Hisar, November 7
Sant Rampal, the controversial head of Karontha’s Satlok Ashram who is facing arrest after the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued non-bailable warrants against him, has taken shelter inside his ashram at Barwala town of the district.

The ashram has turned into a fortress as his armed supporters have thrown a multi-tier security ring around the self-styled godman.

A large number of disciples gathered on the premises of the Satlok Ashram today to resist any move of the authorities concerned to take the godman into custody in compliance with the High Court orders.

The ashram had announced to organise three-day discourse from November 7 to 9 by Sant Rampal, following which supporters from Haryana and other states started congregating in the ashram.

The decision to organise the “satsang” is seen as a ploy by the ashram authorities to foil any bid by the police to arrest the sect head.

The followers are on a round-the-clock vigil around the ashram building carrying sticks and even firearms. Sources said well-trained persons have strategically deployed their hardcore disciples at several points in 1 km circle of the ashram building.

“They are keeping a close watch on every movement around the ashram. Equipped with the communication devices, the security personnel is in constant touch with one another,” said a source close to the ashram, adding that it was difficult to figure out the number of persons deployed to guard Rampal as multi-tier arrangements are in place.

In fact, it has been an old strategy of Rampal to ward off any external action against him. He had done so in the past too at his ashram in Karontha village where during violent clashes with the Arya Samaj followers, he called thousands of his followers, including women and children, in the ashram who acted as a shield for him.

In July 2006 during a clash with villagers, thousands of followers had gathered in the ashram and even the police found it tough to reach Rampal to take him into custody in a case of murder then.

Again in 2013 when he tried to take possession of his ashram at Karontha village, a large number of followers went inside the ashram during the night and refused to leave which led to a clash in which two persons were killed and many others injured.

Rampal is adopting the same strategy yet against to ward off his arrest. His arrangements around the ashram in Barwala indicated that he was better prepared this time.

On being contacted, Rampal’s key aide, Balwan Dass, informed The Tribune that the satsang was a routine affair in the ashram. “A large number of followers visit every time so it’s nothing new this time,” he said.

On being asked about the HC direction for Rampal’s arrest, he said, “How can a person be arrested when he had done no wrong.” This makes the intentions of the self-styled godman’s followers clear.

However, the district authorities are in a fix as the attempt to take Rampal into custody can spark violent protests from his followers inside the ashram. Hisar Deputy Commissioner ML Kaushik said meetings were being held to resolve the matter amicably. “I cannot reveal anything at this stage,” he added.

Karnal, November 7
A pension scam has come to the fore in Karnal as around 29,000 ineligible persons have been found getting pension on forged documents. This issue was also raised by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Chandigarh two days ago.

Sources said the district administration had done its inquiry in the scam and has hinted at the involvement of several government officials.

“The department had stopped the pension of over 29,000 ineligible persons who were withdrawing the benefit on forged documents,” said DC Balraj Singh.

Following a complaint in which it was alleged that several ineligible persons who did not meet the age criteria fixed by the Social Welfare Department were getting pension, the DC had marked an inquiry to Additional Deputy Commissioner Girish Arora in the beginning of this year.

It was found that during the period of three year starting 2011, over 40,000 pensioners were included in the pensioners’ list, which hinted a scam in the department, said the ADC. “I have submitted my report to the DC for further action. It hints at the involvement of officials of the department,” he said.

Most of the pensioner had used the voter ID for proof. It was found during the inquiry that several persons withdrawing pension from the department were underage. It was also found that some persons had tampered with the documents submitted with the form for the pension, the ADC said.

“A special team of the department looked into the case and found irregularities. We have demanded proof from the Election Office to ascertain the reality of the scam,” added the ADC. 

Kaithal, November 7
A few commission agents allegedly attacked the officials and staff of Warehousing Corporation today when they objected to putting paddy outside the main gate of the office, thereby obstructing entry.

Following this incident, the district manager lodged a complaint with the DC and the SP at the Anaaj Mandi police post. According to information, trouble began when YP Singh, the district manager of Warehousing Corporation reached office and found his office gate was blocked with paddy heaps.

Singh got down from the vehicle and asked the driver to bring the vehicle inside safely. As the driver was entering through the gates, some commission agents stopped and thrashed him. The district manager and the staff members intervened, but they too were allegedly attacked with sticks.

The district manager was manhandled while the driver’s clothes were torn and the women staff was threatened of dire consequences. After getting information, the in charge of the Anaaj Mandi police post Ajit Rai reached the spot, but by then those involved in the attack had fled from the spot.

Meanwhile, Suresh Mittal, president of Anaaj Mandi, arrived at the scene and said this incident was caused due to paddy glut in the market, but the matter would be resolved amicably.

Sirsa, November 7
Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar, will soon start new courses in dairy science technology and fisheries.

Major General (Dr) Shashi Kant, Vice Chancellor of LUVAS, who was in Sirsa to inaugurate the youth festival of Chaudhary Devi Lal University today, told mediapersons that the admissions would start from the coming year. For this, the university was setting up a college of dairy science and technology on the campus, he said.

Major General Shashi Kant, who took over as the first VC of LUVAS in June last year, said the university had already issued an advertisement to fill 75 posts of teaching and non-teaching staff for the dairy science and technology course.

To begin with, the university will start a BTech course with 30 students. He said the plan of starting a course in fisheries sciences was in the pipeline and it might begin from the next session. — TNS

Palwal, November 7
The Haryana Food and Supplies Department has detected that 38,790 wheat bags worth Rs 4.84 crore have gone missing from its warehouses at Hodal.

Sources said a case under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC has been registered against some employees, including an Inspector. No arrest has been made so far.

The irregularity came to light during a special check conducted by a four-member team of the department following complaints of missing wheat bags. The team found that the bags were missing from the godowns during a routine check on October 31 last year.

The department has four godowns in the Hodal region which have been hired for storing excess wheat after procurement every year. The officials found out that 38,790 wheat bags (each weighing 50 kg) was missing from the godowns. The total value of the missing wheat in the market is Rs 4.84 crore as the MSP of the wheat during the last season was Rs 1,250 per quintal.

“The department has got a case registered against an Inspector, Navneet Ram, and several watchmen deputed at various warehouses,’’said Bharat Bhushan, Assistant Food and Supplies Officer (ASFO) at Hodal. The exact details of the irregularities and the accused will be known after a detailed probe into the matter, he added.

The department has seven warehouses in Palwal district at present. Though this is the first such case in the district in the recent past, a similar incident had surfaced in Hansi at Hisar in June this year when a case was registered against some employees after 36,000 wheat bags went missing from the warehouses there. 

Panipat, November 7
The State Information Commission (SIC), Haryana, has issued show cause notices to the DSP (HQ) for providing incomplete information to an RTI activist regarding severe injury to a child labourer.

Hearing an appeal filed by RTI activist PP Kapoor, State Information Commissioner Urvashi Gulati issued a notice to respondent-cum-State Public Information Officer (SPIO)-cum-DSP under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act, 2005, asking him to why penalty for furnishing incomplete information to the appellant be not imposed upon him.

The SIC also directed him to submit his written submission in this regard by November 11 and be personally present for the next hearing on November 18 in the commission office.

In his appeal filed with the commission on April 11, Kapoor submitted that child labourer Awdesh, son of Kamta Prasad, had met with an industrial mishap in Paul Enterprises Spinning Mills, Panipat, on March 27 and he was hospitalised in Jindal Nursing Home. The child was operated upon and his left hand was amputated. The matter was reported to the Model Town police station and the police took action in this regard.

Subsequently, Kapoor sought four-point information related to the said accident and the information was received on May 12. However, the information was not complete.

The SIC directed the SPIO-cum-DSP to furnish complete permissible information along with a copy of the FIR within 10 days of the receipt of the order. 

Jind, November 7
Reiterating his allegation of fiscal mismanagement during the Congress rule, Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu today alleged that the financial status of the state was not good.

He held the previous government for the almost empty coffers. “The financial situation of the state is down. We have not taken any big decision in view of the financial woes of the state, he said after inspecting the local herbal park in the DC colony of Jind.

The FM also attended a district level function in a local college to inspire locals and college students to take part in ongoing Swachh mission. He highlighted the importance of clean surroundings and asked all to take pledge to make cleanliness an integral part of their lives.

Allaying fears of withdrawing ongoing social welfare measures, he assured that the government would continue all ongoing welfare schemes and more such schemes were in the offing.

Though he did not hint at imposing new taxes to improve the financial status, he said CM Khattar has held brainstorming sessions to generate more revenue.

“We want to make Haryana the best on the development front but without putting any burden on the people. Progress needs money and we are looking at many options,” he said.

Kurukshetra, November 7
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Bedi today said, “The previous government didn’t do anything besides laying foundation stones and making announcements.”

Bedi said this during the concluding day of the cleanliness drive held on the ITI campus at Umri village in Kurukshetra.

He said, “In the Cabinet meeting, which was headed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, it has been decided that all politically motivated developmental work will be reviewed. All those projects which are in public interest will be completed soon and the government will come out with a white paper on the financial condition of Haryana in the budget session.”

Bedi, who is MLA from Shahabad, expressed concern over the drug abuse in his region. He said, “The drug abuse is rampant in the region and all efforts will be made to stop this menace. A ‘Nasha Mukti Kendra’ will be opened in Shahabad soon.”

Besides, he assured to lay down a proposal of setting up an ITI in Shahabad too.

During his address, Bedi called upon the students to minimise the use of polythene and motivate others for the same.

He said, “The cleanliness drive has been conducted with the motivation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and with the support of the administration and social organisations. Though the administration’s cleanliness drive has concluded today, the state government will keep this drive on incessantly.”

Bedi said, “Haryana has become the first neat and clean state in the county and the officials have been asked to select the dumping zones in the districts to maintain cleanliness.”

‘Motivated’ development work to be reviewed

It has been decided that all politically motivated developmental work will be reviewed. All projects which are in public interest will be completed soon and the government will come out with a white paper on the financial condition of the state in the budget session. — Krishan Bedi, minister of state for social justice and empowerment 

Sirsa, November 7
Former Haryana Minister Ganeshi Lal today advocated a big campaign on the lines of the pulse polio drive to weed out cancer.

Speaking at a function organised by the Health Department at the Sirsa General Hospital today, the senior BJP leader said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had pledged to root out tuberculosis after successfully weeding out polio.

Urging people to shun tobacco, Ganeshi Lal said cancer claimed several lives throughout the country every year. Dr Viresh Bhushan, Deputy Civil Surgeon, Sirsa, said 76 lakh people died of cancer in world very year out of which 30 lakh were from India.

In Fatehabad, civil surgeon Suraj Bhan Kamboj inaugurated the function to mark awareness on cancer.

He said 2,200 people in India died of the diseases caused by consumption of tobacco every day.

Experts give info on lung, breast cancer

Karnal: An awareness camp was organised at Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College Hospital today on the occasion of National Cancer Awareness Day.

Doctors told patients about the precautions and the test to diagnose cancer. Over 50 patients were tested free of cost.

Dr Surinder Kashyap, Director, KCGMCH, made patients aware of the symptoms of lung cancer and the precautions they should take.

The experts gave information on cervical, breast and mouth cancer. Sonepat: Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Kavita Jain today inaugurated a free cancer diagnosis camp at BPS Government Women Medical College, Khanpur Kalan, as part of the National Cancer Awareness Day programme. As many as 246 patients were registered and examined by doctors.

Expressing concern over the increasing deaths due to cancer, she suggested that there should be separate arrangements in every medical camp for creating awareness about the precautions to be taken to avoid cancer.

College Director RC Siwach claimed that around 12 lakh patients, mostly from rural areas, had received treatment during the last three years.

Cancer had become the second biggest cause of deaths after cardiac arrest, he said, adding that 70 per cent of the patients died in the first year of the disease. As many as 80 per cent of the patients reached doctors when the disease had become incurable.

Sirsa, November 7
With the new government promising to provide corruption-free governance to people, the authorities in Sirsa have taken the lead by announcing a mobile number.

Sirsa district authorities released a mobile number (98123-00933) today for lodging complaints against corrupt officials.

Deputy Commissioner Anshaj Singh said the authorities had taken this step in view of the present government’s commitment to root out corruption from government offices. He said if any person wanted to complain about the corruption faced by them through patwaris, tehsil officers, SDM officers or any other officers, he could contact on this number to lodge their complaint.

Singh called upon people to make the district administration’s endeavours a success by reporting cases of corruption in the offices. Rampant corruption was witnessed in Sirsa government offices during the Hooda Government’s regime.

Even state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, who lost the parliamentary election from Sirsa, had blamed the bureaucracy and corruption in offices as one of the reasons behind his defeat.

Karnal, November 7
The Haryana Rice Exporters Association has demanded the state government to waive the 4 per cent market tax, including 2 per cent market fee and 2 per cent development tax, levied on basmati as per the pattern of Punjab.

The association said even after sending a memorandum to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and meeting with Agriculture Minister Om Parkash Dhankar, the situation had not changed. Now, the association has planned to meet the Chief Minister personally tomorrow during his visit to Karnal to raise their concern.

The exporters were suffering a lot due to this tax and several of them had shut their mills and many others had shifted their business to Punjab, UP and Uttarakhand, where there were no taxes on basmati rice, said Sushil Jain, state president of the Haryana Rice Exporters Association.

Expressing anguish over this tax, he said, “The government should waive off this tax on basmati rice as it affects our export business.”

He said, “In the global market we are facing challenges from Pakistan and Thailand, which are major Basmati rice producers, besides India. However, in the local market, we are facing challenges from our neighbouring states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh as there is no market fee on basmati export there.”

“These states even give extra privileges such as waiving off VAT, electricity tax, stamp duty and capital investment subsidy for setting up of new plants,” said the state president. “We have already expressed our demands before the state Agriculture Minister and also sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister regarding the same, but still no action has been taken so far in this regard,” he asserted.

He said, “The state Finance Minister had assured of proper environment for business and industry, but this kind of tax has a negative effect on the growth of the industry. It should be waived off at earliest.”

Kaithal, November 7
Members of the Balmiki community burnt an effigy of former MP and HPCC president Ashok Tanwar at the Pehowa chowk here today.

They were protesting against some negative comments of Tanwar against state minister Krishan Bedi. The protestors said their community was hurt by the comments of Tanwar against Bedi and it was an insult to the Balmiki community. They threatened that if Tanwar did not apologise, the community would launch an agitation against him across the state.

Suresh Kheri and Pardeep Keorak, who led the protest, said Tanwar should not have passed such a comment against an elected representative. — OC

Sirsa, November 7
Despite a ban on burning of paddy stubble, farmers in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts have been continuing the practice with impunity, much to the chagrin of motorists and those living in the vicinity of the fields.

A motorcyclist sustained serious injuries when he fell unconscious on the road while trying to pass through a thick cloud of smoke caused due to the burning of paddy straw near Rattangarh village in Fatehabad yesterday.

Several other people have complained of breathing problems and burning sensation in the eyes due to thick smog prevalent in the atmosphere. Motorcyclist Kuldeep was admitted to Community Health Centre, Ratia, where the police recorded his statement and are likely to take action against the farmers responsible for burning paddy straw.

A drive from Sirsa to Fatehabad and then Fatehabad to Ratia, Kulan and Jakhal revealed that paddy fields on large areas have been burnt after harvesting the crop.

Stubble burning is not only injurious to human health, but it is also disadvantageous for the farmers as several friendly pests that save crops from harmful pests are burnt in the fire. Acting on a PIL on this issue, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the state government to take immediate remedial measures to stop burning of wheat/paddy stubble in the fields.

Since then, burning of wheat or paddy stubble is banned, but the authorities rarely take any action against the delinquent farmers.

Dr Rani Sahu, assistant professor in energy and environment sciences at Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, said, “The smoke caused by burning of stubble can be dangerous for human health, particularly at this time of the year when the winter has just set in.” She said under normal conditions smoke goes above in the atmosphere causing little problem for individuals.

“However, the cold conditions prevalent these days trap smoke near the living atmosphere, also called troposphere, resulting in smoggy conditions in the area,” Dr Sahu said. 

Jind, November 7
Dissatisfied with the police investigations in the case pertaining to attack on their colleagues and the Jind civil surgeon, the agitating government doctors today hardened their stand against Jind SP.

They demanded immediate transfer of the SP for his alleged failure to take timely action to save doctors from an irate mob on Wednesday night. They have demanded a high-level inquiry into his role in the incident. They also announced that if the government fails to take a stand on the issue, a state-level meeting would be organised on November 9.

“Jind SP Anil Dhawan and his team have been trying to protect the accused, who attacked doctors and our civil surgeon on Wednesday night. The police registered an FIR last night, but not under the mandatory Sections of the IPC. We have called a meeting of the state executive on November 9. If the government does not transfer the Jind SP, we will take action and the government will be responsible for it,” said Dr Ashish Rana, state sectary, Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA), while talking to the media at the Jind Civil Hospital after having meetings with local private, government doctors and paramedical staff of all hospitals.

Doctors alleged that when their colleagues were being beaten up by the mob, they approached the SP, who was also there at the local hospital. But the SP refused to help.

Dr Rana said the Jind SP was unfit for job and the government must transfer him. “A high-level inquiry must be initiated into his role in the incident if the government wants to see proper functioning of health services in the state,” he said.

Doctors met Health Minister Anil Vij last evening in Ambala. He assured the doctors that their matter would be taken up with the CM and the DGP. Though the doctors would attend to emergency cases, they have announced to boycott the OPD services. Repeated calls to contact the Jind SP proved futile as he did not attend his mobile. 

Rohtak, November 7
To overcome the massive problem of malnutrition in the state, Haryana Health Minister has proposed to make fortification of food items with micronutrients mandatory. While the minister's concern towards extensive malnutrition in the country's bread basket is laudable, the proposed remedy may not be the best option.

This was stated here by Prof Rajinder Chaudhary, advisor to Kudarti Kheti Abhiyan (Campaign for Natural Farming). He noted that the basic cause for the deficiency of micronutrients in our diet "is imbalanced nutrition provided to our crops and consequently declining soil health. Scientists have identified more than 33 elements in plants but in modern farming, only two to four nutrients are provided. As a result, our plants are vulnerable to disease and pest attack, while the farm produce is not nutritious." Professor Chaudhry said these problems could be overcome by adopting organic or natural farming. —TNS

Hisar, November 7
A woman in labour delivered her baby on a Haryana Roadways bus on way from Sirsa to Hisar today.

The baby was delivered when the bus was only 2 km away from the civil hospital here. The bus driver rushed the woman and the newborn to the hospital after the delivery for medical examination.

Sources said Sunita Devi, a migrant labourer of Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, worked as a daily wager with her husband in Sirsa. She went into labour at noon and contacted the private hospital in Hisar from where she was getting consultations. The doctor asked her to rush to the hospital.

Sunita and her husband Babu Ram boarded a Haryana Roadways bus, but as they reached Chikanwas village, Sunita’s labour intensified. The co-passengers asked the bus driver to hurry up. Taking matters into their hands, they decided to help the woman deliver the baby in the bus. Babu Ram said while the bus 
kept moving towards the civil hospital, Sunita delivered the baby.

As the bus reached the hospital, a nurse was called in the bus to check on the woman and the infant’s condition. They were then taken inside the hospital, where doctors said the condition of both the child and the mother was normal.

Chandigarh, November 7
Less than a fortnight after the Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognisance of inconvenience caused to in-service candidates in getting experience certificates countersigned while applying for jobs as postgraduate teachers, Vivek Atray, Director, School Education, Haryana, has given an undertaking that he would initiate appropriate steps for avoiding future harassment.

Appearing before Justice Rajesh Bindal, Atray said instructions for getting the experience certificate counter-signed from the directorate were issued in 2012. He assured the court that “considering the possible harassment to the applicants for getting the experience certificate countersigned from the directorate, he would look into the matter and take appropriate steps to avoid such harassment in future”.

Justice Bindal had earlier asked the Director, Secondary Education, to appear in person and explain why candidates were being harassed to get the certificates countersigned.

The direction came during the hearing of a petition by Devender Kumar, who had applied for a post of PGT (history) in response to an advertisement issued by the Haryana School Teachers Selection Board.

The petitioner claimed that he possessed essential qualifications and submitted his application. His counsel added a one-time exemption was granted to candidates possessing four years teaching experience as a PGT as on April 11, 2012. The experience certificate issued by the head of the institution and verified by Kalayat Block Education Officer and Kaithal District Education Officer was further verified by the authority. But his candidature was not accepted by the board “only on the ground that the experience certificate has not been countersigned by the Director, Secondary Education”.

Counsel argued that the petitioner could not be divested of his right to consideration merely because the last date for countersigning by the Director, School Education, had lapsed.

Justice Bindal had asserted: “At the time of hearing, one of the issues pointed out was that the experience certificates verified by the District Education Officer are required to be placed before the Directorate for counter-signatures. All candidates, who were to apply for various posts have to come to the office of the Directorate, Secondary Education, to get their certificates countersigned in terms of the instructions issued on 18.6.2012. Why the candidates are being harassed to get the certificates countersigned from the directorate, when it is to be done on the e-mail massage sent by the District Education Officer is required to be explained”.

Hisar, November 7
The FC College for Women awarded graduate and postgraduate degrees to 560 girls during its convocation and prize distribution function today.

The principal Prof Nisha Bhatia informed that pass out students from the academic sessions 2011-12 and 2012-13 were conferred the degrees in the function. 28 students were awarded the roll of honour for their achievements at the national and international level while 590 students were given prizes for their accomplishments in the field of sports and extra-curricular activities by Ram Kumar Rawalwasi, president, governing body of the college.

Ashok Kumar Saroha, Income Tax Commissioner was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address to the students, he laid emphasis upon education and how being a graduate or a postgraduate was a matter of honour, pride and responsibility for each of them. He also talked about the significance of self-confidence in shaping a successful life, taking leaf out of Mahatma Gandhi’s life.

The college also remembered its founder Rai Fateh Chand, who was instrumental in setting up the first women’s college in the region 80 years ago.

Sonepat, November 7
A pregnant woman, Usha, was found hanging from a fan at her in-laws’ house in Ahmadpur village today.

On the complaint of the victim’s father Dalip Singh, a case of dowry death has been registered against Usha’s husband Praveen, his three brothers, father and mother.

Dalip alleged soon after Usha’s marriage about one-and-a-half years back, her husband and other family members used to beat and torture her for dowry. The body was handed over to the victim’s after a postmortem examination.

In another case, Usha (33), mother of three children, was found murdered in her in-laws’ house at Garh Mirakpur village this afternoon. Her throat was slit with a sharp-edged weapon.

On the complaint of her brother Balram of Moi Majri village, a case of murder has been registered against her husband Kapil and his mother Krishna. The police have brought the body to the local civil hospital for a postmortem examination. 

Yamunanagar, November 7
A teenager from Harbanspura colony committed suicide by hanging himself from an iron spoke at her house last night.

The deceased was identified as Inderpreet Singh (16), a class X student of a private school here.

Investigating Officer Surinder Singh from the City Police station said Inderpreet committed suicide last night when her mother Manvinder Kaur had gone to a neighbour’s house for some work.

He said when Manvinder returned home she found her daughter hanging from an iron spoke. He said the reason behind the suicide could not be known.

The girl’s body was handed over to the family after conducting a post-mortem exam. — OC

Jind, November 7
Thieves decamped with an SBI ATM on the Gohana road last night.

The ATM did not have a security guard. The authorities are yet to ascertain how much cash was deposited in the machine.

The disappearance of the ATM from the busy Gohana road has not only exposed the non-seriousness of the police, but has also panicked the shopkeepers in the area. Since banks have decided to keep their ATMs closed during the night, the machine was locked.

Thieves first broke the main shutter of the room where the ATM was kept, damaged the CCTV cameras, removed the slip issuing part of the machine and decamped with the lower portion of it which had the cash. Locals got to know about the heist in the morning when a private security guard reached the ATM and found the shutter broken.

“I immediately informed the police. My duty is from 8 am to 8 pm and I left the ATM after locking it last night around 8.10 pm,” said Sultan Singh, a private security guard.

Sushil Kumar Gosain, chief manager, SBI, Jind, could not be contacted.

Apart from the Jind Civil Hospital, residences of the Jind SP, PWD Guest house, DRDA building, the local bus stand and a government college are also located on this road. Locals alleged that despite being such an important road, the local police had not been conducting the much-needed patrolling.

“We have registered a case and started investigations. We have asked the local bank authorities to submit the required details,” said Dharmbir Punia, Jind DSP.