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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Sunday, September 12, 1999 |
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Martyr's father feels
honoured Marooned, they boycotted poll |
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1 killed,
45 hurt as bus overturns Verify averments, HC asks SP HC notice to DC Roadways workers resent transfers 3 get life sentence for murder |
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Martyr's father feels honoured GHIRAI (Hisar): The loss of a dear son in the Kargil war may be too great and painful for Mr Bhajan Singh, but he is equally proud. Never in his 80 years has he felt so honoured as he does now. For the past eight decades, his family has been dedicated to the military services. Honour came to the family this year following the martyrdom of Mahabir Singh, Mr Bhajan Singh's eldest son. It may be a unique case of devotion and dedication to duty. During the Kargil war, three members of the family were battling it out against the enemy. Mr Bhajan Singh's two sons — Mahabir Singh and Mahalveer Singh — and his grandson Karan Singh were posted at Kargil at the same time. It would have been remarkable had all three returned alive and victorious. "But Mahabir failed us and forgot the promise to return victorious," Mr Bhajan Singh says with tears in his eyes. But he hastens to add as if to console himself: "His brother Mahalveer and son Karan kept their promise. They returned alive and victorious. Mr Bhajan Singh's father Mohar Singh had served in the British Army. He had fought in World War I and II. The family, like the village, has a tradition of valour associated with the military. They are undaunted by death. It is not just the honours given by the government in the form of money and other benefits that makes Mr Bhajan Singh feel proud and happy. It is the acknowledgement and recognition he has got for the sacrifice from the common people. It appears to him as if Mahabir was the son of the entire village. While in the past, there was a strong sense of belonging among villagers, it had seemed to disappear. But Mahabir's martyrdom revived it all. The village has become a single family. Hundreds of people from politicians to ordinary people have visited Mr Bhajan Singh and consoled him. "What else can a soldier's father, who has himself been a soldier, demand", he asks. Mahabir has done for him, what he could not achieve himself, despite being a brave soldier himself. Mr Bhajan Singh
appreciates the role of the media in creating a strong
public opinion across the country, which was reflected in
generous donations for the armed forces. "Such
nationalistic fervour could not be witnessed even after
the 1971 victory against Pakistan," he says
"Probably people did not read so many newspapers.
Nor was television there. But today people watched the
war in their drawing rooms that made them to empathise
with the soldiers," he adds. |
Chautala pays homage to martyr DAULTABAD (Gurgaon), Sept 11 — The residents of Daultabad village, and its surrounding areas are still mourning the death, of Bejinder Kumar, of the 13 Kumaon Regiment, who died in the Turtuk sector on the night of August 29 and 30. Bejinder Kumar, who was to turn 18 on October 1, was injured along with five others in heavy mortar shelling, from Pakistan side, while they were erecting bunkers and digging trenches after wresting a post from the enemy in Turtuk sector. Hundreds attended the "bhog" ceremony of the hero at his native village, yesterday. The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was also present and laid a wreath at the site where the mortal remains of the hero were cremated. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chautala said the state would honour the war heroes in all possible ways. Mr Chautala also accepted the demands of the villagers, which included upgradation of the primary school of the village to high school and naming it after the hero. Also, there was a demand for providing a road-link from the village to the nearest main road. The Chief Minister also said that former Deputy Prime Minister, Devi Lal had decided to donate Rs 2 lakh for each of the memorials to be set up in honour of the war heroes. Mr Chautala also
presented a cheque for Rs 10 lakh to the family of
Bejinder Kumar on behalf of the state government. |
Marooned, they boycotted poll YAMUNANAGAR, Sept 11 — The two villages of Gharon Pipli and Tapu Majri hit the headlines recently when the villagers boycotted the elections to the 13th Lok Sabha. They refused to cast their vote due to the acute problems faced by them. Their main demand is a small bridge and a culvert over a part of the Yamuna. This reporter reached Gharon Pipli village on a tractor-trolley. Within a short time almost all villagers got together to express their anguish. They claim their forefathers existence in this village since the rule of Akbar, the great Mughal Emperor. Gharon Pipli and Tapu Majri have a population of 3000 and 1500, respectively, and are dominated by the Gujjar community. There is one Sikh and a couple of Brahmin families. The villages are located on the island which is in the middle of the river. The villagers get marooned every year when the Yamuna rises during monsoon. According to Mr Jai Pal Singh, former sarpanch who gave a lift to this reporter, the entire population has to shift to safer places every year. Their frequent memoranda, over the years, to various MLAs and MPs have been of no avail. No one, according to Mr Singh, visits the villages except during the elections. Sometime even that does not happen, particularly during the Parliamentary elections. The villagers said the total area had been divided into three segments and one of these had been merged with Uttar Pradesh. Electricity connection had been provided "but the voltage is so low that it is not possible to switch on television sets. In case of a breakdown the entire areas goes without power for days together". A primary school building exists but it remains closed during the monsoon as the teachers are not in a position to wade through the Yamuna. There is a provision for three teachers but two posts have been lying vacant for a long time. There is a veterinary centre but no staff or doctor turns up for weeks. According to Mr Sudesh Kumar, sarpanch of Gharon Pipli, there was a regular bus service up to the river bank. But even that was stopped about two years back. The area comes under the jurisdiction of Buria police station of Yamunanagar district. The distance between the police station and the villages is 52 km. The sarpanch further stated that 32 families had applied for telephone connections about a year back but they were still on the waiting list. Parveen Kumar, a student of Khalsa College, Yamunanagar, and a resident of the village, said about 40 boys and girls studying in various colleges were permanently staying either at Saharanpur or Yamunanagar as commuting on a daily basis was not feasible. According to him regular bus service will surely result in quantum jump in these numbers. Due to easy availability of water the villages have a rich harvest of sugarcane. Poplar trees are also in abundance. According to the sarpanch, 70 per cent of the land has already been lost to the river but the government keeps building embankments on the Yamunanagar side of the river bank, almost every year. He further stated that the residents of Jodhpur village and Beer Tapu had already left the area as their land and villages had been submerged in the river. Sham Singh of Tapu Majri village told this reporter that the proposal for the culvert and a small bridge was first initiated about 10 years back. Over the year the requests had been repeated but the administration had not responded. They were left with no alternative but to boycott the elections. The villagers made an
urgent appeal to Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister,
Haryana, to pay special attention to their demands and
thereby remove their long-time miseries and sufferings,
which they faced every day. |
INLD youth wing ex-chief
murdered ROHTAK, Sept 11 — Sandeep Malik, alias Sunny, a former district president of the youth wing of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) was allegedly murdered yesterday by some unidentified youths. The police found his body from the banks of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Canal near Sector-1 here. According to police sources, the deceased, a resident of Azadgarh locality here, had started his own business of property dealing at Sukhpura Chowk some time back. His father, Mr Kartar Singh Malik, belongs to Bighal village, near here. The body was handed over to the family of deceased after a post-mortem examination and was cremated today. The body bore injury marks on legs, chest and thighs. The police has
registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC. |
1 killed, 45 hurt as bus
overturns PANIPAT, Sept 11 — One person died and 45 others were injured when a Haryana Roadways bus overturned near Bhalsi village on the Panipat-Jind road today. According to information, a Jind Depot bus (HR-46-6847) carrying about 50 passengers was on way to Jind from Panipat. Near Bhalsi village, the bus went out of control and overturned after hitting roadside trees. An ex-serviceman, Prem Singh, a resident of Ossar village died on the spot and 45 other passengers, including the driver, were injured. Thirteen of the injured have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital and rest have been taken to Matlodha Health Centre and other private hospitals. The police has registered a case. In another case,
Devinder, a student of the local Arya College and a
resident of Nimbari village died when he fell from the
roof of a bus on its way to Bapoli from Panipat, today. |
Verify averments, HC asks SP CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday directed the SP of Gurgaon to verify averments made by petitioner Shaquat Azad in his complaint dated May 15, 1998. Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, who handed down this order, directed the SP that if he was satisfied that averments made out a case of cognisable nature, then he should get a case registered and direct investigation into the same in accordance with the CrPC. The petitioner had sought directives to the State of Haryana for the registration of a criminal case against former minister Tayab Hussain, MLA Zakir Hussain and nine other persons. He alleged these persons took possession of 11 kanal and 11 marla of land belonging to the Wakf Board with the support of certain persons armed with lethal weapons and on March 20, 1998, forcibly entered a school building and ransacked it. The petitioner claimed
he had lodged a written complaint with the SHO of the
sadar police station, Gurgaon. However,he did not
register the case. |
HC notice to DC CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday asked the Deputy Commissioner of Rewari, Ms Rajni Sekhri Sibal, to show cause as to why proceedings for contempt be not started against her for allegedly violating the directives of the high court issued on March 4, 1999. Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal
issued notice to the Rewari Deputy Commissioner for
November 16 on a contempt petition preferred by Mr Mangat
Ram and Mr Ram Pat alleging that the high court had
stayed on March 4, 1999, the felling and cutting of trees
in the revenue estate of Bidvas village. However, the
district administration of Rewari auctioned 56 trees on
August 13, 1999, despite the high court orders. |
Roadways workers resent transfers FATEHABAD, Sept 11 — There is resentment among roadways workers over the transfer of leaders of the Haryana Roadways Workers Union, by the depot management. In a press release issued here today, Mr Sarbat Singh Poonia, vice president of the state unit of the union said that the depot president of the union, Mr Anil Kumar Manghu, cashier, Mr Hawa Singh and organising secretary, Mr Shamsher Singh were transferred by the depot management from Fatehabad to Tohana as they spoke out for the cause of employees and the depot management found this inconvenient. The union leader warned
the depot management of an agitation if it did not cancel
the transfers. |
3 get life sentence for
murder HISAR, Sept 11 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Hisar, Mr J.B. Sharma today sentenced three persons to life imprisonment, including former Municipal Commissioner Bhagwan Dass. The other two convicted are Jagdish and Ishwar. The three were found guilty of murdering Satbir, a resident of the Mill Gate area here on June 16, 1995. A number of persons including women, had attacked Satbir with lathis and other sharp edged weapons, over some dispute resulting in his death. The police had registered a case against 11 persons under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of IPC in this regard. The court, however, acquitted eight persons, including two women. They were given the benefit of doubt by the court. The court also imposed a
fine of Rs 5,000 each on all convicts. |
Wayward son shoots father HISAR, Sept 11 — A man was shot dead by his son at Chhotu Ram Colony here today. The father and the son were reportedly having some differences. The suspect has been arrested. Kuldeep Singh a security guard in Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) shot his father, Raghubir Singh at about 2 a.m. today. A youth Pawan Kumar, was also injured when he tried to save Raghubir Singh. The deceased was reportedly upset over the behaviour of his son. Only a few days back, Kuldeep had left his home after threatening his father. Kuldeep had reportedly stolen the pistol of Head Constable Dhruv Singh, a tenant in his house, and committed the crime with the same weapon. Dhruv Singh had reported
the theft to the police. But the suspect was not
arrested. |
Truck owners' murders shock village AMBALA, Sept 11 (UNI) — Ismailpur, a small village near here is in a state of shock over the murder of two young partners of a truck in Bihar, where they had gone to deliver goods, about 25 days ago. According to Kuldip Singh, uncle of one of the deceased Harjinder Singh and Baldev Ram had gone to Bihar with goods laden from a local company. The company received a telephonic message on August 30 that the truck bearing Haryana registration number plates was parked outside a hotel but there was no trace of its crew or owners. Kuldip Singh said that when he along with other relatives rushed to the spot on September 1 they found the empty truck parked in the police station. The police, which had found two bodies cremated these on August 24 after declaring these as unclaimed. Kuldip Singh said that photographs of victims helped the relatives identify the deceased. The trucks papers showed that after unloading the Ambala consignments at its destination, the two, on their return journey had loaded at Kanpur (UP) a consignment of onion for Meghalaya. The Bihar police suspected that the two might have been done to death and consignment looted while they were driving through Pipra Kori and Muzzafarpur. The police have
registered a case under Section 302, 201/34 IPC, but not
arrests have been made. |
Lawyers strike work FATEHABAD, Sept 11 — The strike by members of the local bar association entered its 53rd day today. The lawyers, have been demanding setting up of district courts here. Meanwhile work on
construction of a second court room for the district
court began here today. |
Nine hurt in Ambala clash AMBALA, Sept 11 (PTI) — A long-pending dispute acquired the shape of a group clash in Model Town locality of Ambala city last night. Nine persons of two groups were injured seriously in the incident and had to be swords and knives were used in the scuffle normalcy was restored only after police intervention. The dispute which had been raging for quite some time, took a violent turn on Friday night. A local Municipal Commissioner Bittu Chawla was among those injured in the clash. Five of the injured were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Ambala City while four others were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment. Both groups have lodged
complaints against each other. No arrest has been made so
far. |
Crime rate up in Ambala AMBALA, Sept 11 — With the crime graph rising here residents are feeling insecure following different incidents of theft and dacoity. At least 12 cases of theft, dacoity, loot and murder have been reported during the past one month. During the past 48 hours, certain miscreants broke into two electronic goods shops at Ambala city and cantonment and took away TV sets worth lakhs of rupees. No arrest has been made yet. Last night a petrol station on the Ambala-Chandigarh road near the city was looted at gunpoint. Earlier, two such incidents had already occurred in the district. A number of scooters and cars have also been stolen. Last week the police
busted a gang involved in cases of theft. Some firearms
were seized from the gang members. |
Petrol pump looted AMBALA, Sept 11 (UNI) — Three car-borne robbers looted Rs 6000 from a filling station near Baldev Nagar along the Ambala-Chandigarh highway early today. The robbers cut the
telephone lines of the petrol pump before escaping. |
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