Phoolan killer’s party to contest from Haryana

Chandigarh: Phoolan Devi’s killer Sher Singh Rana, who is out on bail after his conviction, announced that his newly formed party Rashtravadi Janlok Party (RJP) would contest the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Haryana. Rana was in Chandigarh on Thursday. He said his party would fight against caste-based reservation. He declared that his party would work for the upper castes. TNS

Ousted Rakhigarhi villagers start dharna

Hisar: Rakhigarhi villagers, who have been evacuated from the archaeologically protected Harappan site in the village, started a dharna on Thursday. They are unhappy with the government's offer of a two-room house in 100 square yards in lieu of their houses in Rakhigarhi. “All those ousted from Rakhigarhi live in joint families. Besides, we have cattle to tend to. How can we accommodate in 100-square-yard houses? We all have given up bigger size plots,” one of the villagers Sanjiv Malik said. TNS

CMO suspends officer over delayed action

Chandigarh: The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Thursday suspended Jagraj Dandi, Joint Director, Agriculture Department, for delaying action on complaints received at the CM's window. “Dhandi was sitting over at least 10 complaints,” said Bhupeshwar Dayal, OSD to the CM. In another case, Satish Kumar, ASI in Bhiwani, was suspended for an attempt to close a complaint received on the CM’s window by getting fake signatures of a 14-year-old girl. TNS

Five test positive for swine flu in Karnal

Karnal: With the confirmation of four positive cases, the number of swine flu cases has reached five in city. One person died of swine flu last month in Katabagh colony here. There are 169 suspected cases in the district. The department has sent blood samples of 36 patients, out of which the report of 16 patients are pending, said Saroj Bala, Deputy Civil Surgeon. TNS

Ex-IG’s outfit looking for alliance with JJP 

Chandigarh: Former IG Ranbir Sharma's Rashtriya Lokswaraj Party (RLP) is looking for an alliance with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. “The alliance will take a formal shape on February 21,” Sharma told the media here on Thursday. He accused the BJP government of being corrupt, but refused to furnish any proof. On AAP's alliance with the JJP, Sharma said: "AAP can be a part of the alliance, but it has to agree to decentralisation of power and strengthening of the panchayati raj system.” TNS

‘Drug-free India’ drive from Feb 19

Hisar: The Art of Living Foundation with the support of the state government is launching a nationwide campaign ‘Drug-Free India’ to combat the menace of drug addiction among the youth. The campaign will be launched in a function at Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST) here, on February 19. VC Prof Tankeshwar Kumar said the university would confer Honoris Causa  on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living. TNS

Two nabbed in murder case

Panipat: The police have arrested two persons on the charge of kidnapping and murdering 22-year-old Shadab. The accused were on Thursday produced in court, which sent them in two-day police custody. The accused were identified as Salman of Kanpur and Gaurav of Manpuri in Uttar Pradesh. Their accomplice Sanjay of Manpuri was absconding. TNS