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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Saturday, April 3, 1999 |
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BSP for equitable
distribution of water A
few takers for HUDA plots |
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Dead water
scheme revived Notice
to Haryana on PGIMS appointment Milk
adulteration worries Haryana
Padyatra against use of
chemicals Scheme
to educate kids on solidarity Pak
newsmen call on Bansi Lal Call
to develop human resource Haryana
scheme on seed fish production 200
held for power theft One
killed in road mishap |
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BSP for equitable distribution
of water GURGAON, March 2 — A national General Secretary of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mr Raghu Yadav today said that leaders of various political parties, including the ruling HVP, were trying to mislead people on the completion of Sutlej Yamuna Link canal project, and added that the problems of South Haryana could be solved through equitable distribution of the available water in the state. In a statement Mr Yadav, who had been waging campaigns for equal distribution of water to South Haryana for more than a decade, said that leaders of all political parties had always used the SYL issue as a pretext to deny the area its just share. Substantiating his allegations he said that while 15 lakh acres of fertile land in Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad districts were waterlogged for several years due to excess of water, the districts of South Haryana remained parched. According to him,the areas which were presently waterlogged had been receiving water through Bhakhra canal system. When Mr Devi Lal became Chief Minister in 1977 he diverted the water supply meant for South Haryana from Jyotsar waterhead. This was done to benefit his Teja Khera farm. The waterlogging in the five districts was only account of this "self serving" policy of Mr Devi Lal. The areas are waterlogged as they had been already receiving water from the Bhakhra canal system and then could not take in the excess supply, he added. According to him, the Jyotsar waterhead was getting 1.8 maf water. He further said that the loss the state had to bear on account of loss of 15 lakh acres of fertile land had hit the state’s economy badly besides reducing the status of the farmers of the areas to paupers. Besides, farming in South Haryana has been hard hit as the area did not get its just share of water. The Haryana government has announced a sum of Rs 2,500 crore to remove the waterlogging. The same money could have been put to better use in the interest of the state, he added. According to Mr Yadav, the Haryana government had laid the network of Jawahar Lal Nehru Canal with the assistance of the World Bank for the supply of water to South Haryana at a cost of Rs 137 crore. The government spends huge amount of money each year in the name of desilting of canal and strengthening of banks for nothing. The JLN canal project was an extension of West Yamuna canal system. He wondered why this needless expenditure from the state exchequer when there was no water for the command area of the JLN canal project. On the problems faced by the areas of South Haryana, he said that Gurgaon did not have canals and Rewari and Mahendergarh do not have minors. The townships of Rewari and Narnaul receive only potable water from the canal based water scheme. The water table in entire South Haryana is dismally low, at several places it was 400-500 feet. In the given situation a slight hike in power tariff or, erratic supply of power affected the farmers of this area more than their counterparts in other parts of the state. As a result the farmers of the area have organised several campaigns on water and power issues. Since August 10, 1993, there have been about a 12 deaths on account of police firing, he added. To a question as to why the people of Haryana were not rallying around on the SYL issue, especially after the Akalis in Punjab had again raised their voices against its completion, Mr Yadav quipped: "Because all the Chief Ministers and the ruling parties have misled them. They do not have trust in them." Mr Devi Lal and his family, the Congress, the HVP and the BJP had opportunities to force the Union government to get the SYL project constructed, but the same were frittered away, he added. He asserted that the
people of South Haryana were no interested in the
completion of SYL project. Rather, they now want
equitable distribution of the available water.
Questioning the motives of those who linked completion of
SYL project to supply of water to South Haryana, Mr Yadav
wondered how could they be trusted when they were not
ready to part with the due share of water presently
available with the state. |
A few takers for HUDA plots GURGAON, April 2 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is finding no takers for plots in its newly carved out Sector 38. This development has the potential to further erode the financial base of HUDA, which is already reeling under a court order in favour of farmers on the issue of enhanced compensation. The negative development is attributed to the government’s policy of fixing an "exorbitant" reserve price in the present depressed market. The reserved price has apparently promoted the interest of private colonisers and builders operating in Gurgaon. The government has fixed Rs 4,900 per square yard for plots of 100-yard size. While the reserve price for plots measuring 160, 200 and 250 square yards is Rs 5,450 per square yard, the plots in the categories of 350 and 500 square yards have been pegged at Rs 5940 per square yard. In contrast, private colonisers having well known brand names like Ansals, Malabu and Mayfield Gardens in the colonies set up by them in prime locations offer plots at a comparatively lower price. For instance, in Phase I and Phase II of Sushant Lok, plots could be purchased at Rs 4,000 per square yard, or in a colony set up by Malabu Town these could be bought at a price ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4000 square yard. Inquiries reveal that on an average, there are only a dozen bookings against each of the plots in Sector 38. In contrast, the figure was 1,000 against each plot, about two years ago. The rate of booking is said to have hit the nadir. The fixation of reserved prices for HUDA’s plots has invited criticism from several quarters. The general allegation is that the prices were unrealistic when compared to the one fixed by private colonisers. The policy of the government appears to be more skewed in the light of a strong possibility of enhancement of compensation to the farmers whose lands were acquired to carve out the Sector. According to earlier instances, the extra burden accruing from enhanced compensation to the farmers is passed on to the buyers of plots. There is a strong feeling in certain quarters that a lobby of influential colonisers may have played a key role in the fixation of the reserve prices for HUDA’s plots. However, officials in HUDA remain tightlipped on the development. According to observers, the tardy pace of development of the Sectors has also contributed to the negative attitude of the investors. For example, development works in Sectors 9 and 9-A, where HUDA was in the process of handing over possession of plots to the owners, was starkly at a low pace. Moreover, the area meant for the sector road leading to Sectors 9 and 9-A is dotted with huge illegal constructions. Consequently, there is no entry from Sectors 4 and 7 side. As a result, there is every possibility that the plot owners in Sectors 9 and 9-A would now have to enter through an entry point near Basai village. There are strong indications that some of the plot owners are planning to move the law courts. HUDA’s financial position is in the doldrums as it had to shell out several crores of rupees to farmers as enhanced compensation following orders passed by various courts. Consequently, the development works of HUDA has suffered. According to a contractor of HUDA, the government agency had not made payment for construction works done by him for four months on end. To add to the financial problem of HUDA, the Haryana Government had not returned a large amount of money borrowed by it during the time of prohibition. A senior officer relating
to real estate said on condition of anonymity, that in
case the negative mood of the investors in HUDA plots
continued and HUDA faced more financial problems, the day
was not far off when it would have to pull out of real
estate business paving the way wholly for the influential
colonisers and big houses. |
Agroha college faces closure HISAR, April 2 — The much-talked about Agroha Medical College faces closure as the government appears to be in no mood to restore aid to it. The college is run by the Maharaja Agrasen Medical Education and Research Society. Well-placed sources hinted at its closure "due to paucity of funds". The society has already served the marching orders on 35 employees, seven of them teachers. There are 200 employees in the college. A college spokesman said the society seemed to have been left with no option but to close the college as the government had failed to restore the grant to it. On March 18, the society wrote to the government seeking the takeover of the college as it had not been able to generate the funds needed for running it. Under an agreement signed between the Haryana Government and the Maharaja Agrasen Medical Education and Research Society on June 1, 1990, the society and the government were to work in collaboration for running the college. Under the agreement, the state government was to provide 99 per cent recurring grant and 50 per cent of the cost needed for developing the college infrastructure. According to the spokesman, Rs 6 crore were needed annually to run the college and another Rs 20 crore to develop the infrastructure to meet the conditions set by the Medical Council of India so that the college was accorded recognition. The state government, however, "backtracked" from the agreement. The then government led by Mr Bhajan Lal stopped the 99 per cent recurring grant in April, 1996. Subsequently, the 50 per cent non-recurring grant was stopped by the Bansi Lal government. In May, 1997, the society filed a case in a local court here. The court ordered the Haryana government to restore the grant in August, 1998. The Haryana government has filed an appeal against the order which is yet to be decided. The entire staff of the college struck work yesterday against the sacking of the 35 employees. Mr Jai Singh, general secretary of the staff union, said the sacked employees should be treated on "leave without pay" so that their services were reutilised as and when the grant was restored. The society sources refused to comment on the issue. Nor were they ready to say whether more employees would be retrenched. Besides the 200 employees, 170 students admitted in the college also face an uncertain future. It may be recalled the
industrialist-turned-politician, Mr O.P. Jindal, who is
also chairman of the society, running the college,
recently parted ways with Mr Bansi Lal on the issue. |
Dead water scheme revived ROHTAK, April 2 — Work on the Salhawas lift irrigation scheme, which came to a halt 37 years ago due to paucity of funds, has been restarted by the Bansi Lal Government. It is learnt that the scheme was designed in 1962 to provide irrigation water to farmers of southern Haryana but after some time work was suspended due to financial reasons. The cost of the project which was estimated at Rs 12 lakh then had shot up to Rs 40 crore now. According to sources, the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, discussed technical and administrative aspects of the scheme with officials concerned a few days ago. After being satisfied with the utility of the scheme the Chief Minister directed the officials concerned to restart work on the project. It is learnt that NABARD had assured the Chief Minister regarding the grant of Rs 40 crore. Mr Onkar Nath Jaiswal, Superintending Engineer, NABARD circle said the amount from NABARD had been released and work on the scheme had started. He said the project would be completed in two years and nearly 80,000 acres of agricultural land of about 100 villages of Jhajjar, Rewari and Gurgaon districts would be benefited by it. Irrigation facilities in this region were reportedly poor at present. According to information there are two systems under this scheme for irrigation. A fresh channel from RD 51,000 of Salhawas lift channel would irrigate nearly 20,000 acres. The capacity of this channel is 58.15 cusecs. The second system branched from RD 13,500 of Jawahar Lal Nehru canal would irrigate nearly 60,000 acres. The capacity of this channel is 160 cusecs. The length of channels under both systems would be about 127 km and 15 small channels would be branched out from these two channels. The name of scheme has been changed from Salhawas Lift Irrigation Scheme to Rewari Lift Irrigation Scheme. Hailing the restoration of work on the project Mr Ram Phool Hooda, district Haryana Vikas Party president, said the farming community of southern districts of the state would be benefited by the scheme. Similarly the Mandhoti
minor scheme, which was approved by the authorities in
1987, but remained on files only due to apathy of the
officials concerned is also to be revived. The government
has sanctioned Rs 85 lakh for the project. Mr Surender
Singh, MP, and general secretary of the Haryana Vikas
Party laid the foundation stone of the project today. The
capacity of this 4-km-long minor is 7 cusecs and it has
been branched out from Dulhera distributary. The scheme
will benefit thousands of acres of agricultural land
belonging to Mandhoti, Mehandipur, Matan, Daboda and
Silothi villages. |
Notice to Haryana on PGIMS
appointment CHANDIGARH, April 2 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday issued notice of motion to the Haryana Government for May 13 on a petition filed by Mr Krishna Murti Hooda, a former minister, questioning the appointment of Dr Durga Shankar Dubey as Director of the Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak. Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Datt, before whom the petition came up for hearing, ordered that notice of motion to the respondents would be subject to depositing of Rs 50,000 by the petitioner with the High Court registry. This amount shall be paid as costs to the respondent in the event of the petition's dismissal. The amount should be deposited within seven days. Mr Hooda stated that Dr Dubey was appointed Director of the Medical College in contravention of rules. He added that the rules governing the Director's appointment clearly stated that the age of the incumbent should not be less than 40 years or more than 50 years. Further the incumbent so appointed as Director of the college should retire on superannuation at the age of 58. The petitioner brought to the court's notice that the post of Director, which was to be filled in 1997, ought to have been made in accordance with the 1988 rules. The respondent-Director, whose date of birth is January 26, 1940, was nearing retirement. He was given this post due to his proximity with the ruling party in the state. Mr Hooda said the advertisement issued by the state government for filling the post stated that applicants should be aged below 58 years as on September 1, 1997. With a view to accommodating Dr Dubey not only the incumbent's age was "stipulated to be below 58 years as on September 1, 1997, but also the very appointment of Director was sought to be made on a contract basis." He alleged that the interview for the post of Director was held on September 30, 1997, by a high-powered selection committee at Haryana Bhavan in Delhi. The official procedure required that the recommendations of the Selection Committee ought to have been approved by the state government. However, the government offered the appointment letter to Dr Dubey on September 30, 1997, itself from Delhi. Mr Hooda stated that Dr
Dubey took over the post of Director of the Medical
College on January 1, 1998 and he attained the age of 58
years on January 26, 1998. On attaining the age of
superannuation, he ought to have retired in terms of the
Punjab Civil Service rules, as applicable to Haryana. Dr
Dubey was, however, given a contractual appointment for
three years and he continued to work as Director even
after attaining the age of 58 years. |
Milk adulteration worries
Haryana FARIDABAD, April 2 — Use of oxytocin injections, a human female hormone to draw more on large scale milk from cows and buffaloes is causing grave concern to the Haryana government. Stating this here today Mr R.N. Parashar, Commissioner Secretary of Dairy Development Department, Haryana told reporters that men drinking milk of such animals ran the risk of developing female characteristics in the body like breasts, shrill voice and loss of hair on the face. He regretted that these injections which were easily available all over were being used by most of the private dairy owners . His department would soon take up with the health authorities to impose a ban on use of the female hormone containing injections. Mr Parashar said that reports of mixing of urea, antibiotics and mineral oils in milk had also been received by the government which was a grave health hazard. He however said that adulteration was not at the level of milk producers but was being done by middlemen and big suppliers. Mr Bansi Lal, Haryana Chief Minister, had also written a letter to Mr Kalyan Singh, U.P. Chief Minister to take urgent steps to check export of synthetic milk to Haryana. Mr Jagdish Nayar, Minister of State Dairy Development, Haryana who was also present on the occasion distributed kits to officials of the department to check milk adulteration on the spot. Mr Nayar disclosed the kits developed by the laboratory of the department at Rohtak were being used for the first time in the country. He also presented one kit
to Dr Mahipal Singh, Regional Dairy Development Officer
of Meerut. |
Padyatra against use of chemicals ROHTAK, April 2 — The Vishwa Bharti Kisan Jagriti Sikhshan Sansthan, Hisar has launched a statewide campaign against the increasing use of chemicals and its byproducts in farming. The members of the sansthan are currently on padayatra from Dabwali to New Delhi, to spread awareness among the people. The president of the sansthan, Mr Balraj Singh said here on Thursday that while the increasing use of chemicals by the farmers had not only been depleting the productive capacity and fertility of the soil. But the chemicals had been 'dangerous' for the health of people, who consume the foodgrains and other products like fruits and vegetables claiming that the padayatra so far had received an overwhelming response from the people, especially the farmers, he said some of them had already joined their 'padayatra' and many others had assured to carry the message to their near and dear ones. He said 100 farmers had been associated with the 'padayatra' at one time. The padayatra will conclude on April 6 at Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi. He said the sansthan had
also developed an alternative of urea and DAP fertilisers
by using as cow dung, earthworm, ash and cow urine as
ingredients. He said herbal products like 'neem' and
'datura' had been used to develop an alternative of
chemical spray. He said the sansthan would intensify its
campaign to educate and awaken the farmers and common
people to "decrease" the use of chemicals in
production of foodgrains and vegetables. |
Scheme to educate kids on
solidarity CHANDIGARH, April 2 — The Haryana State Council for Child Welfare has decided to organise the 24th national learn-to-live-together camp at Kurukshetra from April 26 to May 2. An official spokesman says the objective of the camp is to bring children from different castes, creed and religion together and to inculcate in them a sense of solidarity and oneness. Four children, preferably two boys and two girls, in the age group of 10 to 14 along with an escort will be invited from each state and union territory. As many as 130 delegates will participate from different district councils for child welfare from Haryana. During the stay at the camp, the children will be involved in creative, recreational and cultural activities, games and sports. The cultural programmes and singing competition will be important events of the camp. The camp will also provide
a platform to the children to exhibit their cultural
talent. |
Call to develop human resource CHANDIGARH, April 2 — The Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr Ram S. Varma, today talked about the prosperity that Haryana would get after securing its share in Punjab river waters and after the completion of the SYL. Mr Varma, who was inaugurating a two-day state-level workshop for panchayati raj training here this morning, emphasised the need for development of human resource more effectively so that development of the state could be brought about meaningfully. He laid emphasis on the villagers being trained to join hands for any problem that they faced. He said that women's education would remove the gender bias and check the population explosion. Mr Vishnu Bhagwan,
Financial Commissioner, Education, Haryana, said the
government alone could not bring about the development.
He pointed out Haryana's progress in the field of
literacy was much higher than the officials at the
workshop had mentioned. |
Haryana scheme on seed fish
production CHANDIGARH, April 2 — The Haryana Government has started an ambitious scheme to promote fish seed production in the private sector. An official spokesman said today that farmers were being encouraged to set up fish seed production centres in the state. Under the scheme, the fish farmers were being assisted to get loan of Rs 1.17 lakh from nationalised banks to establish a fish seed unit, covering one hectare water area under fish culture. Out of this, amount, a
subsidy of Rs 26,500 per hectare was also being provided
to them. |
200 held for power theft FARIDABAD, April 2 — During surprise raids to check the theft of power by villagers in the Palwal subdivision, staff of the HVPN arrested more than 200 persons and recovered fine of about Rs 2 lakh during March 1999. A spokesman for the HVPN said yesterday that raids were conducted in Baroli, Sultanpur, Chand, Alawalpur, Asavati, Baghota and many other important villages. The spokesman sought police protection as employees were receiving threatening telephone calls from resourceful villagers and some influential political leaders against whom the raids were conducted. PANIPAT: The
Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam (city division) registered
45 cases of power thefts in March and recovered Rs 5 lakh
as penalty. |
8 pilgrims killed in accident AMBALA, April 2 — Eight persons were killed and eight injured when a Tata Sumo and a truck collided head on near Shahabad on the G.T. Road today. The deceased included three women and a child. The killed were identified as Shamsher and his wife, Mohan and his wife, Mrs Kirti, Sunil. The injured included Manoj, Ajay, Manju, Kanika, Rttan Singh, Vishal and an infant. The injured were rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh. The victims hailed from Delhi and were returning after a pilgrimage. The driver of the police escaped after the accident. In another accident Dharam Pal Gupta, and his wife, Krishna Rani, were killed when their scooter was hit by a private bus near the Ambala Pahisar Bridge Friday. A case has been
registered. |
One killed in road mishap SONEPAT, April 2 — Traffic on the Sonepat-Gohana road, near the cremation ground, was held up for more than an hour by an irate mob in protest against the death of a woman in a road accident here last evening. A large number of vehicles were lined up on both sides of the road causing a traffic jam and inconvenience to thousands of passers-by. The road block was lifted when Mr Balwan Singh, SDM, assured the crowd that action would be taken against the erring driver. Trouble arose when a speeding Canter hit a scooter near the cremation ground on the Sonepat-Gohana road, resulting in the death of Mrs Sushila (32) and injuries to two others, including her son. The Canter driver escaped after the accident. The police has registered
a case against the driver on the charge of rash and
negligent driving, and causing death of the victim. |
Pak newsmen call on Bansi Lal CHANDIGARH, April 2 — The reminiscences of Mr Bansi Lal, Chief Minister, Haryana of the days spent in Lahore turned live today when he had a heart-to-heart talk with a group of five journalists of Pakistan who called on him here today. Mr Bansi Lal, who had been to Lahore several times before partition enquired about several places of Lahore like Lawrance Garden, Mall Road, DAV College, Jahangir's Tomb and Shahi Masjid. Mr Bansi Lal told them that the Haryana Government was promoting Urdu in a big way. He said the state had already set up an Urdu academy for the promotion of this language. Also, Hali Award of Rs 1 lakh had been instituted to commemorate the memory of great Urdu poet Hali for the promotion of the Urdu language. There was a tomb of Hali and a park named after him at Panipat, he added. The Pakistani journalists were all praise for the hospitality and affection showered on them by the people of India. Mr Bansi Lal presented a set of books on Urdu poetry to the visiting journalists. The Chief Secretary, Mr
Ram S. Varma, was present. |
REC to conduct entrance test ROHTAK, April 2 — Regional Engineering College, Kurukshetra, has been authorised to conduct the common engineering entrance test for admission to various engineering colleges in the state for the 1999-2000 academic session. The government has also decided to authorise the Chhotu Ram State College of Engineering, Murthal, to finalise admissions to engineering degree courses under the lateral entry scheme on merit. Last year too the admissions were finalised by the institute. The diploma entrance test for all disciplines in polytechnics, except pharmacy and management, will be conducted by Government Polytechnic, Ambala, and admissions made by Government Polytechnic, Nilokheri, as in the previous year. The admissions to diploma course in pharmacy and management, will be made on the basis of the common entrance test to be conducted by Government Polytechnic for Women, Ambala. Prof Daleep Singh,
Director, IMSAR, Maharshi Dayanand University, has said
admissions to MBA, MCA and B. Pharma courses run at the
campus will be made by each university separately.
However, the exam for admission to affiliated colleges of
all universities in these courses will be conducted by
Kurukshetra University. |
Cop referred to mental
hospital SIRSA, April 2 — GRP Head Constable Sher Singh, the main accused in the murder of a 'Sadhwi' last week in Sirsa, has been referred to Mental Hospital, Rohtak, according to hospital sources Sher Singh had developed psychatric problems and had not been able to sleep or eat for the past four days after he was brought to the local Civil Hospital for check-up and was later admitted for treatment. He had been under police remand till April 2. Meanwhile, an eye witness
in this case, Gulshan Bhardwaj, has received a
threatening letter asking him to leave the city
immediately or he would suffer the same fate. The police,
however, is not taking it seriously. |
Faridabad Mayor invited to Bonn FARIDABAD, April 2 — The World Forum of Mayors has invited Subedar Suman, Mayor of Faridabad, to visit Germany for attending the second international conference being held in Bonn on June 11 and June 12. According to a
communication received by Subedar Suman from Mrs Barbel
Dieckmann, Mayor of Bonn, the conference will discuss and
identify a concrete action plan to combat large-scale
migration from villages to cities. |
2-yr RI for food inspector FARIDABAD, April 2 — Mr P.L. Goyal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, yesterday sentenced Dharmvir, Inspector, Food and Supplies Department, Hodal, to two years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 for unauthorisedly issuing wheat permit to ration depot holders in 1989. Suresh Chand and Bhagwat Swarup ration depot holders were also sentenced to one year's RI and to pay a fine of Rs 5,000. According to prosecution Dharamvir signed the permit to lift 250 bags of wheat to ration depot holders who instead of distributing it through the public distribution system sold it at a premium. According to rules, the authority to sign the permit vests with the District Food and Supplies Controller. Mr Goyal observed that
Dharamvir had failed in his duty of ensuring that ration
depot holders worked within the ambit of law, instead he
connived with them. |
Plea to solve SYL issue BHIWANI, April 2 — Mr Hira Nand Arya, former Finance Minister, Haryana and senior Congress leader, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, has reminded him of his promise to solve the Satluj-Ravi river water dispute between Punjab and Haryana. Mr Arya said that as the BJP was in power at the Centre and also a partner of the Akali government in Punjab there should be no problem in constructing the Satluj-Yamuna link canal in the Punjab area. Mr Arya said that SYL
canal was the lifeline of Haryana and the Prime Minister
should immediately implement the decisions of various
tribunals which had awarded SYL canal waters to Haryana.
He also criticised the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash
Singh Badal, for issuing anti-Haryana statements to
overcome problems created by his quarrel with Mr
Gurcharan Singh Tohra. |
Stone laid for drainage crossing ROHTAK, April 2 — The state government will spend Rs 3.50 crore on the construction of an 11 km-long Rohtak link drain to protect from floods major part of the town and certain neighbouring villages, including Kanheli, Sunarian, Mayna and Simli. Mr Surender Singh, MP, said this after laying the foundation stone of the drainage crossing near Manheli village 5 km from here. He said the drain would
help in reducing water logging. It would also save
recurring cost of de-watering operations of Bohar and
Kanheli drains. |
Bomb hoax delays train FARIDABAD, April 2 — Railway and police officials had a hard time last night when they were informed on the telephone that a bomb had been planted in the Chennai-bound G T Express which had left Delhi. The Railway officials at Faridabad were alerted to stop the train but it had already crossed the station. However the train was stopped outside Ballabhgarh station and a thorough search was carried out but nothing was found. The train left on its
onward journey after a delay of six hours. Police
officials described the incident as the April fool prank. |
One jailed under Excise Act SIRSA, April 2 — Mr Harbir Singh Dhahiya, Judicial Magistrate here sentenced for one year and fined Rs 1,000 to Raj Kumar of Mainakheara village in this district under the Excise Act yesterday. According to the
prosecution, a police party during a raid on the house of
the accused on July 16, 1993, had recovered 60 bottles of
country made liquor and registered a case under the
Excise Act at Rania police station. |
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