Jind, November 21
Countering all allegations against the Khattar government of delaying action against Rampal, Finance minister Abhimanyu said today that saving the lives of thousands of people held hostage in Satlok Ashram was the top priority of both government and the police.

“All allegations of delaying action are baseless. The government and the police acted as per the situation and it’s the result of a well-planned strategy that we have averted a major tragedy. Had cops not acted with patience, thousands would have lost their lives,” said the minister.

The FM, who was in Jind city to mourn the death of Julana INLD MLA Parminder singh Dhull’s mother, said political opponents were trying to project the Rampal episode in a wrong way and levelling baseless allegations against the BJP

“No one is above the law. Rampal disobeyed the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and he paid for his wrong actions,” said FM.

Though the financial health of the state was not good, the BJP would fulfil all promisesmade in its election manifesto, Abhimanyu said.

New Delhi, November 21
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today fuelled the controversy raked by his party leaders who alleged that the wife of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was a devotee of the controversial “godman” Rampal of Barwala (Hisar), which the latter refuted outright.

Reacting to Swamy’s allegation, Hooda said here that it is unfounded. “It is a well known fact that my family and parents of my wife abide by the tenets of Arya Samaj. Hence, there is no question of any one from the two families being a devotee of Rampal,” he said.

With regard the recent violence in Rampal’s Satlok Asram in Barwala due to a clash between the police and his militia who were opposing his arrest, Hooda said the “ugly” situation could have been avoided.

Had the authorities not dragged their feet in making the arrest, the situation would not have come to such a pass.

“However, the damage could have been more. It is a matter of satisfaction that the scale of violence was limited,” he added.

Subramanian Swamy said a challenging situation had risen related to the godman even during the time of his government. But the issue was resolved without a fuss.

Gurgaon, November 21
Trouble is far from over for Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The Haryana government has written to Gurgaon District Magistrate Shekhar Vidyarthi to send details of companies, properties and assets owned by Vadra.

Vidyarthi has asked District Revenue Officer Tarsem Sharma to submit a report within a week.

“We are already on the job. We have been asked to provide information within a week. We are probing the land deals of all companies owned by Vadra, including the ones shut down by him recently. The emphasis would, however, be on the property objected to by IAS officer Ashok Khemka,” said a senior official.

It may be mentioned that Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality, had purchased around three acres in Shikohpur village of Gurgaon for Rs 7.5 crore in 2008. After some time, Haryana’s Town and Country Planning Department had issued a letter of intent to set up a commercial colony on 2.71 acres of this land. In 2008, Skylight and DLF entered into an agreement to sell this land to DLF for Rs 58 crore. The sale deed of the land was registered in favour of DLF in 2012.

Ashok Khemka, the then Director-General (DG), Land Consolidation Department and Inspector-General, Registration, had set aside the mutation of the Vadra-DLF land deal, noting that the ACO, who had sanctioned the change of title in the revenue record, was not competent to do so.

In 2013, the Haryana government chargesheeted Khemka, alleging that he had wrongly cancelled the mutation.

In the run-up to the October 15 Assembly Elections, the BJP had raised land scams as a major poll issue and after his swearing-in, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had vowed to initiate a transparent probe into the matter. A few days ago, the BJP government suspended assistant consolidation officer (ACO) Dalbir Singh, who had executed the mutation of the controversial land deal between Vadra and DLF in 2012. Singh has been suspended for alleged irregularities in another case of land mutation pertaining to Rozka Gurjjar village of Gurgaon district.

Fatehabad, November 21
Streetlights in Fatehabad have been non-functional for three days due to a tug-of-war between the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHVBN) and the municipal council over billing.

The DHBVN authorities Tuesday disconnected power supply to streetlights. Since then, more than 90 per cent of localities were with non-functional streetlights.

Only Sector 3, where charges are paid by the Haryana Urban Development Authority, and Bhattu road, where the market committee pays dues, have streetlights functional at night.

Residents complain that is is unsafe to venture out after sunset. They fear that this may lead to an increase in incidents of theft.

Court seeks report

* Taking cognizance of such hoardings, the High Court today sought a report on their installation in some major cities.

* Justice Bhalla also indicated that the hoardings installed against the provisions of law were required to be removed lest the officer concerned should be burdened with heavy costs. 

Karnal, November 19
The long-pending demand of the residents of Nilokehri Assembly segment for shifting of the toll plaza from Samanabahu to another place will finally be fulfilled shortly. The work for shifting toll barrier near Bastara village, 17 km from the district headquarter, is going on in full swing.

Officials of the Soma-Isolux, a construction company engaged in six laning project from Panipat to Jalandhar, claimed that the work was in advanced stage of completion.

“The new toll plaza will be 35 km from the present location of the toll plaza towards Delhi. The decision has been taken to prevent loss of revenue earned from toll tax as several vehicles take diversion to avoid paying toll,” said an official of Soma-Isolux.

She said the company had requested for relocation of toll plazas according to the provision of the agreement. It was approved by the NHAI earlier and now according to the Supreme Court orders the work on the new site had been initiated by the company, she added.

According to sources the toll plaza had shifted to Samanabahu in 2008. In 2002, its location was near Karan Lake. It remained a hot political issue in Assembly and Parliamentary elections.

Though the news of shifting of the toll plaza has brought cheers for the residents of Nilokehri Assembly segment, it will be a bane for the residents of Karnal and Gharaunda constituencies. They will have to bear the burden of toll tax twice while plying towards Delhi as a toll plaza is already functional at Panipat.

It will inconvenience commuters going towards Delhi from Karnal as they will have to pay toll twice at Bastara and Panipat. It should be waived off for the residents of Karnal district, said Tarun Budhiraja, a resident of Sector 6, who daily commutes to Delhi.

“It is pleasant news for daily commuters, who travel towards Chandigarh, as after the shifting of the toll plaza they won’t have to tax,” said Amit Kumar, a Nilokehri resident.

With the starting of the work at the toll plaza near Bastara village, the residents of Gharaunda and Karnal Assembly segment have raised the demand for waiving off the tax.

Residents of Gharaunda Assembly segment met local MLA Harvinder Kalyan today and demanded relief from the toll tax. They said it was not possible for them to bear the burden of toll taxes.

“The interest of the people is my top priority. I will take up this issue with the state and Central government to ensure maximum benefits for the local people,” said Harvinder Kalyan, MLA from Gharaunda.

Jind, November 21
The failure of putting in place security for ATMs has been causing trouble to Jind residents. They have to wait till sunrise to withdraw money in case of financial emergency.

The police and bank managements have not been able to prevent the increase in incidents of ATM theft.

This has defeated the purpose of installing ATMs to provide immediate help if people need money urgently.

ATM card holders feel that there is no need to open ATMs during the day as they can withdraw cash from the banks where they have their accounts.

“I think that thieves have become more powerful than the police and bank managements in Jind district. This is the reason behind closure of ATMs at night. Had there been no scare from thieves, security arrangements would have been made,” said Anil, a local shopkeeper.

There are around 25 ATMs of various banks in Jind, but most of those do not have proper security. The police and bank managements have been blaming each other for lack of security.

The former claim that security for ATMs is the responsibility of banks while the latter counter them by holding them responsible for the law and order situation.

“We have hired security guards, but they do not have any weapon. The police should help us as ATMs remain closed at night for want of security. If there is proper security, no thief can reach any ATM and we can keep the machines open round the clock,” said SK Gosain, chief manager of the State Bank of India.

Many ATMs do not have security. At places like the ATM at Safidon gate, the guard was using his mobile phone at a shop near the ATM and was not in uniform without his stick.

Jind SP Badan Singh said ATM security was the responsibility of banks. “I will call a meeting of all bank managements and take action at the earliest,” he said.

The incident

* On October 14, 2013, residents of Naya Bans handed over two youths, Ram Kumar and Vikram, to the police post no. 2 alleging theft

* The police tied the two and kept them in the police post

* Both managed to flee at night

* Next day, Ram Kumar’s body was found on a rail track near the Ambala City railway station and a handcuff was found on one of his legs

* 3 police personnel — police post in charge Satbir Hooda, ASI Dalbir Singh and constable Prakash — booked

* SP suspended entire police post staff after the incident

Sonepat, November 21
The special investigation team (SIT) of the Sonepat police arrested Rajesh of Katwal village, who was one of the main accused in the Gohana bank heist, after 25 days of search.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Superintendent of Police (SP) Arun Singh said Rajesh was arrested on Friday near a railway crossing on the Narela-Buwana road in Delhi. “Rajesh will be produced in court tomorrow and will be taken in police custody for recovery of stolen articles and cash from bank lockers,” the SP said. Earlier, a reward of Rs 10 lakh had been announced for the one who helped the police in his arrest.

With this, the total number of people arrested has gone up to nine – Surender, Balraj, Satish, Arvind and Rajesh of Katwal village, Praveen and Sonu of Nidana village in Jind district and Rohit and Aman of Kutubgarh in Delhi.

The SP said the police had recovered Rs 3.73 lakh in cash and 49.885 kg of ornaments from various places to date.

He said Satish had a criminal background. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 2009 in Himachal Pradesh and another one under Section 406 (breach of trust) of the IPC at Gohana in 2011 was registered against him.

The accused had dug out an 84-feet tunnel to reach the bank’s strong room from an adjoining house. After breaking 77 lockers in the strong room of the main branch of Punjab National Bank at Gohana on the intervening night of October 26 and 27, they escaped with cash and ornaments. 

Kaithal, November 21
Private bus operators protesting non-acceptance of their demands held a procession here yesterday. Later, they handed over a memorandum in support of their demands to the SDM and staged a dharna on the Mini-secretariat premises.

Carrying placards and raising slogans, they started their march from the RTA office and reached the Mini-secretariat.

Dalbir Singh, president of the Bus Operators Cooperative Society, and Randhir Singh Fauji, chairperson, said they were allotted bus permits as per the new policy introduced by the government on August 12, 2013.

They had been allotted timetable and they started their services on specified routes in August. However, they had discontinued plying their buses in September following a dispute over the timetable with Roadways Employees Union.

Since then, they had been demanding allotment of timetable from local roadways authorities, but to no avail. They had brought this matter to the notice of the then Chief Minister, Transport Minister and the RTA.

However, despite their repeated efforts, their problem had not been addressed. They said Kaithal was the only district where private bus operators had been forced to stop their services.

They alleged local authorities were under pressure of Roadways Employees Union and were reluctant to accept their genuine demands. They said hundreds of employees were sitting idle and they continued to suffer huge financial loss.

They threatened if the matter was not resolved by November 26, they would start plying their buses as per the old time table without caring of the consequences.

Meanwhile, SDM Nar Hari Singh Banger reportedly talked to senior officials of the Transport Department in the presence of representatives of protesters and urged them to sort out the matter.

Sirsa, November 21
Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Sirsa, IS Godara Friday rejected value-added tax (VAT) claims worth Rs 1.71 crore by seven firms.

Most firms deal in cotton, but had sought refund of VAT based on bills claiming purchase of cigarettes.

Godara confirmed the rejection of VAT refund claims and said six more firms, which had claimed VAT refunds, had been served notice to appear before him on Monday.

Giving details of the refunds rejected, Godara said Jagdamba Cotton Mills claimed a refund of Rs 24.77 lakh, Sham Cotton Rs 24.17 lakh, Surya Cotspin Rs 23.86 lakh, Sudershan Cotton Rs 24.52 lakh, Durga Cotton Rs 24.87 lakh, Om Parkash Ashwani Kumar Rs 24.57 lakh and Nanak Chand Ashok Kumar Rs 24.64 lakh.

The practice of siphoning off funds from the state exchequer in connivance with officials of the Excise and Taxation Department has been rampant in Sirsa and the SIT headed by IG Shrikant Jadhav, constituted on Haryana Lokayukta’s orders, is probing this issue.

Earlier this week, a day before appearing before the SIT, Godara had reviewed and cancelled VAT refund claims worth over Rs 2 crore that were passed by his predecessor. As cigarettes have a higher rate of VAT in Haryana (20 per cent VAT), traders dealing in cotton, rice and many other items are known to procure cigarette bills and dupe the government in connivance with officials.

In another case, the Excise and Department has ordered registration of an FIR against three local firms – VK Traders, GS Cements and VKG Enterprises. These firms had claimed VAT refund worth Rs 4.5 lakh on the basis of fake C Form.

Rewari, November 21
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, a multi-disciplinary statutory body working under the Centre, has directed states and UTs to set up Wildlife Crime Control Units (WCCU) in police and forest departments to check poaching and trafficking.

A communiqué in this regard was recently sent by SB Negi, Additional Director/IGP of the Bureau, to DGPs and Chief Wildlife Wardens of states and UTs asking them to take immediate action.

The bureau would collect and collate intelligence regarding wildlife crime and disseminate the same to field units for enforcement action as well as to prevent, investigate and prosecute organised wildlife crime.

“India is home to about 8 per cent of the world’s known biodiversity, but national wildlife heritage is under threat due to poaching and illegal trade of wildlife, parts/products and depletion of wild flora and fauna,” said the communiqué.

It also states that over the years, wildlife crime — especially illegal trade — has become highly organised with trans-border ramifications. The existing wildlife crime enforcement infrastructure has certain institutional weaknesses that hinder its effective functioning requiring urgent attention.

Moreover, lack of adequate resourced and mandated institutional mechanism with state police and forest departments is most vital hurdle in the way of dealing with wildlife crime exclusively, the letter adds.

People for Animals (PFA), Haryana, chairman Naresh Kadian urged state governments to include active NGOs working to protect wildlife in the unit.

Karnal, November, 21
Demanding the cancellation of FIRs registered against them, villagers of Kalram, Araipura, Bharatpur, Lalupur and Amritpur and their families today took out a procession in the city.

They also handed over a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Balraj Singh, listing their demands. Pradeep Kalram, who is spearheading the agitation, said they would desert their villages if their demands for cancellation of FIRs and return of their land snatched during consolidation in 1999 were not conceded by December 10.

The police had registered false cases for rioting, obstructing railway traffic and damaging property under various sections of the IPC, the Railway Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act in 2013 against innocent persons whose land had been allegedly snatched during consolidation, Kadam added.

Kavita, Mamta, Roshni, Bala Devi and other women rued that their family had been dispossessed of agricultural land bought by their ancestors before Independence.

They alleged that the land was in their names in 1965 but some officials changed girdawari during consolidation in April, 1999, and made revenue entries in the names of some other persons.

Raj Pal, a protester, said they would be forced to leave their villages if justice was not granted to them.

Sorry state of affairs

* A garbage-lifting equipment, including hydraulic garbage lifter, Tempos and carts, are lying dumped on the Municipal Corporation premises as no attempts have been made to put these to use

* Sources in the MC said if any equipment needed repair, the authorities, instead of sanctioning a mere sum of Rs 50, preferred to dump that equipment

Karnal, November 21
T Nanda Kumar, chairperson, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), today expressed concern over the impact of climate change on livestock and its production. He said everyone should come forward to mitigate the effects of climate change.

He was addressing scientists and researchers from all over the world at a two-day international seminar on the impact of climate change on livestock productivity and health. He called upon scientists to encourage farmers to adopt indigenous breeds.

It was jointly organised by the NDDB, Anand (Gujarat) and National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), at the Animal Biotechnology Centre at the NDRI.

To counter the effect of climate change, there should be a climate resilient livestock production system, he said. The recommendation made for adaptation to change climate should be farmer friendly and available in a particular region.

Explaining the role of climate change on productivity of dairy animals, Dr AK Srivastava, Director, NDRI, highlighted the issue of climate resilient Indian livestock system for its continuous contribution in nutritional security.

While elaborating the adaptation and management strategies to alleviate the problem, the Director said there should be awareness programmes and proper policies to minimise the impact of climate change on livestock health.

Explaining the impact of thermal stress, he said, “There is an estimated annual loss of around 2 per cent of total milk production due to heat stress.”

The chief guest and the Director also released a book on mastitis in dairy animals. 

Kaithal, November 21
Herds of stray animals are common in Kaithal. The animals pose a risk to human lives and worsen the problem of sanitation. Dung on roadsides causes stink. The increasing number of animals has become a nuisance for residents and commuters. There is no hope of an end to the problem.

At times, animals sit in the middle of roads and block traffic. Many a time, fatal accidents have taken place after those driving vehicles fail to notice the animals due to poor visibility, specially during winter.

In the absence of a state policy to check the menace, the civic body has made half-hearted efforts to catch animals. Such a drive does not have any long-term effect as it is not launched regularly and systematically.

At many places, big wooden trays are kept to serve fodder to animals roaming on the roads. The animals rush to such places. Some residents leave their pet animals to eat the fodder for free.

District SPCA president Ranvir Parashar and secretary Naveen Malhotra said the local administration should ensure proper space to keep stray, sick and injured animals.

They said the persons leaving their pet animals on roads should be prosecuted and fined so that they did not indulge in this practice.

They said the government should provide funds to ‘gaushalas’ and institutions should be persuaded to ensure that there was no stray animals in areas under their respective jurisdiction.

Deputy Commissioner NK Solanki said the administration should act tough with the persons who left their pet animals for feeding.

He appealed to the public to extend cooperation to the local authorities to check the stray animal menace. He said feeding of animals in public places should be discouraged. 

Sonepat, November 21
Dr Anil Jain, in-charge of BJP affairs in Haryana, said the BJP national leadership had set the target to enrol 25 lakh members in the state. He stated this while inaugurating a workshop on a state-level membership campaign at BM Institute of Engineering and Technology here today.

State BJP president and Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said people were keen on joining the party.The national coordinator of the membership campaign and former MP Sudha Yadav said BJP president Amit Shah had set the target to enrol 10 crore members in the party across the country. —TNS

Palwal, November 21
The communal tension at Hathin has failed to recede despite the lifting of a day curfew several days ago. While the night curfew continues to remain imposed, the authorities today had to rush an additional police force to ensure peace in view of the reports of a community using the dispute site for holding prayers.

Riots and clashes had erupted on November 11 after a similar development left scores of shops, houses and vehicles, including the car of the DC, gutted. The demand of posting a company of paramilitary force on permanent basis at this town remains unfulfilled, it is claimed.

Senior district officials, including the SP, had to rush to Hathin today after reports of tension and a fresh threat of clash over the ‘rumours’ floating regarding the disputed site.

The reports of holding prayers at this spot had led to riots on November 11, which forced the authorities to clamp curfew. “The peace committee and local officials had resolved not to construct any wall or use the spot till the issue was resolved. The recent announcement by the district administration to set up a police post here has perhaps failed to subside the tension and fear among local residents,” said Bhagat Singh Tewatia of the nearby Kondal village. “The problem has escalated due to slackness on part of the officials and the politicisation of the issue,” claimed Harsh Kumar, a former MLA from here.

It is reported that over 100 families belonging to both communities have migrated to other places in view of the persisting fear and tension.

Sonepat, November 21
INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said today that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had assured a probe into Robert Vadra’s land deals and change of land use (CLU) “scams” of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in the state. “On the direction of the INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala, we are giving time to the government to fulfil its promises,” he said.

He was addressing a district-level party workers’ meeting in Sonepat today.

He thanked party workers for working hard in the Assembly elections and pushing the Congress to the third position in the state. It was the “dera effect” which harmed the party in the elections, he said.

The party would welcome good decisions of the BJP government in the state and would oppose anti-people decisions.

Party’s state president Ashok Arora said there was a wave in favour of the INLD during the canvassing of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. “Though the senior Chautala was to appear in court on October 17, he was sent to jail on October 11 itself, which demoralised the workers,” he said.

Senior party leaders Dr KC Bangar, Brig (retd) OP Chaudhary, Padam Singh Dahiya, Surender Dahiya, Raj Kumar Ridhau, Pawan Taneja and party’s candidates of six Assembly seats of the district were among those present on the occasion. 

Chandigarh, November 21
The state government will prepare schemes for converting cooperative sugar mills into profitable ventures, Haryana Minister of State for Cooperation Bikram Singh Yadav said here today. Delegations would also be sent on a study tour to states doing better in the cooperative sector.

Steps would be taken to bring more area under sugarcane cultivation. Sugarcane cutting machines would be made available to farmers by cooperative sugar mills. Besides, a Rs 42-crore sugarcane development scheme had been implemented in the state. Besides Hafed Sugar Mill at Assandh, 10 cooperative sugar mills were catering to the needs of sugarcane growers in the state.

During the previous crushing season, 28.92 lakh quintals of sugar had been produced with average sugar recovery of 8.91 per cent. 

Jind, November 21
Two persons Friday shot at a youth and his grandmother near the railway station in Jind. Both victims received bullet injuries and were taken to the Civil Hospital in Jind.

The youth succumbed to his injuries while his grandmother was critical. The police registered a case and started investigation.

Ravinder (25) of Shitalpuri Colony was swimming coach with a private institute in Gurgaon. He had come here to meet his relatives.

Unidentified persons shot at him and his grandmother Ram Rati around 1 pm when they were returning home from Ramrai, his native village, on his motorcycle.

The family of the deceased alleged that Sumer and Vicky of Ramrai village and Shouki of Ikkas village were involved in the crime.

“We set up special police teams and started conducting raids. It appears to be a case of personal enmity,” said SP Jind Badan Singh.

The case

* A nine-year-old girl of a poor family was gang-raped and killed by four accused, including main accused Arun Kumar, a businessmen of the area

* The post-mortem report also showed how the victim was brutally raped and then killed. Her body also had several cigarette burn marks