Chandigarh, October 29
Assuming charge, state Health Minister Anil Vij directed the top brass of the department to move out of their offices and get into the field to know the ground realities.

Addressing the officials of the Health Department, including health secretary Navraj Sandhu, and listing out his expectations of them, Vij did some hard talk. “The public has voted us to power to make a difference in their lives. I will not sit down for a moment and will not let anybody else take their duties for granted. Improved patient care and complete commitment to sanitation has to be the priority,” he said. The minister said nipping the drug menace in the bud was also an agenda he wanted the department to pursue.

“I have spoken to the Director General of Police to clamp down on drug trafficking, especially in the border areas adjoining Punjab. We will evolve a task force against drug menace by involving social organisations and the BJP workforce to educate the people to say no to drugs. Also, liquor will not be allowed to be sold at places other than liquor vends. This has to stop,” he emphasised.

He asked Sandhu to look into the delay in the functioning of a dispensary constructed three years ago. “A great amount of public money went into its construction but the public is yet to avail of its benefits. For the want of inauguration, a dispensary can’t be locked forever,” he said, asking the health authorities to look for other such cases and post doctors where there are none. Vij also asked the officials to rationalise staff availability and move out excess staff to areas where it was needed.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who formally inducted four ministers to their office rooms as they assumed charge of their respective departments in his presence at the Haryana Civil Secretariat, was not there when Vij took over.

Earlier in the day, Khattar visited the office rooms of Education and Transport Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, Agriculture and Development and Panchayats Minister Om Prakash Dhankar, Public Works (Building and Roads) and Public Health Engineering Minister Rao Narbir Singh and Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu and stayed there till they assumed the charge.

The Chief Minister congratulated them and the ministers offered him sweets. Khattar said the new state government would work as a team. He said people of the state had high hopes from his government and all efforts would be made to ensure their welfare.

Each of the ministers, later, chaired an informal meeting with the principal secretaries and heads of various departments.

Chandigarh, October 29
The Haryana Civil Secretariat today saw a huge rush of visitors wanting to be among the first to wish the six Cabinet and three Ministers of State in the Manohar Lal Khattar Ministry as they took charge of their respective departments. Overcrowded lifts, however, had the maximum stops on the fourth floor where Khattar himself received bureaucrats, politicians and well-wishers who were served tea with samosas and besan ki barfi.

Khattar has kept a record 17 portfolios that include some of the most contentious ones like Town and Country Planning and Urban Local Bodies that has been dealing with subjects like change of land use (CLU) that became a major election issue. The Chief Minister has kept Home but he also has Power which was also a major election issue. The Chief Minister also has all “residual departments not allotted so far”.

Like the three brand new picture frames with photos of the President, Prime Minister and the Haryana Governor in the new Chief Minister’s Office, everything has changed. The faces are new, the style of functioning of the Chief Minister is different and even the name plates outside the offices of the new ministers are brand new made of stainless steel, mostly without names. Computer printouts on plain paper mention the names of ministers occupying various offices.

Khattar went around inducting each minister into his/her earmarked offices spread on various floors from fifth to the eighth. In Room 34 on the eight floor, Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar called a meeting of all those related to the five portfolios given to him. “We will not allow any seeds to fail. Haryana farmers have excelled in food production, now they need to be supported in marketing their produce”, says Dhankar. Unlike others, Dhankar started his work “with the word go” since he has been BJP kisan wing’s national president and is very familiar with the problems faced by farmers and their demands. His wife paid him a surprise visit to see how he was doing and adjusting to the new environs from the “fields of Haryana” where he spent many years educating farmers about their rights.

Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu, too, is perhaps one minister who has more work than he can humanly achieve. Khattar has thrust Finance, Revenue, Excise, Planning, Industry, etc on one person.

Transport Minister Ram Bilas Sharma also holds Education, Food and Supplies, Civil Aviation etc.

Health Minister Anil Vij, who came to the office in the afternoon spent his first day as minister conducting raids on Ambala’s MC and hospital and issued warning to all those found absent. 

Stream of visitors Haryana Civil Secretariat saw a rush of visitors wanting to be among the first to wish six Cabinet and three Ministers of State in the Manohar Lal Khattar Cabinet Overcrowded lifts had the maximum stops on the fourth floor where Khattar received bureaucrats, politicians and well-wishers Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar called a meeting of all those related to the five portfolios given to him

Sirsa, October 29
After getting a severe drubbing from the INLD in the assembly elections in Sirsa district, the Congress candidates owing allegiance to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar have started holding each other responsible for their defeat.

Ranjit Singh, a former Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board, who finished third in Rania after Ram Chander Kamboj (INLD) and Gobind Kanda (Haryana Lokhit Party), has blamed Tanwar for his defeat.

He has also accused Tanwar supporter and former District Congress president Malkiat Singh Khosa of working against him in the elections.

On the other hand. Tanwar loyalist Naveen Kedia, who finished fourth in the Sirsa assembly seat after Makhan Lal Singla (INLD), Gopal Kanda (HLP) and Sunita Setia (BJP), alleged that Hooda loyalist Hoshiari Lal Sharma had openly worked for Kanda. He alleged that Kanda openly flaunted Hooda’s “blessings” for him and the former CM’s failure to campaign for Kedia supported Kanda’s claims.

KV Singh, also a Hooda loyalist, was subtle in his attack in saying that the delay in announcement of his ticket cost him the seat. Singh’s ticket was also in controversy as Tanwar wanted a Sikh candidate Kuldeep Gadrana to be fielded from Dabwali.

Tanwar loyalist Shishpal Keharwala, who lost to Balkaur Singh of the SAD, alleged that he had lost due to some Congressmen who worked against the party’s interest, perhaps at “someone’s” behest.

Keharwala alleged that while Tanwar campaigned on all five assembly seats of Sirsa, Hooda did not campaign for the candidates who were given the ticket by the state Congress chief.

“The only time he (Hooda) came to Kalanwali was at Rahul Gandhi’s rally. While he addressed a meeting at Chautala village for KV Singh on that day, he did not seek votes for me though as CM, he should have campaigned for all 90 candidates,” Keharwala added.

Another Tanwar loyalist, Ramesh Bhadu, who remained third in Ellenabad, after Abhay Singh Chautala (INLD) and Pawan Beniwal (BJP), alleged that prominent party leaders of his constituency openly asked their supporters to cast their votes for another candidate. 

Chandigarh, October 29
Over 2.5 lakh state government employees are up in arms against the Hooda government’s decision to put on hold Punjab pattern pay scales to them.

“The state government’s decision to review the Hooda Government’s decision to grant Punjab pattern pay scales to employees from November 1, 2014 is anti-employee and defies logic in the backdrop of the fact that it was part of the BJP manifesto,” Sarv Karamchari Sangh chief Subhash Lamba said. Employees would formally write a letter of protest to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Lamba said the government’s review of the previous government’s decision raised questions on its intention to implement it.

The Khattar Government recently put on hold implementation of Punjab pattern pay scales to Haryana staff and payment of enhanced social security pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 to over 22 lakh beneficiaries. Khattar had also announced a review of decisions taken by the Hooda Government after May 16, 2014.

However, Khattar had said, “The review of the announcements does not imply rejecting them. After the review, whatever is found suitable would be implemented… The government would take care of the interests of its employees.”

To woo the electorate, the Hooda government had in August decided to grant pay scales to employees and pension to pensioners on the Punjab pattern with effect from November 1, 2014. Along with this, the Hooda government had decided to increase monthly social security pension to different categories of beneficiaries from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.

Even in its manifesto, the BJP announced to implement the Punjab pattern pay scales. In fact, the party had promised to raise social security pensions from the current Rs 1,000 per month to Rs 2,000.

Up in arms The Hooda government had decided to grant pay scales to employees and pension to pensioners on the Punjab pattern with effect from November 1 The Khattar Government put on hold implementation of Punjab pattern scales and payment of enhanced social security pension The CM said the review of announcements did not imply rejection and a final decision would be taken post-review The BJP manifesto had promised implementation of Punjab pattern scales and increase in social security pensions

Sonepat, October 29
Deputy Inspector General of Police Vivek Sharma today visited the Gohana branch of the Punjab National Bank where thieves dug up a 125-feet-long tunnel and emptied out 77 lockers. A case has been registered against the General Manager and Additional General Manager (security).

The police registered the case against the officials on a complaint of Sandeep Kalra of Main Bazar, Gohana, under Sections 420, 380, 457 and 120-B of the IPC for cheating, neglecting security measures in the strongroom and misguiding customers in the name of security arrangements of lockers.

Sonepat SP Arun Nehra had blamed bank authorities for not following mandatory security norms. The floor of the locker room was of ordinary cement floor and not of thick RCC and steel plates and other reinforcements, as per norms.

Sharma, who heads the SIT constituted by DGP SN Vashisht to investigate the case, talked to bank officials and police authorities, but did not share investigation-related information with the media.

AN Ravi, IPS officer from the PMO, also visited Gohana last evening to get acquainted with the details of the case and for on-the-spot inspection of the modus operandi of the gang.

The victims continued their dharna outside the bank for the third day today demanding suitable compensation. They have been joined by leaders of Opposition parties including Congress MLA Jagbir Singh Malik, INLD’s KC Bangar and Kapoor Singh Narwal, who backed demands for compensation. Other owners have started withdrawing valuables and cash kept in lockers. 

Sirsa, October 29
The Law Department of Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU) faces derecognition once again as the Bar Council of India (BCI) has asked it to affirm whether the seven conditions of its recognition have been fulfilled or not.

The BCI has threatened the university that in case it failed to furnish an affidavit the matter would be placed before the Legal Education Committee that deals with the recognition of such colleges.

The varsity is still to comply with most of the conditions – the most important being appointment of regular faculty for the department. After barring the university to admit students to its 3-year law course due to discrepancies in 2009, the BCI had accorded conditional recognition to the 3-year and 5-year law courses from 2014-15 to 2016-17 through its orders issued on May 18, 2014.

Before this, four students of the university had sit on a fast unto death as the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council had refused to enroll the graduates as advocates because of the de-recognition of its degree.

However, the reprieve seems to have proved short-lived for the students as the university is yet to comply with the conditions.

Other conditions were setting up of a Legal Aid Centre, upgrading of the department library, payment of salaries to the principal and teachers as per the norms, maintaining the student teacher ratio as per BCI rules, permanent appointment of faculty for non- law subjects, separate bank account of the department with an opening amount of Rs 10 lakh and submission of an affidavit averring compliance within three months of the May 18 letter.

The university has not done so because no regular faculty members have been appointed and the department has just four regular teachers on its rolls.

The posts were advertised once on April 4, 2014 and it was on the basis of this advertisement that the BCI renewed its recognition on May 18. However, the advertisement was later withdrawn by the university. The varsity issued another advertisement on June 23, 2014 only to cancel the interviews after finalizing the dates.

JS Jakhar, Chairperson of the Law Department, said there was nothing to worry and the university would furnish the required affidavit to the BCI in the coming days. 

Conditions not met Bar Council of India has asked Chaudhary Devi Lal University to affirm whether or not seven conditions regarding recognition have been fulfilled The most important being the appointment of regular faculty After barring the university to admit students to its three-year law course due to discrepancies in 2009, the BCI had accorded conditional recognition from 2014-15 to 2016-17 Four students had sit on an indefinite fast as the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council had refused to enroll the graduates as advocates because of the de-recognition of its degree

Faridabad, October 29
Local residents foiled the kidnapping bid of a teenaged girl from Palla Pul locality yesterday. They nabbed one of the abductors and handed it over to the police.

The accused, Sabal Kumar alias Bablu, has been remanded in judicial custody. He and his accomplice have booked under Sections 363, 354-B and 511 of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act.

The police said that on Tuesday afternoon, the girl (17) was waiting for her relative to escort her to home when the accused driving a car tried to pull her inside the vehicle.

The girl’s uncle and some locals rushed for help and prevented the accused from kidnapping the girl. They managed to nab one of the accused.

The police, meanwhile, have booked three cases of abduction in the district in the past 24 hours. One of the victims was a 16-year-old girl, while two other girls allegedly abducted by unidentified accused were 18 years old. One of them was a maid from Jharkhand. “Elopement for marriage cannot be ruled in all three cases,” a police official said. — TNS

Karnal, October 29
The dairy scientists at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) may witness a rare moment as a cloned buffalo, Garima-II, is pregnant for the second time. It earlier delivered a cloned calf, Mahima, on January 25, last year.

If all goes as per plan, it would be a first when a cloned buffalo would deliver twice. “Its delivery will give a message to the world that a cloned animal reproduces normally in a healthy manner,” said NDRI director AK Srivastava.

Srivastava said, “It will be a proud moment when Garima-II delivers a calf for the second time in the span of two-years. It will facilitate the multiplication of cloned calves, resulting in increased milk production and yield.”

This would be a breakthrough in the dairy sector, paving the way for a second white revolution, Srivastava added. He said, “Garima-II was born through caesarean. Disease-resistant stem cells were used for buffalo-cloning. The clones produced will also be disease-free and facilitate faster and safe multiplication of elite clones. Garima’s earlier calf, Mahima, is going strong and healthy, which will ensure a second white revolution in the country.”

“Garima-II is being seen as a revolution in the dairy sector as it is around seven month pregnant,” said Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan, a team member of the project. He added that Garima-II was artificially inseminated with the semen of an elite bull.

“All necessary precautions are being taken and the delivery will take place after three-and-a-half months,” Chauhan said. “The clone is being given routine feed including green fodder, dry fodder and concentrate,” said Dr. AK Srivastava.

Achievements & failures Feb 6, 2009: First cloned calf is born; survives for six days June 6, 2009: A cloned calf of ‘Garima’ is born; survives for more than two years and dies on August 18, 2011 Aug 22, 2010: A cloned calf of female buffalo ‘Garima-II’ born from embryonic stem cell; she is a mother to calf ‘Mahima’ Aug 26, 2010: A cloned calf of male buffalo ‘Shrestha’ born from somatic cell of an ear from an elite bull; it is producing good-quality semen March 18, 2013: A clone of male buffalo ‘Swaran’ born from the somatic cell of semen Sept 6, 2013: A clone of female buffalo ‘Purnima’; survives for 21 days May 2, 2014: A clone of female buffalo ‘Lalima’ produced July 23, 2014: A clone of male buffalo ‘Rajat’ produced by normal parturition

Karnal, October 29
To emphasise on the aspects of agriculture, Karnal has been given the opportunity to host the 12th Agricultural Science Congress, which will be held from February 3 to 6 at National Dairy Research Institute.

NDRI director Dr AK Srivastava, said, “We are glad with the decision of the National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS) to give us an opportunity for hosting this event.”

The director added the science congress would provide a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas on various aspects on Indian agriculture. A large number of delegates representing crème de la crème of researchers, academia, entrepreneurs, policy makers, farmers, students and other known persons would participate in it to discuss the future strategies for Indian agriculture.

Narrating the theme of the congress, he said, “The theme of the congress will be ‘sustainable livelihood security for smallholder farmers’. The future of our agriculture is in the hand of small farmers, who constitute the majority of our vast farming community. This congress will discuss the policies and ways for combating poverty and hunger for achieving sustainable growth in the agriculture sector.” — TNS

Karnal, October 29
After the formation of the new government, the residents of Chief Minister Manohar Lar Khattar's region are hoping for speedy development works that are currently progressing at a snail's pace.

"Karnal has been neglected by the previous governments as many projects have been delayed. The Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College is one of them, which has to be completed by March 2015, but the pace at which the construction is going on, it seems an impossible task," said Deepak Kumar, a resident of DC Colony.

Rohit Kumar, a resident of Sector-7, said, "Shifting of dairies and vegetable market projects from the centre of the city has been delayed, which has resulted in inconvenience to the public as they lead to several problems such as cleanliness issues and traffic snarls. The new government should shift these to their designated areas."

The construction of the domestic airport was also another promise made by the previous government, which proved to be just eyewash as no such order was issued from the Aviation Ministry in this regard. — TNS

Karnal, October 29
State Cabinet Minister Kavita Jain said the state BJP government would simplify the recruitment process for the benefit of the youth. The process would be undertaken on the basis of merit, which will keep a check on corruption.

Interacting with mediapersons at the residence of Gharaunda MLA Harvinder Kalyan in Kutail village, she said the BJP government would ensure development in the state without any discrimination.

“The party will work on the ‘Sabka sath, sabka vikas’ formula without any enmity under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the state,” she said. No section of society would be neglected, she said.

Replying to a question over the issue of reviewing the decisions of the previous government, the minister clarified that the government would ensure transparency in the system. They were aiming at bringing fairness in the recruitment process for the benefits of the youth.

Clearing the financial condition of the state, she stated, “The coffer of the state government is not enough. The bonds of the government have also been mortgaged. We’ve got huge debt in inheritance, which would create hurdles in taking some decisions, but it is our responsibility to ensure relief to the people. The government is trying to generate more sources of income in the state,” she said. The government was reviewing the 4 per cent market tax imposed on paddy. A decision would be taken in the coming days for the benefit of the farmers, she said.

About her portfolio, she said she would comply with the duties and responsibilities given to her by the CM for the benefit of the people of the state.

Kurukshetra October 29
Now WhatsApp will come to the aid of local authorities to monitor the cleanliness drive in the district.

DC Nikhil Gajraj today announced a mobile number on which the officials will send photographs before and after the designated area has been cleaned.

“A WhatsApp number has been issued and the officials have been asked to send daily updates of the cleanliness situation. As many as 419 villages and city wards have been divided in clusters with each cluster comprising five to seven villages. Officials have been directed to make efforts to achieve the target of ‘Swachh Bharat,’ he added.

The SDMs have been given the charge of the block-level nodal officers while the ADC will be the nodal officer of the district,” he said.

“A special cleanliness drive will be carried out from November 1 to November 7. The NGOs, NCC, NSS and other social outfits have been asked to support us. Officials and employees have been asked to keep their offices clean and raids will be conducted to monitor the situation,” he added.

“A resolution will be passed in every village so that every resident can be linked with this drive,” he said.

The district police too joined the exercise and started its drive from Thanesar. DSP (HQ) Satish Gautam along with other police personnel participated in the drive.

Authorities roll out number A WhatsApp number has been issued and the officials have been asked to send daily updates of the cleanliness situation As many as 419 villages and city wards have been divided in clusters with each cluster comprising five to seven villages Officials have been directed to make efforts to achieve the target of ‘Swachh Bharat’

Jind, October 29
The “lack of government support” has forced thousands of paddy farmers in the district to sell their produce at lower prices. They claimed that they had been selling the produce for Rs 2,200 per quintal as compared with Rs 4,300 to 4,400 last year.

Farmers said in spite of repeated complaints to the authorities concerned, there was no action to check the distress sale of paddy.

There are 13 main grain markets in the district —Alewa, Barta, Dhamtan, Dhanauri, Garhi, Jind, Julana, Kharal, Nagura, Narwana, Pillukhera, Safidon and Uchana Kalan.

“Input cost such as prices of seeds and pesticides have increased in the past one year, but surprisingly the price of paddy has gone down in the same period. This shows government’s non-seriousness towards the plight of farmers,” alleged Rohtas Singh, a farmer in the Jind market.

The analysis of purchase figures show that 29 days after the official start of paddy purchase, Food Corporation of India, Confed and Haryana Warehousing Corporation have not started the purchase yet. The Haryana Food and Civil Supplies Department has purchased 3,734 MT, Hafed 5,428 MT and Agro 11,625MT.

In the absence of government agencies, private purchasers are calling the shots. Their influence can be gauged from their share in the purchase of paddy — out of 55,718 MT, they have bought 34,931 MT.

Of the 55,718 MT of paddy, 20,857 MT are of grade A variety; 31,886 of basmati; 358 MT of Sharbati; and 2,617 MT of Muchhal. Except grade A, all other varieties are of superior quality and priced higher. Government agencies have purchased low cost grade A variety, while private purchasers are buying other varieties at prices fixed by them.

“As per directions of the government, we are focusing on the purchase of grade A variety. If farmers are facing any problem, they should approach food inspectors in their respective mandis,” District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) Ashok Kumar said.

Sirsa, October 29
With prices of paddy and cotton already low this year as compared to the last year, farmers allege that they are being fleeced in the Sirsa grain market by a cartel of traders, millers and the market committee officials.

A meeting of the Haryana Kisan Manch was held here today to discuss problems confronted by the farmers where the organisation demanded immediate solution to the problem.

Prahlad Singh Bharukhera, state president of the Haryana Kisan Manch, alleged that due to the anti-farmers policies of the NDA government at the Centre, the prices of crops had fallen steeply this year.

“Seed cotton that was selling for Rs 5,500 per quintal last year, has fallen to Rs 3,800 this year. Paddy that fetched farmers Rs 4,400 per quintal in 2013 is being purchased for Rs 2,000,” he alleged.

He alleged that while weighing farmers’ paddy, the grain market traders were taking 600 gram paddy more per quintal in the name of “practice” and even the market committee officials were silent on the issue.

He said members of the Kisan Sabha caught a few cases of this nature today and brought these to the notice of the officials, but no action had been taken against the guilty traders.

Bharukhera said the manch would hold demonstration in Sirsa on November 4.

Yash Mehta, secretary, Sirsa Market Committee, admitted that the matter was brought to his notice today and added that he had warned all traders against the practice. 

Karnal, October 29
A 34-year-old woman drowned in a canal near Meerut Road, when she slipped while performing the Chhath Puja. Her 13-year-old son, who tried to save her also slipped and drowned this afternoon.

The deceased Saroj and Harsh of Sector-4 went to canal to perform the puja. Their bodies were recovered and sent for a post-mortem exam, said Narinder Kumar, SHO Sadar police station.

He added Saroj and her son Harsh went to the canal for the puja and slipped. Due to the flow of water, Saroj was swept away, while her son, who tried to save his mother, also drowned.

The passersby rushed to the spot and informed the police. After massive efforts, the bodies were recovered, said the SHO, adding initial investigation did not show any signs of foul play and it was an accident.

Yamunanagar, October 29
A team of the Haryana Rajya Mahila Ayog visited Jagadhri on Wednesday to probe the case of a woman advocate who was beaten up by her in-laws at their house in the presence of the police on Monday night.

The team comprising vice-chairperson Suman Dahiya and member Pravesh Rana reached the PWD Rest House at Jagadhri in the afternoon. It summoned DSP Suresh Kaushik, SHO-City Police Jagadhri Suresh Pal and police post Huda Sector-17 in-charge Balraj Singh. The team recorded statements of the police officers and collect copies of three FIRs lodged in this case.

Dahiya told mediapersons that the advocate was admitted to PGI, Chandigarh, and her statements would also be recorded.

According to information, the lady advocate and members of her-in-laws family got into an argument and a quarrel in the presence of the police on Monday night. She alleged she was poisoned by her-in-laws on October 24 after her parents failed to fulfill their demands for dowry. She said the police didn’t take timely action on her complaint, resulting in assault by her-in-laws on Monday night.

SHO Suresh Pal denied allegations of negligence in the case. He said her complaint was entertained immediately and timely action was taken. The District Bar Association had suspended work in the district court in solidarity with their colleague on Tuesday. 

Rohtak, October 29
The Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) has condemned the remarks by the president of the Hindu Mahasabha that girls provoke boys by wearing jeans and tops and this leads to rape.

In a statement issued here today, HGVS president Ranbir Singh Dahiya said such views “reveal our own culpability in perpetuating a rape culture that blames the victims and tries to find excuses for the rapists. “

“In certain cases, women in burqas also fall victim to rape. Moreover, in many rape cases, the victims are small girls or middle-aged – even elderly – women who never wear such dresses. There are many cases where the rural women working in agricultural fields are raped, which again underlines that dress is not responsible for rape,” he maintained, adding that the victim of sexual assault should not be blamed for it.

Dr Dahiya said sociologists who have interviewed rapists also attribute it to their mindset. “Hence, instead of holding the rape victim responsible, the culprit should be subjected to exemplary punishment which can act as a deterrent,” he said. — TNS

Sirsa, October 29
Two students of the local Manohar Memorial Postgraduate College were killed and another was critically injured when their motorcycle hit a road divider near the bus stand last night. All the three were BA (1st year) students.

Reports said Sachin (20) of Nehla village, Sachin (22) of Bothan Kalan village and Ashok (20) of Kirdhan village met with the accident when they were going somewhere from their paying guest accommodation. The accident occurred due to improper lifting of the side stand of the motorcycle.

Sachin (20) died on the spot while Sachin (22) succumbed to his injuries at Maharaja Agarsen Medical College, Agroha. Ashok was shifted to a private hospital. Students and teachers of the college observed a two-minute silence in memory of the two students today. — TNS

Bike hits divider The accident took place when the youths’ motorcycle hit a road divider near the bus stand on Wednesday night While two of the youths, both named Sachin, died on the spot, their friend Ashok was rushed to hospital

Karnal, October 29
The first winter fog claimed its victims when eight vehicles rammed into each other near Madhuban today morning injuring 10 persons, including eight school students. Traffic came to a standstill on the highway for some time.

ASI Pawan Kumar of Madhuban Police Station, said that the incident took place at around 7.30 am when a truck collided with a tempo resulting in a pileup involving a Haryana roadways bus, two Boleros, a truck carrying iron rods and a school bus with 16 students and staff members.

He added that 10 persons, including eight students, sustained minor injuries in the collision. — TNS