Dera Chief Interface with media. Memo to DC

Dera Chief Interface with media. Memo to DC
SIRSA NEWS
29 July, 2008

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Abhay Singh tours Ellenabad Villages

Abhay Singh tours Ellenabad Villages, said N-Deal an eyewash.
SIRSA NEWS
27 July, 2008
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Antim Ardas at Dabwali passes off peacefully

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Antim Ardas at Dabwali passes off peacefully, Curfew relaxed for 24 hours.
SIRSA NEWS
27 July, 2008

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An Uneasy calm prevailed yesterday at Dabwali Town and Sirsa City as the Bhog and Antim Ardas of Harmandir Singh was concurrent with the monthly congregation of Dera Sacha Sauda Followers at sects Sirsa Dera. The administration in an attempt to leave nothing to chance had even pressed in the services of a helicopter for aerial surveillance and monitoring on this Sunday 26th July 2008. However everything ended up peacefully at both the places to the relief of the administration and to the citizens as well.

PEACE MARCH TAKEN OUT AT DABWALI

In order to intensify efforts to maintain peace and communal harmony in Dabwali, which witnessed unprecedented violence on July 18 during Naam Charcha at residence of a Dera Followers, a peace march was taken out at Mandi Dabwali today. Cutting party and other considerations hundreds of peace marches belonging to all section of society including political and social activists, members of NGO’s , Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers and students etc participated in the peace march and appealed people belonging to Sikh organisation and Dera Followers to maintain peace and harmony during the Bhog Ceremony of Late Harminder Singh who was killed during Sikh - Dera Followers clashes, in July.
CURFEW RELAXED FOR 24 HOURS IN DABWALI.
In view of improved conditioned in Dabwali town which gradually limped back to normal since last evening the district authorities gave more relaxation in the curfew and for the first time today since it was imposed, the curfew was relaxed for 24 hours. Deputy Commissioner V. Umashankar told that as the ground conditions improved considerably and in order to provide all facilities to the Sikhs coming to participate in the Bhog Ceremony of unfortunate victim Harminder Singh the curfew was completely lifted. He also expressed his confidence that now peace and tranquility will prevail in Dabwali and surrounding areas. He also appealed the people to strive for maintaining peace and cordiality. He however said that elaborate security arrangements were still in place and none would be allowed to disturb peace all take law in to his hands.

Report: Dr. OP Bansal, with inputs from GS Mann

Samachaar SMS News service from Department of JMC CDLU

Samachaar SMS News service from Department of JMC CDLU
SIRSA NEWS
25 July, 2008

Jansanchaar News Service
SIRSA
The department of mass communication of the Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, would soon launch news headlines service on SMS. Subscribers of the free service would get news update, in the form of latest headlines, twice or thrice a day on their cell phones. A proposal to this effect submitted by the department has been approved by the vice-chancellor Dr K.C. Bhardwaj. The proposed service has already been started on a trial basis for a select group of subscribers and would be soon launched formally.

Virender Singh Chauhan, chairman of the department of mass communication, said the scheme would be managed by the students, under the overall supervision of the faculty of the department.

Initially, two to three SMS news bulletins would be broadcasted everyday on the cell phones of the subscribers as per a fixed schedule.

These bulletins would contain headlines from local and state news to the national and international developments. The choice of content would be based on the importance of the events. People in and around the city would be able to subscribe to the service by sending a message “join samachaar” to 567678. The service would not only provide ample opportunity to journalism students to hone their skills, but also keep subscribers abreast with currents affairs of local, national and international importance. For training students, the department runs a news portal and has already started the process of establishing a Community Radio Station (CRS). The CRS would start broadcasting educational programmes at 90.4 Megahertz on FM band by November this year.

Chauhan said the CRS would be established in the Media Centre, a building being constructed to house a well-equipped television studio and a newsroom, apart from the CRS.
In addition, the department has been permitted to start two new courses with effect from this academic session (2008-09). The courses, being offered under Self Financing Scheme (SFS), are BA and a PG diploma in mass communication. While BAMC classes would be run in the morning session the PGDMC classes would be held in the evening. Both the courses would be based on a semester system, he added.

BANDH COMPLETE, SIKHS TAKE OUT PROTEST MARCH

BANDH COMPLETE, SIKHS TAKE OUT PROTEST MARCH

SIRSA NEWS

24 July, 2008

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THE BANDH call given by the Sant Samaj evoked a massive response here today and all shops, business establishments, teaching institutions and even eateries and tea stalls remained closed from early morning. All government offices, Banks and other financial institutions however remained open and functioned normally. Power and water supply and Traffic on the roads remained normal. Elaborate Security arrangements were made by the District Administration and since early morning the Police and para Military forces started flag marches on all the streets of the town which was continuing till filing of this news. All entry points to the district were barricaded and every vehicle and its owners were checked and frisked before being allowed inside the district. The local Dera Sacha Sauda and the local Dasham Patshahi Gurudwara were heavily guarded and Nakas and barricades were put on all roads leading to both these places to ensure that no untoward incident happens. Similar reports of the bandh were received from Ellenabad, Dabwali, Kalanwali, and Rania towns of the district. Till writing of the news no untoward incident was reported from any where in the district.

SIKHS TAKE OUT PROTEST MARCH.

THOUSANDS OF Sikhs led by Sukhvinder Singh the president of Haryana Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha today took out a protest march and handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding immediate arrest of the Dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. They started from the local Gurudwara Daswin Patshahi and after passing through the main streets arrived at the Lal Batti chowk, where the Deputy Commissioner received the memorandum. On the way they were chanting ‘Satnam Waheguru’ only. The entire route of the protesters was heavily guarded by the police and Para-military forces to ward off any unwanted incident.

BANDH WAS IMPOSED ON THE PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR WILL……..DERA SACHA SAUDA.

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PAWAN INSAN a spokesman of the Dera Sacha Sauda has, through a press released issued here today alleged that today’s Bandh was imposed upon the people against their will. He said that the Sikhs who took out the march here today were fully armed which gave a wrong signal to the peace loving people who felt terrorized. He further alleged that common man including the shopkeepers kept their establishments closed out of fear of the repercussions at the hands of anti-social elements in case they dared to keep their shops open. Pawan also alleged that the police and other forces remained mute spectators to the coercion of these forces.

Report: Dr OP Bansal

Sikhs Outfits Bandh Call on 23rd, Security preparedness demonstrated by administration

Sikhs Outfits Bandh Call on 23rd.

Security preparedness demonstrated.

SIRSA NEWS

22 July, 2008

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THE DISTRICT Sirsa administration has beefed up security in the wake of the Bandh call given by the Sikh organizations for July 23.
Commissioner Hisar Division Mr. P.C. Bidhan accompanied by IGP Hisar, A.K. Dhull today held a meeting with the District Administration today to chalk out the detailed strategy to deal with any eventuality during the proposed Bandh. Deputy Commissioner, V. Umashankar, Superintendent of Police Mr. K. Venkata Ramana, ADC Mr. Yudhvir Singh Khialia, Commandants and Assistant Commandants of the BSF and Para-Military forces, SDM Harish Bhatia participated in the deliberations. Deputy Commissioner told here today that a very heavy police force along with 23 companies of the BSF and other Para-Military forces have been deployed in the district to ensure complete peace during the proposed Bandh. He told that Section 144 of the Cr. P. C has been promulgated throughout the district and none would be allowed to indulge into any unlawful activity. He warned that the activities of any anti-social elements indulging in any sort of violence would be video graphed to establish the identities of anti-social elements.

Mr. Uma Shankar revealed that the whole district has been divided into 13 sectors and one duty magistrate along with one additional SP or DSP level officer have been deputed for each sector to control and monitor the situation during the Bandh. He further revealed that 13 ‘Nakas’ and Barricades have been erected in the 41 sensitive villages. He said that in these villages continuous police patrolling has been ordered to ensure complete tranquility during the Bandh. He also said that Coiled barbed wire used as an obstacle (Concertina wire) have also been used at the Barricades and ‘Nakas’ for the first time to deal with the violators. He said that all the concerned officials have been directed to coordinate with each other and to take quick and preventive action immediately to control any individual or mob violence. Besides all vehicles entering the district Sirsa territory would be checked and frisked up.

Report: Dr. OP Bansal

Mataka Phodd Protest by INLD

Mataka Phodd Protest by INLD
SIRSA NEWS
21 July, 2008
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Scores of INLD activists (INLD women wing) of the district led by Mrs. Kanta Chautala wife of former MLA, Ch. Abhay Singh Chautala today staged a Matka Phod protest against the alleged acute shortage of Power, drinking and Irrigation water in the district. Addressing the protesters at Anaj Mandi sheds, before flagging off the protest march, Ch. Abhay Singh Chautala accused the present Bhupinder Singh Hooda regime in the state for his failure on all fronts. He alleged that the state failed even to provide the basic amenities like power or water. Prominent among other INLD leaders who also addressed the protesters were: District party president Padam Jain, District party president (women wing), Ms. Krishana Phogat, MLAs Sushil Indora and Sita Ram, former MLA Bhagi Ram and Amir Chawla, former Chairman, Haryana State Services Selection Board.

Before this Ch Abhay Singh had been touring villages, everyday apprising the masses about the need for this protest.

Our Silence is not Synonym of Cowardice – Dr. Aditya Insaan

Our Silence is not Synonym of Cowardice – Dr. Aditya Insaan- Dera Spokesman.
SIRSA NEWS
20 July, 2008
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DERA FOLLOWERS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO WORSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR FAITH.
IN A democratic and secular country like India where every one enjoys freedom of speech and can follow any religion, the Dera Sacha Sauda followers have also the fundamental right to worship in accordance with their own faith or tenets.

More details soon..................

Funeral day passes off peacefully in Dabwali

Funeral day passes off peacefully in Dabwali
SIRSA NEWS
20 July, 2008
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DABWALI LIMPING BACK TO NORMALCY, CURFEW STILL CONTINUES. HARMINDER SINGH MORTAL REMAINS CREMATED.

THE DABWALI which faced the worst violence in is history was gradually limping back to normalcy and there prevails complete peace in the town and its vicinity. The curfew that was imposed yesterday still continues which was lifted for 2 hours today from 10am to 12. No untoward incident was from any where within the Dabwali town or its peripheral areas. The cremation of the mortal remains of Harminder Singh who succumbed to his injuries he sustained during clashes between the Sikhs and the Dera followers on Friday were consigned to flames in his native village Dabwali village. Thousands of people including SimranJit Singh Maan, the president of the SAD (Amritsar), Avtar Singh Makkar the president of the SGPC, Balwant Singh Nandgarh, the head granthi of the Gurudwara Talwandi Sabo, Sukhsvinder Singh Khalsa, the president of the Haryana Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha, Cleric Balwant Singh Dadoo and INLD leader Sita MLA (Dabwali) participated in the funeral
procession. His cremation passed off peacefully. When contacted Deputy Commissioner V.Umashankar who along the top police brass has been camping at Dabwali since yesterday told that there prevails peace. He has also the people especially both the warring groups to maintain peace and communal harmony in the district. He said that security has been beefed up at all the sensitive spots.

DERA FOLLOWER AND HIS SON BOOKED FOR MURDER.

SUNDER DASS MEHTA and his son both residents of Dabwali town and the Dera Sacha Sauda followers at whose house during naam charcha clashes a Sikh Harminder was killed on Friday were booked for murder and were produced before a court at Sirsa which sent them to judicial lock up for 14 days. The next hearing has been fixed for 2.8.08. It may be recalled that violent clashes took place during the Naam Charcha held at the residence of Mehta on Friday and there was stone pelting on both the sides ie., the Sikhs and the dera followers in which Harminder Singh was seriously injured and later succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital.
Report: Dr. OP Bansal

Dera-Sikh Row Flares - DABWALI Burns, Gory Incidents Mark the day.

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Dera-Sikh Row Flares - DABWALI Burns, Gory Incidents Mark the day.

SIRSA NEWS

19 July, 2008

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• CURFEW IMPOSED IN DABWALI TOWN FOLLOWING VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN DERA FOLLOWERS AND SIKHS
• ONE SIKH SUCCUMBED.
• OVER 2 DOZEN SHOPS TORCHED.
• A JOURNALIST ASSAULTED.
• DC V. Umashankar also hurt.
• SGPC President, Avatar Singh Makker visits Dabwali.

IN ORDER TO control the most violent and volatile situation that followed the death of a Sikh as a result of clashes over Naam charcha between the Dera Sacha Sauda followers and the Sikhs today, the district Administration has imposed an indefinite curfew in Dabwali. Immediately after the news of the death of a Sikh identified as Harmander Singh son of Mahender Singh a resident of Dabwali town came, thousands of protesting Sikhs came on the roads demanding the immediate arrest of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh and soon the situation turned violent and over 30 shops were set on fire by the protesters. The office of a scribe Jai Muni Goel was ransacked and damaged. He claimed that he was also attacked upon and as a result he sustained some head injuries. He also alleged that his camera was snatched by the protesters. On getting information Deputy Commissioner V. Umashankar and Superintendent Police K.Venakata Ramana rushed to Dabwali and summoned a large police force. The police fired in the air and also lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters but when it failed then the Administration imposed curfew to control the situation which was getting out of control. The condition was so bad that the protesters even did not allow the Fire tenders to perform their duties to extinguish fire in the shops. The Dabwali town has been turned into a Police Camp with a very heavy police force deployed there. IG. Police also arrived in the town to make an on the spot appraisal of the situation. According to reports the Naam Charcha was held at the residence of one Sunder Das Mehta. On getting information about the naam Charcha, Sikhs in droves arrived there to stop it. As a result there was brick bating on both the sides in which Harmander Singh was injured on his head. He later succumbed to injuries. In Ellenabad town the shopkeepers downed their shutters fearing any fall out of the Dabwali incident. Soon Band like situation was noticed in Sirsa town as most of the shopkeepers downed their shutters. Similar news were received from Kalanwali and Rania towns as well. According to latest information the situation at Dabwali is still tense but under control. Till writing of the news no fresh report of any untoward happening was reported from any where in the district.

RANIA
SIKHS STAGE PROTEST, DEMAND IMMEDIATE ARREST OF DERA SACHA SAUDA CHIEF.
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HUNDREDS OF Sikhs led by Sukhvinder Singh, the president of the Haryana Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha on Wednesday staged a strident protest against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh at Rania town of the district demanding his immediate arrest for hurting the sentiments of the Sikhs. The protesters after marching through the main streets of the town arrived at the Tehsil office where they handed a memorandum addressed the President of India, the SDM Ellenabad Subhash Sheoran who had expressly arrived at Rania town to receive the memorandum. While addressing the protesters, Sukhvinder Singh alleged that the Dera Chief first of all committed blasphemy by wearing a dress similar to the one adorned by the 10th Guru of the Sikhs and grievously hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs and then at Bombay he abets the shoot out by his body guards in which an innocent Sikh was killed. He claimed that by his action at Bombay he poured salts into the wounds of the Sikhs throughout the country. He demanded that he should be asked to shun his private body guards. He warned that the series of Protest marches throughout Haryana would continue till the Dera chief was arrested. He claimed that now after the criminal cases against the Dera chief his real picture has come before the people and appealed the Haryana and Union Governments to immediately put his behind he bars.

SIKH-DERA FOLLOWERS CLASH AVERTED.

TIMELY INTERVENTION of the police averted an ugly situation that arose near village Ghookanwali of the district on Wednesday when a large number of Sikhs assembled in front of the residence of Jeewan Singh Pandit a Dera Sacha Sauda follwer where Naam Charcha was to be held. Soon an ugly situation emerged between the parties as the Sikhs were determined to stop the Naam Charcha while the Dera followers were adamant to hold their Naam Charcha. Within moments the Police got information and a heavy police force from Odhan police station arrive on the spot and defused the situation. Jasbir Singh Khalsa, the vice president of the Haryana Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha said that till the case pending against the Dera chief was not adjudicated the Sikhs would allow the Dera followers to hold their Naam Charcha.
Report: Dr. O.P. Bansal