Jhajjar, September 21
A curfew-like situation with thousands of villagers blocking all five entry and exit points to Badli town for the last 24 hours in protest against the rising incidents of cow smuggling and slaughter in the region.

The villagers are staging dharnas on the roads against the menace.

The protesters have threatened not to vacate the road still the state government assures them of taking effective steps to check cow smuggling and slaughter in the region. They are also demanding a special trial in the cases of cow smuggling and slaughter.

To keep the situation under control, the district administrative authorities have not only deployed adequate police personnel around the dharna spot but also roped in its officials to keep a tab on the situation. Special arrangements have also been made to divert vehicular traffic.

Three incidents of cow slaughtering in the Badli region during the last six days have made the villagers block roads to mount pressure on the district authorities to take effective steps to check cow smuggling. The villagers have started undertaking a ‘thikri pehra’ in the villages to rein in cow slaughter. However, the villagers managed to nab 17 cow smugglers from Goyla Kalan village three days ago.

Sources said the decision to resort to a road blockade was taken by the villagers when Sant Gopal Dass visited various villages of the Badli region last evening. Implementing the decision, villagers disrupted vehicular traffic on the highway near Rohad village.

The villagers staged a dharna in the open at night in the presence of Sant Gopal Dass and refused to lift the blockade when district officials reached there to persuade them.

In a bid to intensify the agitation, villagers also blocked the Bahadurgarh, Gurgaon, Delhi, Beri and Chhuchhakvaas roads by putting trees and other hurdles this morning. Jhajjar SP Balbir Singh visited all agitation spots but failed to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade which was continuing till the filing of this report.

Neither the Jhajjar DC nor the SP could be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Kurukshetra, September 21
As the BJP released its second and final list of 47 candidates on Saturday, rewards to turncoats, has left party workers fuming. While in Ladwa and Shahabad Assembly constituencies, the BJP has trusted its old party workers, it rewarded turncoats at Thanesar and Pehowa constituencies of the Kuruksehtra district.

In its second list, the BJP gave Thanesar and Pehowa tickets to two former Congressmen: Subhash Sudha and Jai Bhagwan Sharma (DD), respectively.

The ticket allotment has left old party workers fuming and a revolt appears to be brewing over the sidelining of the original cadre. The leaders, however, refrained themselves from speaking openly against the party leadership and no on-road protests were reported. But several secret meetings were held to discuss the further course of action and the leaders have expressed their resentment with the senior leadership.

Dharambir Mirzapur, BJP Kisan Morcha, general secretary, said, “There is resentment among the party workers. We have expressed the workers’ sentiments to the party leadership before the announcement of tickets and it was expected that the party will give a chance to old workers, but nothing can be done now. We will try to persuade the party workers and ask them to see the party as their candidate and work for it.”

Sudha, who recently joined the BJP, was elected as a member of the State Finance Commission in 2013. He unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Assembly elections from Thanesar as an Independent candidate. Jai Bhagwan Sharma, former Congress district president, had quit the Congress in July, accusing the state leadership of not giving due importance to the region.

Both, Subhash Sudha and Jai Bhagwan Sharma were eying tickets from Thanesar constituency. Even as the former got the desired seat, the latter has been sent to Pehowa. On the condition of anonymity, a BJP leader, said, “Sending Jai Bhagwan Sharma to Pehowa was something unimaginable, no one expected this. It seems he has been obliged.”

BJP district chief Dhuman Singh Kirmach and senior local leader Bharat Bhushan Bhartiya were eying party tickets from Thanesar and Pehowa constituency, respectively.

With the final list being announced, Dr Pawan Saini, Krishan Bedi, Subhash Sudha and Jai Bhagwan Sharma, are the BJP candidates from Ladwa, Shahabad, Thanesar and Pehowa, respectively.

Kaithal, September 21
Rao Surinder Singh, state HJC Kisan Cell president and prominent Gujar leader who joined the BJP in Rohtak yesterday, was allotted the party ticket from the Kaithal Assembly constituency late last evening.

Many of those who were in the queue for the party ticket from Kaithal have, meanwhile, raised a banner of revolt against the party decision. They have served an ultimatum on the BJP high command to review its decision within 48 hours.

A number of aspirants, including former MLA Leela Ram (also a Gujar, who joined the BJP recently), Arun Saraf (brother of senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar), Ravi Bhushan Garg, Raj Pal Tanwar, Ashok Goel, Suresh Garg, Pala Ram Saini, Rajinder Saleti and others were taken by surprise over the decision.

Though some of the aspirants who failed to get the party ticket have promised to support Rao Surinder, others held a meeting with their supporters at grain market here today.

Suresh Garg and others have reportedly served a 48-hour ultimatum on the party to review its decision or they will take a decision that may not be to its liking. 

Faridabad, September 21
Chander Bhatia, a senior BJP leader and two-time former MLA, is all set to say goodbye to the party after the denial of ticket . He is likely to join the INLD, which is likely to field him from the Badkhal assembly seat in this district.

Speaking at the ‘shardanjali sabha’ of his father, late Kundan Lal Bhatia, here today, Bhatia said he had been dumped and ignored by a party which he and his father nurtured for years. Senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala was among those who attended the function.

Bhatia failed to find his name in the second list of BJP candidates . He was aspiring to get the ticket either from Badkhal or NIT this time. Though the party had already announced the name of Seema Trikha from Badkhal in the first list, the party ignored his claim for the NIT seat by announcing the name of Yashvir Dagar from this segment yesterday. Bhatia said he was likely to join the INLD in a day or two at the invitation of Abhay Chautala.

Jind, September 21
BJP’s second list of candidates has come as a shocker for its party workers and leaders in Jind district. Not a single ticket has been given to any party worker, but all five tickets have been distributed among new entrants.

While four of the five candidates are turncoats, the Safidon ticket has been allotted to Union Minister Sushma Swaraj’s sister, Dr Vandana Sharma, who is new to the constituency and politics.

Not willing to be humiliated easily, many BJP workers left for New Delhi today, to lodge their protest against the denial of tickets to them to oblige “outsiders”.

As per the list, Chaudhary Birender Singh has got two more tickets for his supporters from Julana and Narwana. The Safidon ticket has gone to Union Minister Sushma Swaraj’s sister, Vandana Sharma; the most surprising ticket allocation was a ticket to INLD former MP Surender Barwala from Jind city constituency, as he joined the party only a few days ago, while others joined the party on August 16 in a rally in Jind along with Chaudhary Birender Singh.

“The party has given tickets to undeserving candidate from Julana and the BJP will lose with a huge margin if it does not change its candidate immediately. Firstly, I will try to convince the party to give a ticket to me and if I fail, then I will decide my future course of action with the consent of my supporters,” claimed former minister Satya Narayan Lather, a ticket aspirant from Julana, who was on his way to New Delhi to meet top party leadership.

As per sources, initially there were around 95 ticket aspirants in all five assembly constituencies of Jind for BJP. But after Congress rebel Chaudhary Birender Singh joined forces with the BJP along with his supporters, the number swelled to 115 as his supporters also started lobbying hard for tickets.

Some senior party leader informed that things appear to be going against the party in Jind as after the entry of Birender Singj and his supporters, they have been sidelined by their own party.

BJP district president Dr OP Pehal, who sought a party ticket from Jind City Assembly constituency, said all must accept the decision of the party.

Ambala, September 21
The final list of the BJP seems to have given rise to dissidence within the party in two important constituencies of Ambala district. The left out ticket aspirants today convened meetings of supporters to decide the further course of action.

The BJP has announced the names of Sirsa-based Santosh Sarwan, wife of former Haryana IAS officer ML Sarwan, who was formerly in the Congress and even remained a minister in the Bhajan Lal government from Mullana (SC), and Aseem Goyal from Ambala City, who was a treasurer of the BJP and a leader of the party’s yuva morcha.

In Mullana, Mange Ram Panjale and Gain Adoya, who were frontrunners for the party ticket, today held a meeting of party workers of the Barara and Saha units, during which Krishan Rana, president of the Barara division, said fielding of an outsider from Mullana would not be tolerated and they would vehemently oppose the move. During the meeting, the two ticket aspirants vent out their ire against the party’s decision, claiming it might weaken the party in Mullana.

Meanwhile, posters and banners against the candidature of Aseem Goyal from Ambala City appeared across the constituency today. These posters targeted the fielding of the Goyal from this seat.

Former MLA Jasbir Mallour, while speaking to The Tribune, said he had convened a meeting of his support tomorrow to discuss the issue and take an apt decision. In the political circles, it was being perceived that he would be picked by the BJP. He even used the social media today to protest the development and claimed he would fight for his rights, making it clear that he might enter the fray as an Independent or on ticket of some other party. He, along with Veena Chibbar and Faqir Chand Aggarwal, both former MLAs, and Sandeep Sachdeva were trying to get the party ticket but were finally given a royal ignore by the party high command.

Political observers said fielding of a younger leader from Ambala City had not gone down well with these leaders, who might lobby against his candidature and even spoil his wining prospects.

Karnal, September 21
BJP workers are preturbed over the fielding of an outsider from Indri. The ticket aspirants has asked the state and central units to rethink on this decision.

The BJP has fielded Karandev Kamboj, who hails from Mandhar in Yamunanagar district, from Indri. Kamboj had not even applied for the ticket at the district office, said a ticket aspirant.

Dharampal Shandilya, one of the ticket aspirants and a member of district executive body of the Bharatiya Janata Party, told The Tribune that the party had fielded an outsider from the seat. “I request the party leadership to reconsider the candidature from the seat,” he asserted.

BJP fields Kalyan 
from Gharaunda and Kabirpanthi from Nilokehri

Karnal: Putting at rest all speculation, the BJP has fielded Harvinder Kalyan from Gharaunda and Bhagwan Dass Kabirpanthi from Nilokehri.

Harvinder Kalyan, who contested the last Assembly elections on the BSP ticket and remained third with around 30,000 votes, joined the BJP on August 21.

Kalyan said the anti-Congress sentiment and Modi wave would help him secure the seat. Bhagwan Dass Kabirpanthi, who had unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly elections from Nilokehri as an Independent , joined the BJP in 2012. He is also confident of his victory.

Hisar, September 21
With the BJP and the INLD announcing candidates on all seven Assembly seats in Hisar district, all eyes are now set on the Congress and the HJC. It is likely to be a multi-cornered contest on most of the segments in Hisar this time.

The INLD sprang a surprise by fielding its district president Umed Lohan from Hansi. Lohan had resigned from the party post after he was denied the ticket from Barwala, but was placated by senior leaders. His nomination is said to be a setback for the BJP as the party had also announced the name of Jat leader Chhatarpal Singh from the seat.

With the Congress likely to field a Punjabi, the HJC was set give a tough contest to the rivals. Speculations are rife over Kuldeep Bishnoi’s wife Renuka taking the field.

The INLD’s decision to nominate Bhim Mahajan from Hisar has, however, disturbed the poll strategy of the HJC that was keen on fielding Gautam Sardana as both are Punjabi and a division of community votes could harm HJC prospects here.

The seat has been a witness to traditional rivalry between Bania and Punjabis. While the Congress is expected to re-nominate sitting MLA and minister Savitri Jindal and BJP nominee Kamal Gupta being seen as lightweight in comparison to Jindal, it can be “advantage Jindal” if both the INLD and the HJC field a Punjabi. Barwala will also affect the equations for the Hisar seat. Barwala is a Kumhar-dominated seat and the HJC has two claimants Ramniwas Rada Saini and Bhagat Singh Rajoria for it.

As regards the INLD-stronghold Narnaund, INLD nominee Raj Singh Mor and BJP candidate Capt Abhimanyu are in the fray so far. Sources, however, add that the nominees of the HJC and the Congress may play a spoilsport for the main contestants. Former MLA Rambhagat Sharma is said to be a frontrunner for the Congress ticket and he can sway non-Jat votes.

Chandigarh, September 21
While relying on turncoats and much to the disappointment of committed party workers, the BJP on Saturday, released its second and final list of 47 candidates even as it gave thumbs down to dynastic politics.

While the party gave over 25 tickets to candidates “imported” from the Congress and the INLD, it refused to buckle to any kind of pressure from its leaders, including sitting MPs seeking tickets for their kin.

Eight more tickets were announced for women candidates, including Union Minister Sushma Swaraj’s sister, Vandana Sharma, from Safidon, taking their total to 15.

The party has decided to field Sunita Duggal, a former Income Tax Commissioner, who had quit her job to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Sirsa, but couldn’t manage a ticket after the BJP gave away the seat to its then alliance partner, the HJC.

With the release of the remaining candidates, Congressman-turned-BJP leader Birender Singh, completely ignored in the first list, has been able make a comeback by wresting six seats for his supporters. His wife Prem Lata’s ticket from Uchana Kalan was announced in the first list itself. Birender Singh has been able to ensure tickets for his supporters from Julana, Narwana, Gohana, Kalayat, Badra and Beri.

Sources said the second list of the BJP had come as a shocker to the “insiders”, since nearly all Congressmen and INLD leaders have been “rewarded” for switching sides while the committed workers have been given a royal ignore by the party, leading to resentment.

The dearth of candidates within the Bhartiya Janta Party, as alleged by INLD’s Abhay Chautala at a press conference here today, was especially evident in the party ticket for Rao Surendra Singh, who has been fielded from Kaithal. Former Congress MP Jatinder Malik, who represented the Sonepat seat in the 2009 elections, has been allotted a ticket from Gannaur, while Congress-inclined khap leader Baljit Malik has been fielded by the BJP from Baroda.

JP Dalal, a Kiran Choudhry loyalist from the Congress who made the shift to the BJP, was given a ticket from Loharu among many others. Chief Principal Secretary in the Congress-led government and Independent MLA Sultan Singh Jadaula, who joined the BJP along with Birender Singh, has failed to get a ticket. Santosh Sarwan, a former minister in the Bansi Lal government, has been fielded from Mullana seat. While Surender Barwala, who has been fielded from Jind, belongs to the INLD, Swatantra Bala Chaudhry, too, comes from the same party.

However, ticket aspirants from within the BJP did not rule out the possibility of a rebellion; some of them even considering contesting as Independents. Party sources maintained that the next two days would be the real test for the party, which is likely to witness protests against “unprecedented weightage to outsiders”. “However, if internal dissent can be handled over the next couple of days, the worst would be over for the party,” a leader said.

New Delhi, September 21
The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Congress chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi, cleared candidates for 65 seats, ahead of the October 15 Assembly elections, on Saturday. The list will be declared later when all seats are finalised.

Even as the process of filing of nominations for the elections began yesterday, the Congress panel headed by party chief Sonia Gandhi was unable to reach a consensus on 25 seats. The meeting lasted for over six hours, but still consensus eluded 25 seats.

Among the 65 seats cleared on Saturday, around 50 were such where either there were single names in the panel or there was agreement on the best candidate.

Also approved on Saturday was the nomination of the five sitting MLAs caught in the recent CD scandal where they were seen demanding money for CLU on camera. Among around 12 seats, where sitting MLAs are set to lose their seats is the Asandh seat whose legislator Zile Ram Sharma has been chargesheeted in a murder case.

The seat where there was a strong disagreement among state leaders was Kalayat in Kaithal. Sources said while CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other senior leaders want former MP Jai Prakash fielded from here, Industry Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala is seeking the ticket for Bobby Mann, the son of late Congress leader from Kaithal, Teji Mann.

The Karnal seat is pending because sitting MLA Sumita Singh is learnt to be seeking a shift to Asandh where local leaders are not said to be in her favour. The Asandh seat remains undecided because of Sumita Singh reportedly keen to fight from there.

Kalayat, September 21
Former Union minister and three-time MP Jai Parkash, also known as JP, who is seeking Congress ticket from Kalayat for the forthcoming Assembly elections, today alleged that a group of party leaders was indulging in his “planned” humiliation. He said these leaders were scared of him as he was a mass leader and would win the Kalayat seat with a huge margin.

He has hinted on many occasions that he will contest the Assembly election as an Independent from Kalayat, if the party denied him the ticket. He has called a meeting of his supporters on September 24, where he is likely to announce to contest against official candidates of the INLD and the Congress.

“A group of leaders has been troubling voters of the Kalayat constituency for ensuring gains to a nearby constituency. These leaders do not want me to contest from here because they know I will win the seat with a huge margin and will not allow their arm-twisting tactics to trouble voters of this area,” JP said.

During the last Assembly elections, JP contested from Adampur against Haryana Janhit Congress chief Kuldeep Bishnoi and lost with 6,015 votes. He got 42,209 votes, while Bishnoi got 48,224 votes.

“I have covered all 65 villages twice and have been working for the development of Kalayat for the past five years. Earlier no one stopped me, but now some Congress leaders are trying to get me shifted to another constituency. I will contest from Kalayat only and announce my final decision on September 24 after meeting workers,” he said.

However, INLD’s sitting MLA and party candidate from Kalayat Ram Pal Majra said, “There is a strong wave for the INLD not only in Kalayat, but also in the entire state. We will win all seats with a huge margin and candidates of all other parties will lose their security deposits.”

About development of Kalayat, he said Kalayat did not see any development during the 10-year rule of the Congress and people were fed up with the discriminatory attitude of that party.

Beri, September 21
Known as a "dharma nagri", Beri is home to historical Mata Bheemeshwari Devi temple that attracts tourists from across the country during Navratras twice a year.

Its religious importance notwithstanding, development has eluded this Assembly segment in Jhajjar district. The authorities have failed to provide an effective drainage system in villages. The situation turns bad during the monsoon.

The fields remain waterlogged for days, affecting fertility of land. Some of the farmers are mulling to leave farming. Dighal, Barhana, Mehrana, Dujana, Gangtaan, Lakariya, Madana Kalan, Madana Khurd, Dhandhlaan, Vazirpur, Gochhi and Bambhewa villages are the worst affected.

Congress Beri legislator Raghuvir Singh Kadian, however, claimed to have put in place a proper drainage system. "The government has spent around Rs 100 crore for the construction of drains in flood-prone areas," he said.

The ground situation points otherwise. "Due to waterlogging, I am unable to sow any crop. I wish to sell my land of, but no one is ready to buy it. The government is not coming forward to acquire waterlogged land for any development project," said Jagmender of Dighal village.

"Nearly 10 villages in the constituency have been affected by water-logging for long. The MLA did not keep its promise made before the 2009 elections of solving the problem," Ramesh Ahlawat of Dighal village said.

The situation is no better for residents of Beri town. For the want of a proper drainage system, rainwater gets accumulated near a bus stand and other low-lying areas, causing inconvenience to people. Shiv Shankar Goyal, a retired headmaster, said the Congress government had failed to redress the grievances of residents during its two stints.

Other issues of concern

Shortage of drinking water in several villages is another cause for conern. People struggle to get drinking water, especially in summer.

Though Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda had launched the Naandi Community Safe Drinking Water (NCSDW) project at Dujana village five years ago to provide purified water, the project could not continue for long. Kadain, however, claimed that 32 water tanks had been installed in the constituency and rubbished the charge of shortage of drinking water.

"In spite of protesting against the scarcity of drinking and irrigation water, the problem lies unaddressed," Krishan Kumar, a farmer, said.

As for the healthcare services, the government has constructed a building of the Civil Hospital in Beri and set up several Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in villages. But majority of them lack doctors and other facilities. Patients go to either Rohtak or Jhajjar for basic tests such as X-ray.

Students at disadvantage

Education facilities have improved during the last decade. There are three colleges, four Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and several government schools in the segment, but these lack science stream. Students eager go study science take admission in schools and colleges outside Beri. "The government is ready to launch the science stream in colleges if the students raise the demand for it. Several other facilities have been made available on students' demand," the MLA said.

Chandigarh, September 21
Senior BJP leader and former national spokesperson of the party Capt Abhimanyu has accused the Hooda government of destroying public documents. He alleged government officials were trying to cover up this scam by clearing all files and documents.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he reiterated the BJP’s commitment to investigate all scams after coming to power in Haryana. He said officials guilty of bugling up records would not be spared.

He said there had been reports that state government officials at the Secretariat were destroying documents related to scandals of the Hooda government. He downplayed the rebellion in the BJP over ticket distribution and termed it as propaganda by the rivals.

Karnal, September 21
Fissures have come to the fore in the HSGMC as its member Amrinder Singh Arora has called a meeting of community members to decide the road map to select a party they will support in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The decision has been taken despite the fact that HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda, vice-president Didar Singh Nalvi and some other members have already extended support to the Congress for the elections. Both leaders have been urging the Sikhs to support the Congress as it has respected the feelings of the community by constituting the HSGMC for the management of gurdwaras in the state.

A meeting of community members was held at Panchayat Bhawan today. It was led by Amrinder Singh Arora. Those attending the meeting decided to call a Sikh convention at Jalmana village on September 27 to decide future strategy.

Addressing community members, Arora said they were exploited by political parties for a long time. These parties had been using them as a vote bank and that they would have to rethink over it and get united to exhibit their strength.

He said a convention of community members would be held at Jalmana in Assandh block on Saturday where they would decide which party to support in the Assembly elections.

On the announcement by HSGMC president to support the Congress, Arora said it was his and other members’ personal decision. They never consulted the community members for it. “So, we have called a meeting of the community members to decide the issue in a proper way,” he added.

Sirsa, September 21
After finding a carcass of a dog in the tank of the waterworks that supplies drinking water to their village, residents of Nuianwali today locked its main gate and held a demonstration against the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department.

Mahender, Asaram, Balwinder Nehra, Rajinder Jyani, Vinod Kumar and others claimed that they had brought their problems to the notice of the authorities several times but no efforts have been made to mitigate their woes. They alleged that they had informed a junior engineer of the department but he did nothing.

Later, a junior engineer who came there, told the villagers that the department could not get the tank cleaned due to the model code of conduct.

Hanuman Nehra, husband of the village sarpanch, alleged that as no employee of the PHE Department stayed in the waterworks building during night, there was no proper maintenance.

Angad Bishnoi, Superintending Engineer of the PHE Department, said under the convergence of programmes, the work of cleaning of waterworks had come under the MNREGA scheme and it had to be done by the panchayats themselves.

Panipat, September 21
Taking prompt action on a complaint, the state Lokayukta has issued directions to the additional chief secretary (ACS), the Urban and Local Bodies Department, to look into the allegations of corruption in the Panipat Municipal Corporation (MC).

The Lokayukta issued this direction on the basis of a complaint received from a Panipat-based social activist PP Kapoor on August 27. In a letter sent to the ACS on September 4, under secretary for Lokayukta, asked the ACS, to look into the allegations mentioned in the complaint after associating the complainant.

The Lokayukta further issued instructions to the ACS to furnish his report to the Lokayukta office within 45 days. In his three-page complaint, Kapoor alleged that a former Panipat DC-cum-then MC Commissioner and other MC officials took bribe worth lakhs for not taking any action against the construction of a three-storey shopping mall opposite Lal Tanki market in a residential area of the posh Model Town.

Stating that construction of any commercial building in a residential area was prohibited, Kapoor also submitted corroborative documents in support of his complaint procured under right to information (RTI) Act.

He further attached a supportive affidavit with his complaint sent to the Lokayukta. Kapoor stated the MC also stopped the construction work and sealed the building after issuing two notices on April 26 and September 9, last year, when voices were raised against the illegal construction, but later on January 31 this year, orders were issued to unseal the building after MC officials allegedly got a huge amount as bribe.

The social activist sought registration of a criminal case against then MC Commissioner and other officials in this regard. He also sought demolition of this alleged illegal building.

Karnal, September 21
Delhi’s most-wanted murder accused, Deepak alias Deepa, managed to escape from a trap set up by the special team of Delhi police in a cross-fire on Kachwa Road, near Ram Nagar, on Friday night.

Viney Kumar, sub-inspector (SI), Delhi, police and in-charge of the special team, said Deepak was wanted by the Delhi police in a murder case; therefore a special team was constituted to nab him.

Acting on a tip-off, the police were waiting for him at Namastey Chowk in Karnal, on Friday night. Deepa was coming from the Ambala side in an Innova, but he diverted from his route, and entered Karnal, the sub-inspector said. He added while following Deepa’s car they managed to overtake and block him his car on the Kachwa Road near Ram Nagar.

Meanwhile, Deepa fired at the police, where the SI had a narrow escape. The police retaliated by counter fire, but Deepa managed to escape from the spot in his car, the SI said.

The Ram Nagar police recovered bullet shells from the spot and registered a case against Deepak under Section 307 (attempt to murder), IPC, said SI Naresh Kumar. 

Sirsa, September 21
The police today busted a sex racket and arrested a man and a woman from a house used for paying guests (PG) in the Bhadra Bazaar area of Sirsa.

The two were allegedly engaged in flesh trade. The police said neighbours had complained that they had been noticing suspicious activities in the PG for several months. When a couple went inside the PG, the neighbours informed the police.

The couple told the police they were husband and wife, but when the police used force, they admitted that they were involved in flesh trade.

The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC.

Ranwar (Karnal), Sept 21
A witness in an attempt to murder case was allegedly crushed to death at Ranwar village, around six kilometres from the district headquarters, yesterday night.

The deceased has identified as Narinder Kumar (38) of Ranwar village. He was a battery mechanic in Karnal. He, along with his nephew Tarun, was returning to Ranwar from work on a motorcycle last night, said Madan Lal, the deceased’s brother.

A Safari hit the motorcycle head-on near the village. I had a narrow escape, as I fell in a muddy field, but the accused in the attempt to murder case crushed my uncle under the car. Before they ran the car over my uncle, the accused fired at us. The bullet missed me. They dragged the motorcycle to some distance and, in the process, both vehicles caught fire,” Tarun reportedly told the police.

Tarun’s further said, Kumar was an eyewitness to a murderous assault on Tarun on May 18, 2011, in Karnal. The case in this regard is pending in court. “My uncle ignored the warning of the accused of not recording his statement in court. This infuriated the accused and they attacked him,” Tarun further said.

The incident sparked anger among villagers who torched the houses of the two accused in the village. No one was injured in the fire, a police official said, adding that there was no one in the houses. The police were trying to identify people responsible for torching the houses.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Garg, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raj Kumar, DSP Satish Kumar and tehsildar Hari Om Attri along with other police officials and forensic experts reached the spot and tried to control the situation.

Family, relatives and villagers did not allow the post-mortem examination of the deceased till the accused were arrested.

The SP and the tehsildar assured the protesters a fair and speedy inquiry, and arrest of the accused. On this assurance, they agreed for the post-mortem exam.

“A case has been registered against Nikku, Venod, Dharampal, Vicky, Sanjeev, Dharampal, all residents of Ranwar village; Babli, Rajesh of Arjun Gate, Karnal; Raju of Sangohi village; and two others under Section 302 and other relevant sections of the IPC. Efforts are being made to nab the accused. The law and order situation in village is under control. Police personnel have been deployed in the village to control any untoward situation,” the SP said.

Ambala, September 21
The Civil Hospital authorities of Ambala City were in a trouble when two women put their claim on a newborn today. Relatives of one of the women created ruckus on the hospital premises.

Sonia (21) of Haldhari village near Ambala Cantt was admitted to the maternity ward of the Civil Hospital yesterday and gave birth to a girl. Since the baby was weak, she was kept in the special newborn care unit. Another woman, Jaswinder Kaur of Samlehri village, had also given birth to a baby girl on September 19 and her newborn was also kept in the incubator in the same unit.

Hospital sources said one of the babies kept in the incubator died around 1 am today. The nursing staff on duty called Jaswinder Kaur’s relatives and informed them that their baby had died. When Harbilas, Jaswinder’s father, was on way to his village with the body, he received a call from the hospital informing him that Jaswinder’s baby was alive and asked him to come back with the body. When Sonia’s relatives were told that her baby had died, they got infuriated and refused to take the body, asserting that their child was alive.

On getting the information, PMO Kanta Goyal and SMO Mukta Kumar reached the hospital. They visited the mortuary where the body was kept. On the basis of the recorded weight of the baby, it was established that the dead child was of Sonia.

Dr. Mukta said that blood samples of both the child and their parents would be sent to forensic lab at Madhuban. — OC