EDUCATION

55 schools upgraded in Sonepat in four years
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, August 16
The Haryana Government has upgraded as many as 55 schools during the past about four years in Sonepat district. Giving this information, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, told mediapersons here today that these included 21 high schools which had been upgraded to 10 plus 2 level, 11 middle schools to the matric level and 23 primary schools to the middle standard level. The main purpose for upgradation of the school was to provide education to girls, particularly in the rural areas, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner also disclosed that under the new education policy the state government had made it obligatory for the students to get computer education from Class VI and study in English from nursery class. The state government, he said, had provided the facility of toilets and drinking water in all 70 senior secondary schools, 120 high schools and 74 middle schools in Sonepat district.

According to Mr Balwan Singh, the state government had sanctioned a grant of Rs 54.25 lakh and another sum of Rs 14.35 lakh for the educational institutions in the district. As many as 10 new rooms had been constructed in various schools and 17 schools had been repaired in the district.

The DC also disclosed that the state government had distributed a sum of Rs 19.80 lakh among 79 schools for the purpose of repairs during the current financial year.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojna in the district, the DC disclosed that a sum of Rs 10.90 crore had been allotted for giving them financial assistance for setting up of trade and business by the educated jobless youths. As many as 1,783 youths had been benefited by this scheme during the period under review.

The DC claimed that Sonepat district topped in Haryana in the implementation of this scheme during the past three years.

Special court at Tihar disposes of 49 cases
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 16
Of the 55 cases, a special court at Tihar Jail today disposed of 49 cases of petty offenders languishing in prison. Six of the remaining cases of prisoners were referred back to the regular courts. The court was presided over by the Metropolitan Magistrate, Mr Alok Aggarwal. This was the 37th court in succession and till date as many as 2,567 cases of petty offenders had been decided by the special court.

These courts are being held on a regular basis on the Tihar premises on the directions of former Chief Justice of India A. S. Anand. All 55 cases were screened by the Fingerprint Bureau of the Delhi Police to eliminate habitual offenders. Till date, 2,567 cases of petty offenders had been decided by the special courts being held on regular basis on the Tihar Jail premises, a press release issued by the office of the Director-General (Prisons) said.

Five get RI on prostitution charges
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 16
A city court has sentenced five persons, including two women, to rigorous imprisonment and ordered them to pay fine for forcing minor girls into prostitution here over two years ago.

Additional Sessions Judge Bimla Makin sentenced Zareena alias Razia to RI of ten years and a fine of Rs 15,000, while Haseena was sentenced to seven years RI and pay Rs 10,000 as fine.

The court handed down RI of seven years to a brothel-owner, identified as Bhagti Ram Pandey, and fined him Rs 10,000 for the crime.

Pimp Deep Karan, found guilty of raping one of the minor girls, was ordered to undergo RI of 10 years and to shell out Rs 15,000.

Umesh Kumar alias Tinkoo, also a pimp, was sentenced to five years RI and directed to pay Rs 5,000 as fine.

“All convicts are dealing in flesh trade and deserve no mercy... they should be dealt with an iron hand”, the judge said in her order. About the two female convicts, who were themselves prostitutes, the court said women like them “are the worst enemies of women”. The police had rescued two girls who were confined against their will in a brothel at G B Road on June 21, 2001.

Deep Karan raped one of the two victims and later sold her for Rs 15,000 to Zareena. Zareena and Haseena then sent customers to the minor girl and when she resisted, they beat her up and forced her to have sex with men. Zareena had also bought another Nepalese girl and forced her into prostitution.

Meanwhile, a city court sentenced to life a fruit-seller who killed one man and injured two in North Delhi four years ago by setting two of them aflame after pouring petrol on the duo while they were asleep.

Additional Sessions Judge R K Jain sentenced Devender Kumar alias Kallu and also ordered him to pay a fine of Rs 1,500.

Deceased Vinod alias Guddu, also a fruit seller in Azadpur, had detained Devender’s cart in August 1999, saying he would give it back only if the latter returned the Rs 7,000 which was borrowed from him.

On the intervening night of August 8/9, 1999, Devender poured petrol on Vinod and Durgesh, who were sleeping on their cart and set them on fire. Har Gobind, who tried to douse the flames, sustained burn injuries. While Vinod succumbed to the burn injuries, Durgesh was severely injured.