Compensation for farmers sought
SONEPAT, Oct 17 — Mr Azad Singh Nehra, a former general secretary of the Haryana Youth Congress and a member of the HPCC, today expressed concern about the drought-like conditions in Haryana created by the scanty rainfall during the monsoon and urged the state government to give compensation at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre to the farmers whose crops had been damaged during the kharif season.

Fake certificate racket busted
YAMUNANAGAR, Oct 17 — The Yamunanagar police has busted a gang involved in the fake certificate racket. The SP, Mr K.K. Sindhu, said here today that two college students along with two other had been arrested.

Congress leader's call for introspection
HISAR, Oct 17 — The organising secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Harpal Singh Boora, has criticised the demand for the removal of the PCC president after the poor performance of the party in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

4 undertrial prisoners escape
ROHTAK, Oct 17 — Four undertrial prisoners lodged in the district jail here escaped early today. The prisoners who were facing charges of murder and dacoity were said to be members of the Sonu gang of Smalkha.

Road repair 'to get priority'
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Oct 17 — The Haryana Finance Minister, Prof Sampat Singh has called for a people-friendly administration in the state.

Addressing a meeting of senior officers here yesterday, Prof Sampat Singh said the gap between people and the government needed to be minimised.

He stressed the need for redressing the grievances of the public and good rapport between people and the administration.

The minister reiterated the commitment of his government to provide a clean and efficient government in the state.

He assured that the irrigation water would be taken up to the tail-ends. Besides, the government was also committed to providing three-phase power.

He announced that damaged roads in the state would be repaired on a priority basis and no new roads would be constructed till the old ones were repaired.

The Finance Minister also assured the officers and employees that the government would not be vindictive.

He said the performance of the officers would be judged on the basis of the appreciation of their work by the common people.

Compensation for farmers sought
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Oct 17 — Mr Azad Singh Nehra, a former general secretary of the Haryana Youth Congress and a member of the HPCC, today expressed concern about the drought-like conditions in Haryana created by the scanty rainfall during the monsoon and urged the state government to give compensation at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre to the farmers whose crops had been damaged during the kharif season.

In a statement here, he also demanded immediate payment of a special bonus on the paddy crop and the remittance of interest on the crop loan. He said most of the farmers depended on agriculture and it was necessary to give them immediate relief.

Mr Nehra also said the state Government should ensure enough canal water and power supply for tubewells and also demanded immediate completion of the SYL canal in the Punjab territory as it was the lifeline of Haryana. He also defended the formation of a non-political organisation by Mr Dharampal Singh Malik, a former HPCC president for putting pressure on the Punjab Government for taking steps for the completion of the canal. He urged the Haryana Chief Minister to extend full support to Mr Malik in this regard.

The Congress leader also urged the central government to immediately withdraw the hike in the diesel price.

Fake certificate racket busted
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Oct 17 — The Yamunanagar police has busted a gang involved in the fake certificate racket. The SP, Mr K.K. Sindhu, said here today that two college students along with two other had been arrested.

According to a complaint lodged by doctor Amrik Singh, Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, on October 14, Maninder and Vikas, residents of Yamunanagar camp came to the college to get admission in the plus two class and produced certificates of the plus one class.

Sensing that the certificates were fake he brought the matter to the notice of the police. The police registered a case under Sections 326, 467, 468, 478 and 420 of the IPC, the SP said.

The inquiry was entrusted to station house officer Yamunanagar. During the interrogation it was found that the two accused had got certificates at the rate of Rs 1800 each from Subash and another person of Pheruwala village in the district. It was further gathered that earlier too on a number of occasions these certificates were utilised by as many as six students to seek admission.

Congress leader's call for introspection
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Oct 17 — The organising secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Harpal Singh Boora, has criticised the demand for the removal of the PCC president after the poor performance of the party in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

In a statement here yesterday, Mr Boora said the defeat of the Congress should not be attributed to the performance of any individual. He said it was the collective responsibility of the party.

The PCC organising secretary said it was time for introspection and sink any party differences. He claimed the assembly elections were round the corner and it was time for the party to project a united front.

Mr Boora claimed that the Congress would win the assembly elections.

4 undertrial prisoners escape
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Oct 17 — Four undertrial prisoners lodged in the district jail here escaped early today.

The prisoners who were facing charges of murder and dacoity were said to be members of the Sonu gang of Smalkha.

The gang leader who was also lodged in the jail here earlier was shifted to the Karnal jail a few months ago.

Those who escaped were identified as Anil, a resident of Kundli, Jitinder, a resident of Rosoi, Ajay of Mandothi and Subhash a resident of Sewali.

A case under Section 224 of the IPC was registered at Civil Lines police station in this regard.

It may be recalled that five under- trials had escaped from police custody while being taken to jail from the court. Two of them were later nabbed.