Forest official suspended
SIRSA, May 14 — In his first meeting as chairman of the district grievances committee, Transport Minister Krishan Lal ordered suspension of three persons on corruption charges here yesterday afternoon.

Cong blamed for mid-term poll
SIRSA, May 14 — "We cannot tolerate a foreigner as head of the national government," the INLD chief and former Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala said here today. He was addressing party workers at Tula Ram Dharamshala.

2 cheats held for dissolving gold
KURUKSHETRA, May 14 — The district police arrested two persons, Sanjay Kumar, and Prem Kumar, both of Delhi under Section 406 and 420 IPC for allegedly cheating women by removing gold from their gold ornaments on the pretext of clearing them with a solvent.

Bansi Lal retains Health portfolio
CHANDIGARH, May 14 — The charge of the Health portfolio vacated by the sacked Health Minister, Mr Brij Mohan Singla, has been retained by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, in addition to other portfolios.

Exam arrangements
KURUKSHETRA, May 14 — Kurukshetra University has made sufficient arrangements for the conduct of the ensuing postgraduate theory examinations commencing from May 20.

‘Need’ to check drug supplies

RECKS calls off agitation

Mass copying in school exam

2 killed, 6 hurt in collision

Bridging police-public chasm
From Sushil Manav

FATEHABAD: — Pooja and Vinod, a young married couple, were on the brink of divorce as all moves for reconciliation had proved futile. Ultimately, Fateh-Dhwaj — a police-public organisation — came to their rescue and the two are now leading a blissful life.

Mukesh Rahi, Naresh Jangra, Deepesh, Girish Wadhwa, Isha Khanna, Gautam Chowdhary and Virender Atwal are some of the local artists who perform very well when it comes to singing. But they were not finding a suitable platform to exhibit their talent. Fateh-Dhwaj provided them the much-needed platform to these artists. It has been organising cultural evenings in the town where these artists get an ample opportunity to exhibit their talent.

The sleepy district of Fatehabad was considered to be a dry area as far as cultural activities were concerned. The local people yearned for stage shows and plays. Fateh-Dhwaj has now organised the staging of at least six good plays, including 'Gadhe ki Barat', Kehar Singh ki Maut and Court Marshal.

These are only few of the myriad of activities undertaken by Fateh-Dhwaj in the seven months of its inception. The organisation has been carrying on these activities with a view to bringing the police and the public closer. And the organisation seems to have succeeded in its aim.

The idea of the forum was first conceived in the mind of the young police chief of this district, Mr Rajbir Deswal. The idea was to have closer ties between the police and the public so that the police may find it easy to combat crimes in society.

The basic aim of Fateh-Dhwaj was to fill the chasm between the police and the public and to meet that end, the forum carried out various kinds of activities which included social awareness, helping old and infirm people, settling marital discords, arranging medical and drug de-addiction camps, inculcating a spirit of nationalism in children and organising cultural programmes to provide opportunities to the budding artists of the town. The forum has also been organising cycle rallies under its awareness drive from time to time.

Fateh-Dhwaj organised such rallies on the occasion of Diwali to highlight the risks involved in fireworks. Another such rally was organised to make the people aware about the hazards of polythene packs.

Fateh-Dhwaj has the DIG (police), Hisar range, as its ex-officio patron. The SP, Fatehabad, is its ex-officio president. A number of local dignitaries, including doctors, advocates, businessmen and educationists, are its active members.

Bansi should prove majority: Hooda
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, May 14 — Reacting to the dismissal of two Haryana Ministers — Mr Brij Mohan Singla and Mr Narbir Singh — from the Cabinet by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, a veteran Congress leader and former Haryana minister, Mr Krishan Moorti Hooda, today urged the Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, to direct the Chief Minister to convene a special session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Talking to this correspondent on the telephone, Mr Hooda claimed that Mr Bansi Lal had lost his majority after the dismissal of five ministers from his Cabinet . He charged with humiliating and insulting his Cabinet colleagues and added that his 'dictatorial' attitude had caused widespread resentment not only among his Cabinet colleagues but party workers also.

Mr Bansi Lal wanted to run the government by crushing the voice of the elected representatives of the people, he alleged.

He accused the Chief Minister of discriminating against Sonepat and Rohtak districts in matters of development. However the people of these districts would continue their fight against the injustice done to them.

He also appealed to all opposition parties to come together and work for dislodging Mr Bansi Lal from power as he had lost the confidence of the people at large.

Mr Bansi Lal should resign immediately on moral grounds, he demanded.

Minister's son told to pay Rs 2.4 crore
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, May 14 — The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has issued a notice to Mr Man Mohan Goel, a son of the Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Srikishan Dass, to deposit Rs 2.44 crore as power surcharge within a week, failing which power supply to his factory, Haryana Ferro Alloys Ltd, would be disconnected.

The notice, issued by the SDO (Operation), Subdivision, 3 said the civil suit by which he had challenged the recovery of surcharge on steel furnace rolling mills had been dismissed by the Additional District Judge, Mrs Sneh Prashar. Therefore, he was liable to pay the amount due against him from June, 1992, to April this year.

The HVPN authorities had served a notice on Mr Goel to pay the surcharge at the rate of 15 paise per unit in 1992. Mr Goel challenged the notice in the court of Mr A.K. Raghava, Civil Judge (Senior Division), who gave a decision in favour of Mr Goel on May 17, 1996. The HVPN challenged the trial court's order on July 24, 1996. The additional District Judge, Mrs Sneh Prashar, accepted the appeal of the HVPN on April 2 last and said in her 24-page decision that the surcharge, at the rate of 15 paise per unit was genuine.

Following the decision, the HVPN issued a notice to Mr Goel for recovery of the surcharge.

Farmers denied power to ‘save water’
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, May 14 — A district- level function was held here to mark 3 years of the Haryana Vikas Party government.

Mr Bijender Singh, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry and Health said most promises made by the HVP-BJP alliance had been fulfilled and power would be available to consumers round the clock after June 30 and to the agricultural sector for eight hours a day. He said electricity to tubewells could not be supplied for more than eight hours as beyond this the water level would go down according to Haryana Agriculture University scientist. But this did not in itself mean a shortage of power.

He cautioned party workers to remain vigilant on June 30 as employees of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigan could sabotage power supply to defame the government.

The chairman, HARCO Bank and local MLA, Mr Om Parkash Jain said the Haryana Government had sanctioned a 7 kilometre long flyover from Sewah Garhi to Baburpur drain construction on which would be started this year and would be completed within three years.

The Chairman, HARCO, Bank and local MLA, Mr Om Parkash Jain said he had extended his support as an Independent MLA to Mr Bansi Lal keeping in view his dynamic leadership. He announced that he would continue to extend his support in future too.

Forest official suspended
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, May 14 — In his first meeting as chairman of the district grievances committee, Transport Minister Krishan Lal ordered suspension of three persons on corruption charges here yesterday afternoon.

In the first case the minister ordered registration of an F.I.R. against a wild life Inspector of the Forest Department. Rajender for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000/- from Chhotu Ram Jain, cashier of Shri Bala Ji Goshala of Ganga village.

According to the information a few persons from Punjab had come to Ganga village in Dabwali subdivision to hunt on January 5 this year. They were caught by the villagers and the matter reported at the Chautala police station and in the presence of the S.H.O, a Panchayat was held and the hunters fined Rs 25000 — which they deposited in the fund of the village Goshala.

But on January 11 the said inspector went to the village, threatened the cashier and took away Rs 10,000.

The matter was referred to the S.D.M Dabwali who in his inquiry established the facts. On the basis of his report the minister ordered prosecution of the inspector.

In another case the sarpanch and secretary of village Jhorarnali were suspended for 'misappropriation' of panchayat money.

9 out of 14 complaints were disposed of at the meeting.

Cong blamed for mid-term poll
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, May 14 — "We cannot tolerate a foreigner as head of the national government," the INLD chief and former Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala said here today. He was addressing party workers at Tula Ram Dharamshala.

Mr Chautala blamed the Congress for the mid-term poll and said the party had the tendency to create instability by pulling down governments and later raising the slogan of stability. Regarding the political crisis in Haryana, Mr Chautala said there was a possibility of elections to the Vidhan Sabha along with the Lok Sabha poll.

2 cheats held for dissolving gold
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, May 14 — The district police arrested two persons, Sanjay Kumar, and Prem Kumar, both of Delhi under Section 406 and 420 IPC for allegedly cheating women by removing gold from their gold ornaments on the pretext of clearing them with a solvent.

Stating this here today, the district police chief, Mr Alok Roy said that Rajesh Kumar, a resident of New Colony, Ladwa, 30 km from here, lodged a complaint that the duo culprits, persuaded his sister-in-law Shalu, to clean her gold chain weighing 21.4 gms.

When Rajesh returned home he found that the chain fell lighter. He got it weighed to be told that the chain's weight was now 13.6 grams.

He immediately informed the police who swung into action and arrested Sanjay Kumar and Prem Kumar.

Mr Roy appealed to the public to get their gold ornaments cleaned, only from established shopkeepers to avoid deception. In another case, Raghbir, a resident of village Harneja in this district, was arrested under Section 323 and 356 IPC snatching a gold chain from the neck of Sheela Devi, a resident of Jamalpur, village in district Hisar in Haryana.

Gang of cheats busted
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, May 14 — An inter-state gang of cheats has been busted by the district police.

Stating this here yesterday the district police chief, Mr Alok Roy, said the three gang members, Rajpal, alias Raju, a resident of Jundla Gate, Karnal, Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Ahar, Panipat, and Joginder Singh, alias Nikka, a resident of Ammupur Dera Shri Ram, Thana Nissing, Karnal had been arrested by the crime branch and two currency notes of Rs 10 denomination bearing the same number recovered from the procession of Rajpal and Sanjay.

Mr Roy said the gang members had been operating in Delhi and different districts of the state. While confessing to the crime, Rajpal informed the police that Jitender, alias Pinda, a resident of Kaul village in Kaithal also worked with them.

Talking about the modus operandi, Rajpal said the members converted the figures of 3 to 8 and 1 to 4 on the real currency notes.

Exam arrangements
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, May 14 — Kurukshetra University has made sufficient arrangements for the conduct of the ensuing postgraduate theory examinations commencing from May 20.

Stating this here on Wednesday the Controller of Examinations, Mr K.D. Khajuria, said that date-sheets and roll numbers to candidates. Principals of affiliated colleges and Chairpersons of the university teaching departments had already been despatched. The examinations would be held in a single session from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, he added.

Mr Khajuria said candidates of B.A. (one sitting) who got reappear, were being given a last chance and the examination of B.A. (one sitting) would be held from June 18. The part-examination of B.A. (one sitting) would be held in the morning session while the part-II and part-III examinations of B.A. (one sitting) would be held in the evening session. Similarly, the B.Ed. examination for regular, private and correspondence course candidates would be held from June 10 in the evening session, he added.

To check copying and unfair means in the examinations, Mr Khajuria said the university was going to deploy flying squads comprising senior teachers apart from the deployment of police personnel with the active co-operation of the district administrations.

Farmers seek compensation
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, May 14 — The production of wheat in this district has declined due to late harvesting of sugarcane last year.

Mr Sat Pal Kaushik, president, Haryana Krishak Samaj, Yamunanagar district, said here today that farmers suffered due to wrong policies of the Haryana Government and Saraswati Sugar Mill. He alleged that the mill had not provided coupons to the farmers in November and December resulting delay in harvest the crop.

He demanded a compensation for loss of crops in October due to unprecedented rain. He said even the state government and the Centre had conducted a survey but no compensation had been announced so far.

‘Need’ to check drug supplies
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, May 14 — While it has often been observed that children in a family where liquor flows freely acquire drinking habits at an early stage, it requires more data to explain why children of alcoholic parents how more tolerance to a fixed dose of alcohol as compared to children of non-alcoholic parents.

This was stated by Dr S.P. Singh, Professor Emeritus and Convener of the University Grants Commission (UGC) panel on Chemistry, while speaking on the disturbing trend of drug abuse at Academic Staff College, Kurukshetra University, here yesterday.

He said that it had been established through studies that easy availability of liquor (or any other drug) made one more susceptible to it. Steps were thus needed to check its supply, he added.

Elaborating on the harmful effects of alcohol, he said that it got rapidly absorbed through the small intestine and was carried to the liver, where it became a source of biological fuel for generating energy needed by the body.

Rehabilitation of alcoholics was a difficult task as many of them return to drinking after a period of abstinence. Apart from medicines, family support and professional counselling needed to be encouraged. Voluntary organisations such as Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) played a big role in the management of alcoholism, he said.

Mass copying in school exam
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, May 14 — Complaints of mass copying in the annual examinations being conducted by the national open school at various schools in the city were received here today. When contacted Mr D.D. Verma, District Education Officer, Sirsa said he was helpless in the matter as the examination centres of national open school were outside their purview this year.

It is being alleged that some supervisors were providing 'copying' material to examinees.

RECKS calls off agitation
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, May 14 — Eleven-day-old agitation launched by members of the Regional Engineering College Karamchari Sangh (recks), Kurukshetra, in protest against the non release of wheat loan to Class III employees of the college was withdrawn yesterday.

Mr Bhim Chand Sharma, president and Mr Tulsi Das Batra, general secretary, of the sangh in a statement released here today said the agitation was called off following their demand accepted by the government.

Bansi Lal retains Health portfolio
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 14 — The charge of the Health portfolio vacated by the sacked Health Minister, Mr Brij Mohan Singla, has been retained by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, in addition to other portfolios.

Similarly, the portfolio of Cooperation shed by the other sacked Minister, Mr Narbir Singh, has been given to Mr Jagdish Yadav, Minister of State for Forests, in addition to other departments whose charge is already with him.

Vaid Kapoor Chand, Minister of State, has been allotted Industrial Training and Vocational Education and Civil Aviation as independent charge.

2 killed, 6 hurt in collision
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, May 14 — Two persons died and six seriously injured in a road accident at Chaneti village about 10 km from here on the Yamunanagar-Poanta Sahib highway last night.

According to information received here today there was a head-on-collision between a Tata Sumo and a tractor-trolley. The driver of the Tata Sumo, Rajinder Kumar alias Kala of Khizarabad village in Yamunanagar district and Mam Chand of Balachaur died on the spot.

The injured include Sona Devi of Deodhar village Balbir, Sapna Devi of Kakreli village in police station Raipur Rani, Sumer Chand, and Phool Singh and Jarnail Singh of Balachaur village. They have been admitted in different hospitals of Yamunanagar district.