Gurgaon, May 7
The Haryana Government has asked the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) to exclude three patches of land in Gurgaon and Manesar from the natural conservation zones (NCZ) in the regional plan, citing technical reasons. The NCR board, during its prior meeting, had asked the state to rework its sub-regional plan barring any tourism activity and ensuring that no construction exceeds permissible limits in Natural Conservation Zones (NCZs).

The move has left city environmentalists up in arms who have dubbed it as yet another real estate-friendly act of the government.

Tempers are running high over the revelation that out of these three patches, 350 acres have been given to construction major DLF for a proposed recreation and leisure project, while another major chunk has been given to automobile giant Suzuki Motorcycles (India), which has a factory.

Raman Sharma, a local environmentalist, said: “Millennium city is on the threshold of growing dry as the water table is going down continuously. The Arravalis are the only lungs and water source of this concrete jungle. But the government is not bothered about it and is rendering favours to real estate companies.

“They have from time to time been trying to grab the entire area and hand it over to builders — initially in the garb of declaring the area as agricultural land, then taking the plea of eco tourism and now shamelessly seeking exemption.

“They are putting the future of the entire city and lakhs of residents at risk for some realtors. This should not be allowed.”

The state, however, has cited technical reasons for this request stating that the land has wrongfully been mentioned as an NCZ while it was not so.

The Town and Country Planning Department (DTCP) of the Haryana Government wrote to the regional board on April 24 stating that there were some discrepancies in the proposed land use plan 2021 of the NCRPB.

It has requested the board to remove the industry area from the NCZ, which may lead to trouble in the future.

At the board’s last meeting, all sides, including the state government, had agreed to incorporate specific changes suggested by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to protect ecologically sensitive areas ensuring that there is no condition or exception to allow construction beyond 0.5%.

The states were asked to go ahead with mapping and delineation of forest.

Bucholi (Mahendragarh), May 7
Under fire from various quarters for not intervening in the minor kidnapping case, Mahendragarh MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Rao Daan Singh today reached Bucholi village and assured a panchayat of 12 villages held here of recovering the girl within next three days.

The CPS also urged the panchayat to put off its ‘rail roko’ agitation for next three days. He said police teams had been chasing the kidnappers and they would be arrested soon.

“I talked to the Superintendent of Police and he is confident of arresting the accused soon. The police should be given some more time before taking any stringent step against it,” he said while addressing the panchayat.

He also assured the villagers about cancellation of an FIR registered against them for blocking the road a few days ago.

The panchayat resolved to give the police three more days to trace the girl and arrest the abductors. The panchayat also threatened to disrupt railway traffic if the police failed to recover the girl within three days.

The panchayat had yesterday flayed Rao Daan Singh for not intervening in the case despite the matter belonging to his constituency. Seeking quick police action in the case, the villagers invited the CPS for today’s panchayat. Sensing resentment among the villagers, the CPS reached the village and assured them of quick police action.

“Following the assurance of the CPS, we have unanimously put on hold our agitation for three days, but will not sit idle if the assurance is not fulfilled,” said Satbir Singh, husband of Bucholi village’s sarpanch.

Yamunanagar, May 7
Aimed at connecting medical fraternity with the needy and poor patients, international working president of Vishwa Hindu Prishad (VHP) Dr Pravin Togadia today launched socio-medical service ‘India Health Line’ in Yamunanagar.

Dr Togadia, while addressing a karyakarta sammelan (workers’ meeting) of VHP, said India Health Line (IHL) was being launched in all parts of the country.

He said the progress and prosperity of the people of a country depended on their health. Good health was a sign of progress and prosperity, he added.

“Our country has 125 crore people and out of them 30 crore suffer from some or the other disease,” he added.

He said a number of doctors had come ahead to give advice and necessary treatment to poor people of the country, becoming a part of the socio-medical initiative.

“Most of the people hesitate to go to specialist doctors due to poverty and fear of high medical expenses. The diseases do not stop and due to delay in treatment, the treatment costs get higher. 

Karnal, May 7
The police have failed to trace 39 children who went missing from various parts of the district in the past four years.

Parents and relatives of the missing children also launched massive search to trace them. Many protests were held in the city by the Fight for Justice Club of India, an NGO working for missing children, but to no avail.

As per the police records, out of the 15 children who went missing in 2011, only six could be traced. In 2012, the police recovered 8 children out of 16. In 2013, 30 children went missing and the police recovered only 17. As many as 14 children went missing this year and nine could not be traced.

Shalu, around two-and-a-half years old, went missing from the city on May 26 last year. Her parents had lodged a complaint, but almost after a year, she could not be traced. With this experience in Karnal, her father and mother left the city and now they are living in Panipat.

“My in-laws are living in Karnal and I was also living here. I lost my daughter almost a year ago in this city,” said Sandeep Kumar, father of Shalu. He said the police had failed to trace his daughter. Now, he and his family members have left everything to God.

Shalu’s mother Rani said for the past one year, she had been searching for her daughter along with her husband and other family members.

Shiva and Rekha, father and mother of Krishan, two-and-a-half years old boy who went missing on February 1 this year from SP Colony, said after many protests and announcement of rewards, Krishan could not be traced.

Shiva alleged that the police had failed to trace his son even after their repeated visits to the police station and offices of the Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Commissioner.

“I am a rickshaw puller and start and end my day by searching for my son,” said Shiva. He said, “My wife and four daughters are also looking for Krishan everywhere.”

The mother of a 17-year-old girl, who went missing in 2012 from the city, alleged that whenever they went the police station, policemen asked uncomfortable questions.

Sirsa, May 7
A private school is in the dock for “punishing” three schoolchildren by locking them in a room without fans and drinking water for several hours due to an altercation of the principal with their parents.

Though the school authorities have denied the allegations, the children’ parents have lodged a complaint in the Sadar police station.

Anil Kumar, SHO, said the police were probing the matter. Ashok Kumar, a resident of Nejadela Kalan, alleged in his complaint that his son, Jashn, was beaten up by a teacher for no fault a few days ago.

When he went to the school to lodge his complaint, the principal took the accused teacher’s side and had an altercation with him.

He said his son as well as two children of his elder brother had gone to school for the first time today since that incident. He alleged the principal got infuriated on seeing the children and locked them in a room without fans and drinking water.

Ashok said he was able to film the action of the school authorities on his mobile phone. — TNS

Rewari/Faridabad, May 7
A 21-year-old rape victim allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison at her house in Shiv Colony here last night. The victim's kin said she was tense due to delay in getting justice.

Arun, the victim's brother , said she was found unconscious in her room last evening. She was taken to the trauma centre where she died after some time. The doctors said she had consumed some poisonous substance.

His sister was first raped by her cousin. He then opened fire on her from close range in November, 2012, to hide his crime but she had a miraculous escape despite being hit in the chest.

Jind, May 7
More than 20 days after a college student went missing under mysterious circumstance from the Safidon area, the missing boy’s family has alleged that he wanted to elope with a local girl.

While the police say they are conducting the investigation, the boy’s family suspects the role of girl’s family behind his disappearance.

“The father of the missing college student, Sushil, has alleged that his son’s phone record suggested he was in touch with a local girl. The girl had sought information about his day schedule through SMS,” said Safidon SHO Ramesh Chand.

Sushil, a resident of ward No. 15, left his home for college on April 14 but failed to return.

The family alleged the police had failed to make any headway in the case despite their approaching senior police authorities. The police have changed the investigation officer of the case.

The SHO said during preliminary investigation, it had come to light that Sushil had tried to pressurise a local girl to elope with him on April 9.

But when the girl informed her father, her family informed the family of the boy, who was allegedly thrashed by his father.

From April 9 to 13, Sushil remained in his house and did not attend college. On April 14, Sushil left his mobile at home to attend college but failed to return.

“We do not have any evidence to link the girl’s family with the disappearance of the boy. The investigations are on,” the SHO said.

Sonepat, May 7
Residents of Kheri Taga village, under Gannaur development block, received cash in their bank accounts as payment for the work they had not done under the MANREGA scheme.

However, they felt antagonised when the village sarpanch allegedly asked them to withdraw the amount from the bank and hand it over to him.

Sensing some sort of a malpractice, people lodged a complaint with the BDPO, Gannaur, against sarpanch Dharambir. They also submitted a list containing names of 19 persons who had received the amount but had not done any work under the scheme.

The BPO at the BDPO's office said the amount had been deposited in the bank accounts of only those people whose list was submitted by the sarpanch.

"We have received the complaint and it will be inquired into," he said and added that action would be initiated against the sarpanch if irregularities and misappropriation was found in the record.

Rohtak, May 7
The fake arms licence racket, which was exposed by The Tribune group today, has its tentacles spread across other states as well. As compared to Haryana, a higher number of Punjab residents have got such licences made from Nagaland and purchased arms on the basis of these.

Swinging into action following booking of eight persons by the Rohtak police, the Jhajjar police have also booked five persons, including Arun Pandey, a resident of Dimapur in Nagaland, and an arms dealer.

Sources have maintained that nearly 1.75 lakh such licences had been issued from Nagaland to residents of various states during three years.

While the intelligence agencies are investigating the matter in view of the implied security threat, the state Home Department and the DGP have asked the district police chiefs to look into the matter in the areas of their jurisdiction.

Several police teams have been constituted to get to the bottom of the matter. The authorities concerned are in correspondence with the Nagaland government functionaries and police parties are also being sent to Kanpur and Kolkata to gather information about firearms purchased from gun factories there on the basis of such licences.

Police sources maintained that the record of arms dealers was also being examined to check whether they had sold any firearms and/or ammunition to the holders of such licences.

The sources pointed out that an applicant used to get the arms licence within three weeks after applying for it.

Thousands of arms licences were issued to Haryana residents without proper verification, and several notorious criminals, including those lodged in jails, got arms licences prepared in this manner. 

Sonepat, May 7
The residents of Pritampura village were witness to a unique treat as a couple - Bijender Singh (28) and Rakhi - celebrated the birth of their third girl child by beating the plate (‘thali bajana’), worshiping the well (‘kuan pujan’) and distributing sweets.

Pritampura is located near the GT Road and is considered a progressive village because of its proximity to Delhi. But the village’s gender ratio stands at 891 females against every 1,000 males.

Bijender Singh belongs to a Backward Caste and runs a barber shop in the village. Being the eldest among two brothers and one sister, he has been shouldering the responsibility of his family, including the marriage of his younger brother and sister, ever since the death of his father 15 years ago.

Bijender told The Tribune that he was proud of becoming father of three daughters. “Many girls from my village have excelled in various fields, including education and sports,” he said.

“It was my wife’s wish to celebrate the birth of our third daughter like the birth of a son. My mother Lilawati also supported us,” he said.

“Ladkian to samaj aur pariwar ki bahut bari zarurat hain (Girls have become an integral part of the society and families),” he said.

Rakhi said they had two daughters - Khushi (7) and Tamanna (4) - and when the third child was conceived, she had vowed to celebrate the birth of a third daughter.

“My husband and mother-in-law supported me in this decision and I am very happy,” she added.

She said one of her daughters was already enrolled with the Ladli scheme. They would go to the anganwari worker in the village to get the Ladli scheme incentive for her newborn daughter as well, she said.

“We will take care of their studies and raise them like sons,” she asserted.

Villagers said the celebration of the girl child would send out a positive message to the society and hoped that other families would also be inspired by the couple.

Some villagers pointed out that the state government provided financial assistance under the Ladli scheme only to two daughters.

“The government does not provide incentive for the third girl child in a family having no son,” said a villager while urging the government to extend financial incentives to such families.

Kurukshetra, May 7Alleging police inaction in the Ishandeep death case, relatives and members of the Sangharsah Samiti today sat on an indefinite dharna in front of the hospital where the boy had died due to allege negligence of the doctor.

Gurcharan Singh Khalsa, a member of the samiti, also started fast demanding arrest of the accused doctor.

Ishandeep had died due to allege negligence of Dr Suresh Bhola during a leg surgery on April 24.

Ishandeep’s father Gurmeet Singh said: “A copy of the post-mortem report has not been provided to us and we are getting threatening calls to settle the matter. The administration and the police have failed to take action in the case.”

Kanwaljeet Singh Ajrana, a Sikh leader, said a panchayat was called at the Baikunth Dham Gurdwara to decide further course of action. He said Dr AC Nagpal was asked to take an oath on behalf of the doctor fraternity at the gurdwara that the injection was administered by an anesthesia expert and not by the accused doctor.

“Around 10:30 am, Dr Nagpal arrived along with DSP Satish Gautam to take the oath. But at the last moment, he left the place without taking the oath. Now, we have decided to intensify our protest,” he added.

Khalsa, president, Baikunth Dham Gurdwara, said: “I do not have any blood relation with the family, but there is a grief in my heart. I will continue my fight until the family gets justice.”

Dr Suresh Bhola said all allegations levelled against him were baseless and alleged that the family was seeking hefty money to settle the matter.

Dr Nagpal said, “I went to the gurdwara to take the oath and took it too, but the family members later asked me to submit a cheque of Rs 50 lakh as guarantee and that is why I pulled my hands back. They are trying to blackmail us.”

Yamunanagar, May 7
The District Bar Association, Jagadhri (Yamunanagar), today suspended work demanding change in court timings.

Brijesh Pratap, president of the Bar association, held a meeting with lawyers and gave a representation to District and Sessions Judge AK Singh Panwar, addressed to the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh.

Brijesh Pratap said the timing of the district courts in Haryana had been fixed at 9 am to 3 pm, which was 8 am to 2 pm in the past. He said the changed timings were suitable neither to lawyers nor the litigants.

The meeting was attended by former presidents of the Bar association BS Chauhan, Pradeep Rathaur, Joginder Singh Sagri, vice-president Anuj Sharma, general secretary Hakumat Singh Dahiya, treasurer Balram Singh and joint secretary Nagina.

Sirsa lawyers abstain from work, seek 5-day week

Sirsa: Lawyers practicing in the district courts abstained from work today on a call given by the District Bar Association against time schedule followed by the courts.

Ramesh Mehta, president, District Bar Association, said the lawyers had been demanding five-day week for the courts and that the timings be changed to 8am to 2 pm instead of the present 9 am to 3 pm.

He said the lawyers had observed “no work day” today as per the strategy planned by bar associations of all districts of the state.

Chandigarh May 7
The state government has notified the Haryana Anand Marriages Registration Rules, 2014, for the registration of marriages in the state.

An official spokesman said for the purpose of registration of an Anand marriage within the state, the tehsildars concerned in the case of rural areas, the Joint Commissioner in the case of a Municipal Corporation, the Executive Officers for the Municipal Committees and the Secretary of the Municipal Council concerned in urban areas were authorised as Registrar for the purpose.

The spokesman said the parties to Anand marriage would prepare a memorandum in duplicate and submit these to the Registrar along with documents to prove the solemnisation of the marriage to the satisfaction of the Registrar and a registration fee of Rs 50 within 30 days from the date of their marriage. The Registrar may refuse the registration of marriage if the parties to the marriage fail to comply with the directions issued by him.

The Registrar would provide two copies of the certificate of Anand marriage to the couple free of charge within 15 days of receiving the application. The memorandum would be signed by both parties to the marriage and at least two other persons who had witnessed the marriage, he added. 

Jind, May 7
Tired of nuisance created by drunk men near a liquor vend at Garhwali village, a group of women from the village set liquor stock on fire today.

The women had been demanding the closure of the vend, but the liquor contractor had managed to keep it open using his clout. The vend was forced to close after the authorities intervened some days ago, but the contractor resumed operations two-three days ago.

Facing harassment at the hands of drunk men, a group of women reached the vend to confront the contractor today. The salesman, however, fled the scene on seeing the women approach.

The women pulled out the entire stock of liquor from the vend and set it on fire. Preliminary investigation suggested around 30 cases of liquor bottles were set on fire.

“Drunk men had been creating problems for us. They used to pass lewd comments at us, harass girls returning from schools and colleges and even stalk them. We will set liquor bottles on fire again if the authorities do not close the vend permanently,” said an aged woman.

Women alleged they had been facing problems even during the day since the vend was located on the road to the village. They had stopped using the road in the evening because of the nuisance, a woman claimed.

They were forced to act following failure on part of the authorities concerned to check the menace.

“No one bothered to look at our problems in spite of repeated requests to senior officers,” a woman said.

“The administration and the authorities concerned would be responsible for untoward incident that happens in the future,” said a young girl.

Eyewitnesses said a group of around 30 women, including old and young, set liquor stock on fire.

The police had started its investigation but no case had been registered till the filing of the report.

Chandigarh May 7
Haryana Cooperation Minister Satpal Sangwan has ordered a departmental inquiry to find out any irregularity in the procurement of wheat at Rania mandi in Sirsa district.

Taking cognizance of news reports published in a section of the media, Sangwan ordered an inquiry to find out the truth. It was alleged in the news reports that 28,000 bags of wheat were taken to the godowns before procurement with the connivance of Hafed officials. — TNS

Chandigarh, May 7
The Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) has made adequate arrangements for power supply during the ongoing summer and coming paddy season.

Devender Singh, Principal Secretary (Power), Haryana, and Chairman, Haryana Power Utilities, said here today that the HPPC had made arrangements for availability of power to supply electricity for 22 to 24 hours a day to industries and urban domestic consumers and for 14 hours to rural domestic consumers. It had been decided to supply power to agricultural consumers for minimum eight hours daily with the start of paddy plantation from June 15. The present schedule of power supply was 20 hours for urban domestic consumers, 20:30 hours for industries, 14 hours for rural domestic consumers and eight hours for tubewells.

The arrangements made were much higher than the projected demand in May, June, July, August and September.

As per load demand projection, about 5,800 to 6,000 MW was required during May against which availability would be 7,800-8,000 MW. During the first fortnight of June, the projected requirement would be 6,000-6,200 MW against which the availability would be 8000-8200 MW. During the second fortnight of June, the projected demand would be 7,300-7,500 MW against the availability of 9,100-9,300 MW. In July, August and September, the projected requirement of electricity would be 7,590 MW, 6,600 MW and 6,640 MW, respectively. The HPPC had already arranged 9,500 MW, 9,300 MW and 8,400 MW power for these months.

The Discoms had supplied power to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Meghalya and Assam under banking arrangements during the winter. These states would return power to Haryana to the tune of 50 MW to 1500 MW during the summer and paddy season as per agreement. 

Chandigarh, May 7
The Haryana Government has notified the amended 'Relief and Rehabilitation of Women Acid Victims' scheme to provide ad hoc relief or compensation, medical reimbursement and rehabilitation services to victims. An official spokesperson said that the Deputy Commissioner or SDM concerned would pay compensation as after-care-and-rehabilitation cost under the scheme. He said compensation of Rs 3 lakh would be given to acid attack victims involving defacement, loss of limb or parts of body and for plastic surgery.

Of the total amount of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 1 lakh would be paid to such victims within 15 days of such incidents (or being brought to the notice of the state government) as ad hoc relief to facilitate immediate medical attention and expenses. The balance of Rs 2 lakh would be paid as soon as possible but positively within two months thereafter.

In the case of acid attack not involving defacement or loss of limb or parts of body and plastic surgery, compensation of Rs 50,000 would be paid to victims. Similarly, in the case of death, the state-level committee would pay a lump sum of Rs 5 lakh to the legal heir. This amount would be in addition to any expenses incurred towards the victm's treatment.

He said acid attack victims of Haryana would be entitled to receive full medical treatment free of cost from any government or government-approved hospital. This amount would be reimbursed by the Women and Child Development Department. Besides, the acid attack victims would be given preference in allotment of fair price shops by the Food and Supplies Department.

Panipat, May 7
The police have arrested three persons for issuing threats to a local social activist, PP Kapoor, for pursuing the case of a child labourer who lost his arm while working in a factory.

Sonu Chulkana, who allegedly made a threat call to the activist at the behest of the factory owner, was arrested yesterday in connection with the case. The factory owner, Amit Kumar, and contractor Manoj Kumar were also arrested.

Talking to The Tribune, Kapoor claimed Sonu Chulkana of Chulkana village had called him up on the phone around 6.30 pm on April 25 threatening him with dire consequences if he pursued the case.

Kapoor, who is the state convener of the Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), approached the police, which registered an FIR against Chulkana and Amit Kumar for issuing threats.

Earlier, an FIR was registered against Amit Kumar, Manoj Kumar and Raj Rani at the Model Town police station on a complaint filed by disabled child labourer’s father Kamta Prasad.

The child labourer from Bagawa Fatehpur village in Kaushambhi district, near Allahabad, UP, had lost his left arm in an industrial accident on March 27.

The news about the 14-year-old child’s arm getting caught in a machine at a spinning mill was reported in these columns on April 5. The doctors had to amputate the arm to save him.

Sirsa, May 7
The Sirsa police busted a "satta" racket by arresting three persons at Ellenabad when they were involved in betting on the IPL match played between Mumbai and Bangalore last night.

Saurabh Singh, SSP, Sirsa, said the accused had been identified as Vinod and Gurbachan Singh, both residents of Ellenabad, and Suresh of Talwada Khurd.— TNS

Yamunanagar, May 7
A man and his wife committed suicide this morning by hanging themselves with a ceiling fan at their house in Ambedkar Colony here.

The deceased have been identified as Rahul (25) and his wife Gagan (23).

The Farakpur police said Rahul had gone to the railway station at 7 am in the morning as his father had to catch a train for Saharanpur to attend a wedding there.

After returning home, he and his wife committed suicide at about 8 am. Later, they were spotted by their tenant, who informed Rahul’s father and the police.

The dead bodies were handed over to their kin after post mortem. Police said the cause of the suicide could not be ascertained.