

Balraj Singh, Deputy Commissioner, flagged off two public awareness vans of the department from the Mini-Secretariat.

The DC said the 'water-guzzler' saathi paddy was banned in Haryana. The water requirement of the saathi crop was very high. Underground water was exploited, depleting both the water table and soil nutrients, he added.

The DC said burning of wheat stubble on fields was banned in the district. Violation of the orders was punishable under provisions of environment laws.

Ambala, April 29
Shopkeepers and traders of the Bhagat Singh Market today ended their fast after the cantonment board decided to defer its decision to auction shops in the market.

The shopkeepers said they were paying a monthly rent of Rs 2,000 to the board for the past more than 30 years, and now the board suddenly decided to auction these shops for a monthly rent of Rs 20,000.

These shopkeepers were on fast since Sunday after the board had refused to withdraw the eviction notices served on them last week. The shoppers were allotted these shops on a lease basis for 30 years with a 5 per cent annual hike in the rent. As the lease period ended, the cantonment board decided to renew the lease agreement.

The traders alleged that even as they were in possession of the shops, the board decided to auction their shops at an exorbitant rate, which they could not afford.

Local MLA Anil Vij had also joined the protest and held talks with the board. Today, he along with other shopkeepers met the authorities and submitted a memorandum, following which it was decided to withhold the auction till further decision.

Yamunanagar, April 29
Rising above the political lines, representatives of various political parties have come forward to revive the stone-crushing industry of the district which has been not functioning due to shortage of raw material for long.

BJP candidate from Ambala Ratan Lal Katari, Indian National Lok Dal MLAs--- Dilbag Singh and Bishan Lal Saini, former BJP MLA Kanwar Pal, senior Congress leaders Satpal Kaushik and Naresh Kamboj, INLD leader Suresh Sharma, Aam Aadmi Party leader Amarpal Arya, district president of the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (Guni Prakash group) Subhash Gurjar, owners of stone crushers and local residents of the Chhachhruali area today met the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Yamunanagar, Mandip Singh Brar.

They requested the DC to open the ways leading to mining areas of Uttar Pradesh, so that raw material could be brought from there to run stone-crushing units.

INLD Yamunanagar MLA Dilbag Singh said the industry provided employment to thousands of people. However, these stone-crushing units had been non-functional as mining activities had been banned here since February 28, 2010.

“This industry can get raw materials from Uttar Pradesh. However, the local administration had blocked the ways leading to the mining areas of Uttar Pradesh. If it opens those ways, -mainly Lakkar and Tajewal, the industry can easily get the raw material,” said Dilbag Singh.

Senior Congress leader Satpal Kaushik said the administration should help run the stone-crushing units so that the people could avail building materials on reasonable rates.

The district has about 126 stone-crushing units. The auction of the mining quarries of the district was conducted in December, 2013, and these quarries would be functional only after the contractors are able to get non-objection certificates from the Central Environment Ministry.

Sonepat, April 29
Agitating against the statement of Baba Ramdev about Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, members of the Dalit samaj today stopped the Rohtak-Panipat passenger train for about 15 minutes near the Gohana railway station.

Demanding immediate arrest of the yoga guru, the protesters threatened that if he was not arrested within two days, they would intensify their agitation and would even go to the extent of self immolation.

The protesters marched through Gohana town and reached the level crossing on Gohana- Baroda road this morning. No sooner did they see the train arriving from Rohtak side, they sat on the track and stopped it.

The Railway Police reached the spot and persuaded the protesters to vacate the track. Rajiv Ahlawat, SDM, Gohana, and Des Raj, DSP, Railways, were also present.

Later, the protesters handed over a memorandum to the SDM and demanded that Ramdev be arrested within 72 hours.

Chandigarh, April 29
The state government has issued the transfer and posting orders of six IAS officers.

YS Malik, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mines and Geology and Electronics and Information Technology Departments, has been given additional charge as Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Wildlife Department.

Dheera Khandelwal has been given charge as Principal Secretary, Medical Education and Research Department, in place of Shiv Raman Gaur, who will retire on April 30. Also, she has been given charge as Principal Secretary, Science and Technology Department, relieving Amit Jha .

Ajay Kumar has been posted as Assistant Commissioner (under training), Rewari. Sangeeta Tatarwal goes as Assistant Commissioner (under training), Yamunanagar.Nishant Kumar Yadav has been posted as Assistant Commissioner (under training), Bhiwani. Pradeep Dahiya goes as Assistant Commissioner (under training), Jind.

Kosli (Rewari), April 29
Eleven accused in the Mahavir killing case surrendered at the Kosli police last evening. Earlier, two other accused were arrested near Berali village.

The police had been under fire due to inordinate delay in the arrest of the accused. The police today produced the accused before a local court which sent them in judicial custody for 14 days.

Earlier, a panchayat was convened at a temple in Bhakli village after the sudden arrest of two other accused.

The panchayat resolved that it could not accept the conditions put up by Kosli residents who wanted to get the name of their town on the foundation stones of all development projects implemented in Kosli.

“We will like to go behind the bars but not end our struggle by accepting the demands of Kosli people,” said the villagers in the panchayat.

The panchayat unanimously decided to hand over the remaining accused to the police to keep the battle going with Kosli villagers. The panchayat later called the Kosli police to the village to arrest the accused.

At the time of surrender to the police, other villagers raised slogans in favour of the accused.

Reports said Chhaju Ram, Sunil Kumar, Vikram Singh, Col Thekedar, Dholi, Rakesh, Monu, Sandeep, Pappal, Sudhir and Inderaj surrendered to the police. Two others, Rai Singh and Mehar Singh, were arrested earlier.

Chandigarh, April 29
The Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) today came down heavily on various procurement agencies for alleged slow lifting of wheat from grain markets.

Rajeev Godara, AAP’s chief spokesperson for Haryana , alleged that delay in lifting of wheat caused irreparable loss to farmers and commission agents. The undue delay in lifting of wheat choked the shed areas in grain markets, resulting in the dumping of wheat in the open or low-lying areas, he alleged.

The AAP demanded a stipulated time period, preferably 48 hours, for lifting of grains from the market. The contractors not adhering to the rules should be brought to book.

Ambala, April 29
The relatives of Mayank, who was killed when he was allegedly pushed from a moving bus yesterday, protested in front of Sadar police station demanding that Section 304 (intention of causing death) be added in the FIR against the driver and conductor of the bus.

The police had registered a case against them under Section 304-A (causing death by rash or negligent act).

Residents of Ajarwar village in Kurukshetra, along with relatives of Mayank, reached the ACP office this noon. ACP Hitesh Yadav asked them to meet the SHO of the Sadar police station. Later, it was decided that Section 304 would be added in FIR against the conductor Krishan Lal while the driver Rishi Pal will be booked under Section 304-A

The accused were produced in a local court today, which remanded the conductor in police custody for a day while the driver was sent to judicial custody.

Chandigarh, April 29
The State Election Commission has issued the schedule for the municipal committee elections in Dharuhera, Rewari district. Polling will be held on May 25.

This was stated by State Election Commissioner Dharam Vir here today. He said the model code of conduct would come into force with immediate effect.

No officer or official connected with election work would be transferred till the completion of the election process, he said.

He added that the returning officer would publish the notice for inviting nominations on April 30.

He said nomination papers would be filed from May 7 to 12. During the same period, the list of nomination papers received would be posted, he added.

He said information that the candidate was not disqualified would be furnished to the returning officer in the format prescribed till May 13.

After this, nomination papers would be scrutinised and the last date for withdrawal of candidature would be May 14, he said.

Symbols would be allotted to candidates on May 14 after 3 pm, he said. The list of contesting candidates would be posted on May 14 along with a list of polling stations, he said. Polling would be held on May 25, he added.

He said counting would take place the same day, after which the results would be declared. The electronic voting machines would be used for the elections, he said.

Jind, April 29
Over inaction of the Excise and Taxation Department in removing liquor vend from near the government school at Kinana village, villagers have threatened to take every step if the authorities fail to act.

However, several days after getting written request from the villagers, the authorities are still “discussing” the issue.

“Earlier, the vend was located at some other place. But nearly two weeks ago, the liquor contractor shifted it on the main road of our village, just 50 metres away from the school. Since schoolchildren and women have to cross it, many times persons sitting near the vend pass lewd remarks,” said Sunder Arya, a resident of Kinana village.

“Children can easily be made addictive by giving them liquor and later they start committing crime for money to purchase liquor,” said a schoolteacher.

Santro, Mamta and other women of the village said after opening of the liquor shop on the main road, they feel uncomfortable while walking on the road.

Jind Excise and Taxation Officer Satya Bala refused to comment on the issue. Excise and Taxation Inspector Om Parkash Chabra said, “We have received an application for removal of the vend and we are discussing the matter.”

Sonepat, April 29 
Private school managements in the district have sought a clarification from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the District Education Officer (DEO) on the issue of enrolling students belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS) under the Right to Education Act (RTE). The list of such students was released by the department a week ago.

Representatives of the district unit of the Haryana United Schools’ Association met DC Samir Pal Srow and the DEO yesterday and claimed that there was no provision of short-listing and releasing the names of the students for admitting them to various schools.

They said according to Sections 24 (2) and 15 of the RTE Act, the government had no power to enforce reservation in this way. A delegation of the Chhatar Abhibhawak Sangh today met the DC and demanded action against those private schools which are not implementing the government orders in giving admissions to the students.

Yamunanagar, April 29
The Excise and Taxation Department today sealed a vend where liquor was being sold at rates lower than those fixed by the government.

Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Sunil Kumar said the department received this information. He said a team raided the vend. — TNS

Karnal, April 29
Following complaint of the Abhibhavak Ekta Sangh against hike in fee structure by several schools, a two-member team from the office of the Rohtak Commissioner reached the city and held a meeting with District Education Officer (DEO) Asha Munjal. Representatives of the sangh were also present in the meeting.

The team also directed to the DEO to collect the fee structure of the schools before May 2 and after that hold a meeting with representatives of the schools.

Sangh president Dinesh Narula, who raised the issue of fee hike and many other charges such as smart class fee, computer charges, annual charges, activity fee by many school managements, said, “This fee hike is against the rules of the CBSE and no approval has been obtained by the schools from the appropriate authority and the board.”

He said, “Some schools are running on commercial basis against the spirit of law and the Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict as schools are required to run on no profit, no loss basis but these are earning huge profit.”

Demanded implementations of the District Elementary Education Office orders, which were issued on April 15, he said strict action should be taken against the defaulters.

Sangh secretary Naveen Aggarwal said: “School managements are forcing students to deposit full fee, failing which their names will be struck off and will not be taken back.”

They said some schools were prescribing books other than NCERT against the rules. “They are also resorting to commercial activities by selling uniform, books and stationary at exorbitant prices on in schools,” they added.

Sangh members also condemned the attitude of some school management for misleading the parents and terming the members of sangh and unsocial elements.

DEEO Asha Mujal said that team members held the meeting and had asked her to direct school management to submit their fee structure before May 2 and thereafter they would hold a meeting on this issue.

Meanwhile, the Dyal Singh College Trust Society has issued letters to the parents of the children and requested them not to support the persons who are acting for their personal and political gains.

The Dyal Singh College Trust Society GM NK Bhandari said that during last few days, some parents and some anti-social elements acting for their vested interest, personal and political gains and had disturbed the peaceful environment of our School in Sector-7. They have misbehaved with some of the children and their parents, staff of the School despite complete restraint by the School.

Sirsa, April 29
The death of a 55-year-old man at Rupana village in the district has taken a new twist after the police today said the man had died of self-inflicted wound.

Surender had gone to the market and was found lying on the way with his hand chopped.

His relatives shifted him to the General Hospital, Sirsa, where doctors declared him brought dead. The doctors had said the victim had died due to excessive bleeding. Today, the police said the victim had died due to self-inflicted wound.

A police spokesperson said the victim’s relatives had admitted that while leaving home, he had told them that his hand would be chopped today.

He said the police had also recorded the statement of an ironsmith from whom the victim had purchased a sharp-edged weapon.

The spokesperson said the relatives had told the police that Surender was addicted to liquor and intoxicating tablets in the past.

Recently, the family members had got him treated. However, the victim was under depression since then.

Chandigarh, April 29
No less than 190 lifers are at large after jumping parole in Haryana. To make the matters worse, the persons standing as sureties of them are also not traceable in many cases, the Haryana Government has admitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The information to this effect came in a affidavit placed before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli during the resumed hearing of a petition filed in public interest by advocate HC Arora. He was seeking a review of policies framed by the Punjab and Haryana Governments for release of life convicts on parole.

The affidavit filed by DGP SN Vashisht said out of 207 parole-jumping lifers, 190 convicts have not been rearrested so far. It was stated in the affidavit that nine such parole-jumpers were recently arrested while eight had died in due course.

Appearing in person, the petitioner apprised the Bench that as per the DGP’s affidavit , even the sureties of such parole-jumpers were not traceable at their specified addresses in many cases .

He submitted that the process of getting surety bonds while releasing life convicts on parole was apparently wrong as the sureties were not properly identified at the time of releasing such convicts. “Thus, the policy requires to be reviewed,” he submitted, adding that in a larger number of cases, the police have not initiated steps for contacting the sureties for knowing the whereabouts of the parole-jumpers. In some other cases, the parole-jumpers have abandoned their places of residence and left for some unknown destinations. Only in some cases, the surety bonds have been forfeited. The case will now come up on July 15 for further hearing.

Arora in the PIL has challenged the policies of premature release of life convicts by the Punjab and Haryana Governments. He has alleged that the policies framed by the two states do not lay down appropriate guidelines; and life convicts were being released on completion of the minimum sentence of 10 years. He had also alleged that the two governments were not taking interest in re-arresting parole jumpers.

Hisar, April 29
A Hansi court has summoned detailed record and investigation report from the police in a case registered against the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray who was booked in a case of sedition and making provocative speech at the Hansi police station in the district.

Judge Sudesh Sharma, in a hearing today, asked the police to submit relevant record to the court. He fixed the next date of hearing in the case for May 27.

The Hansi police had registered an FIR against Thackeray under Sections 124-A (sedition), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153-A (promoting enmity between classes) of the IPC on September 5 last year, for spreading hatred against north Indians and Biharis, on a petition filed by lawyer Rajat Kalsan.

Chandigarh, April 29
Nearly a year and a half after eight persons allegedly raped a 16-year-old Dalit girl before recording the incident on cell phones and circulating an MMS, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to four accused on Haryana Government's plea against their acquittal

Taking up the infamous Dabra gang rape case, a Division Bench of Justice Rajive Bhalla and Justice Amol Rattan Singh also asked the accused to respond to the state's appeal on July 4. As the case came up for hearing, the victim’s petition for punishment to the acquitted four accused was also placed before the Bench.

She submitted that the trial court committed an error while acquitting four accused equally responsible for the offence. The incident had taken place on September 9, 2012, but the matter was reported to the police on September 19, 2013, when the girl's father allegedly committed suicide and the matter was widely reported in the media. In all, eight were booked for rape while two were booked for harbouring the accused.

In May last year, the Hisar District And Sessions Court sentenced Pawan, Vikas, Rajkumar and Baljit of Dabra village to life imprisonment while Anil, Mahender, Kuldeep and Sunil were acquitted.

Sonepat, APRIL 29
District and Sessions Judge Inderjit Mehta sentenced Braham Dass of Garhi Hakikat village and his elder son, Vikas, to life imprisonment for the murder of Braham’s younger son, Mahipal.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 each on them, adding that out of this penalty, Rs 70,000 would go the to the family of the deceased. Mahipal’s wife, Monika, lodged a complaint at Mohana police station on April 26, 2012, stating that her husband was sitting on a cot when her father-in-law Braham Dass and his son, Vikas, picked up a quarrel with her husband over putting the cot in the street. During the ensuing scuffle, she alleged, Vikas attacked Mahipal with a knife while Braham beat him with a stick. Seriously injured in the attack, Mahipal died during treatment. — OC

Jhajjar, April 29
A youth was gunned down and his friend was seriously injured when assailants opened fire in Dhakla village here today.

The deceased has been identified as Mahesh of Gochhi village here while the injured- Vikas of Dhakla village- has been admitted to the PGIMS in Rohtak where his condition is stated to be critical. Old enmity is believed to be the reason behind the killing. The police have booked some youths of Dhakla village in this regard.

Vikas and Mukesh were sitting in a house in the village. The assailants came there in a car and opened fire on them from close range. They fled the spot in the same car.

Vikas and Mukesh were rushed to the hospital where Mukesh was declared brought dead while Vikas was referred to the PGIMS in Rohtak. – TNS

Rohtak, April 29
The body of an infant girl was found lying in a storm water drain in the Mata Darwaza area of the city this morning.

Some passersby spotted the girl and informed the police. The infant had a noose around her neck and was apparently strangled before being thrown away into the nullah.

The child appeared to be one or two days old. The police had no clue so far .

The body was sent for a post-mortem examination .

Forensic experts also visited the spot where the infant was found.

Jind, April 29
A minor girl of Bahardurpur village, allegedly raped by her ‘friend’, was recovered by the Safidon police last evening while the accused was sent to judicial custody by a local court today.

In her statement to the police, the 16-year-old victim, a student of class XII, alleged that the 21-year-old accused, Arun, a school drop-out of Ramnagar, befriended her on Facebook a few months ago. Within some days of their friendship, the accused started compelling her to meet.

Though initially she did not meet him, but when the accused promised to marry her, the victim left her home with accused on April 15. Arun took her to various places such as New Delhi, Dehradun and Haridwar and allegedly raped her.

After she went missing, her family members first tried to trace her on their own. But when they failed, her father informed the Safidon police.

The police formed a special team, which started efforts to trace her. On Monday evening, the police got a tip-off that the accused might visit Safidon alone or with the victim and they laid a trap.

“Since Arun did not work and had exhausted all the money they had taken with them, he came to Safidon. We arrested them from the bus stand,” said investigating officer Amanjeet Singh.

He further said the court had sent the victim to Nari Niketan, Karnal.