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Prabhat Kumar sends in resignation to President
Accompanied by his wife, Kumar returned to the capital from Ranchi on Thursday night and shortly after sent his resignation to President K R Narayanan.

THE AYODHYA IMBROGLIO
Court cannot decide matters of faith: VHP
VHP leader Ashok Singhal claimed that UP's Sunni Wakf Board could not claim the disputed land in Ayodhya, as it was given to the Hindus in 1857.

BJP piqued by VHP's demands
'The VHP is not a partner in the NDA government. How can they sacrifice a government of which they are not partners,' party leader Venkaiah Naidu asked.

Wait for law ministry's decision: BJP to VHP
BJP chief Jana Krishnamurthy said that his party would abide by the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ram temple issue.

INDO-PAK TENSION
India's rejection of offer unfortunate: Pakistan
'It is unfortunate (that) such an eminently good gesture (of troop withdrawal) has once again been spurned,' foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said.

Pakistani troops resort to shelling in Rajouri
Several mortar shells fell in Kaller, Laam and Noushera area of Rajouri district in Jammu division.

DANIEL PEARL'S ABDUCTION
Key suspect found dead
Aarif, who was believed to have crucial information regarding the Wall Street Journal scribe's abduction, was found dead at Ahmedpur East in Punjab province.

India rejects Pak charge
Islamabad had charged that there was an Indian link in the abduction of the Wall Street Journal scribe.

Key suspect denies involvement
In an email sent to the media and the WSJ, the group holding Daniel Pearl hostage threatened to kill him within 24 hours.

POLL SCENE
Akbar Ahmed 'Dumpy' dumps BSP, joins Congress
Dumpy's wife, Naina Balsaver, who had contested the last Lok Sabha polls from Nainital in Uttaranchal on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket, also joined the Congress.

RSS committees to mobilise UP electorate
A 20-member committee has been constituted for every 10,000 voters to motivate them and ensure their participation in the polls, RSS sources said.

Starlit election campaign in Uttaranchal
Various parties are seeking the help of stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna to entice voters.

Battle of hoardings hots up in Lucknow
While the Samajwadi Party points to the steep price rise during the BJP rule, the latter accuses the SP of being anti-national for its opposition to POTO.

PAKISTAN
Musharraf sets up quasi-military courts
The courts would comprise a judge nominated by a high court, a first class judicial magistrate and a military official of the Pakistan Army.

Musharraf holds meeting with army commanders
The latest diplomatic and military moves being made between India and Pakistan and the defence preparedness of the troops on both sides were discussed in the meeting.

Pak to remain suspended from C'wealth meetings
Pakistan was suspended from all Commonwealth meetings following the military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf in October 1999.

Pakistan heading towards production of SRBMs: CIA
`Pakistan needs continued Chinese assistance to support development of the two-stage Shaheen-II MRBM,' a report said.

USIS ATTACK
No FBI investigation into USIS attack
'The West Bengal government is investigating the case with due importance,' US Consul General in Kolkata, Christopher J Sandrolini, said.

Another policeman succumbs to injuries
Four police personnel had died earlier when motorcycle-borne terrorists attacked the USIS office on January 22.

AMERICA'S WAR
Rumsfeld warns of attacks deadlier than 9/11
The FBI has warned that Al Qaeda terrorists may have been studying American dams and water-supply systems in preparation for new attacks.

Pak freezes assets of retired nuke scientist
The decision to freeze the assets of Sultan Bashir-ud-Din Mehmood was taken on the recommendations of the UN Security Council.

US to have close ties with Pak: Rumsfeld
The US requested and Pakistan has responded positively, supplying troops along the border, the defence secretary said.

Karzai wants more foreign troops in Afghanistan
Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai on Thursday sought a much larger international security force presence in his war-torn country, but Britain was non-committal on providing additional forces.

FROM THE STATES
Terrorist attack in Udhampur, 3 killed
The terrorists lobbed a grenade at the main bus stand of Reasi. The dead include 2 children.

Court upholds Sondhi's removal as ICSSR chief
The court said, 'The constitution of the body (ICSSR) does not prohibit the government from withdrawing the nomination of the chairman.'

Punjab: 2 killed, 4 injured in bus explosion
The blast occurred in a Punjab Roadways bus near Satnaur village in Hoshiarpur district on Thursday morning.

Gogoi wants Centre to seal Bhutan border
The Assam chief minister's demand follows two consecutive attacks by NDFB militants from their bases in Bhutan in mid-January.

Power cut in Bodh Gaya monasteries
The International Buddhist Council has decided to close down all the monasteries from Thursday in protest against the decision.

Rajasthan Shiv Sena leader's murderers get lifer
Murlidhar Bohra was killed when communal violence erupted over efforts by some agitators to free calves from rail wagons bound for Bihar.

OTHER REPORTS
CVC report a secret document: Fernandes
The defence ministry's decision not to hand over the CVC report on post 1989 defence deals to Parliament's Public Accounts Committee had generated a controversy, with the opposition criticising the move.

India continues nuke programme with foreign aid: CIA
A recently published CIA report says that India receives most its assistance from Russia.

Afghanistan wants Indian role in reconstruction
Visiting Afghan Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Rashid Dostum said Kabul favoured the establishment of an Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif.

MPs delegation returns after briefing EU
The delegation made it clear to the EU that India would not take any steps for de-escalation till Pakistan took concrete steps to combat cross-border terrorism.

COLUMN
Your news, my way
'The reason one is troubled by the possibility of orchestrated media is that if real, it would appear to shape our very lives,' says Ashwin Mahesh.

SLIDE SHOW
Hamid Karzai at the UN
The leader of Afghanistan's interim government was at the UN to attend a Security Council meeting.

DIARY
Change, please?
Meera Guthi shuddered when she saw the conductor again...

January 30, 2002

INTERVIEW
'A non-violent movement is the only option for Tibetans'
'In a very short spell of time we have brought the issue of Tibet to very high levels of the international community,' says Samdhong Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

TOP REPORTS
'Musharraf threatened to quit before Jan 12'
The Jamaat-e-Islami mouthpiece, Jasarat, said military commanders had opposed the president over his stand on Indo-Pak ties and the Kashmir issue.

Advani plotted to kill Jinnah: Pakistan
A report in 'The News' said the Indian home minister was also involved in a conspiracy to kill the then prime minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan.

Swami rubbishes allegations against Advani
Pakistani daily 'The News' had accused the Indian home minister of plotting to kill the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

India rejects Pakistan's offer of talks
An foreign ministry spokesperson said that India was yet to see a long-term commitment from Pakistan on fighting terrorism.

Jharkhand governor to quit
Prabhat Kumar is accused of accepting the hospitality of a tainted businessman when he was Cabinet secretary.

USIS ATTACK
Another arrest in USIS attack case
The police said that Jamiluddin Nasir, alias Javed, supplied the motorbikes to the ultras who carried out the attack.

Farhan case: CBI raids Patna passport office
The original application submitted by Farhan Malik, an accused in the attack in Kolkata, were seized in that raid.

Madrassa students take to streets in Kolkata
They were protesting against Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee's alleged comments that some madrassas were promoting anti-national activities.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Hizb commander killed in Kashmir
Shamasuddin Ahmad, alias Muzamil, was killed along with his bodyguard near Haran in Handwara area of Kupwara, an official spokesman said.

Hurriyat to blame for violence in Kashmir: JKLF founder
Hashim Qureshi charged that the 23-party amalgam had failed to perform as a political platform and was only acting as a stooge of Islamabad.

We have no faith in the EC: Hurriyat
However, senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone said the amalgam wants to prove its credentials by participating in free and fair elections.

Five intruders shot dead in J&K
The group of mercenaries was spotted early on Wednesday in the Peer Badesar area of Rajouri district.

I-cards for J&K border area inhabitants
The tamper-proof cards will have a code number and will carry a photograph of the holder and particulars of the village he resides in.

POLL SCENE
With 5539 candidates, UP ahead in numbers game
Shikohabad assembly segment in Ferozabad district has the highest number of 29 candidates.

UP: High level team to tour sensitive areas
The team will be touring Meerut and Bareilly on January 31, followed by Allahabad on February 4, Varanasi on February 5, Agra on February 9 and Gorakhpur on February 12.

Case of abduction against UP minister
An FIR alleged that Rampal Rajvanshi, with the help of his bodyguards and two other supporters, abducted an independent candidate from Machrehta constituency.

AMERICA'S WAR
US will kill terrorism if others don't: Bush
The US president's state of the union address was an eagerly awaited one, with the country having declared a war against terrorism and its economy in the midst of a recession.

Pak scientists with Al Qaeda links to go free
Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood and Abdul Majid are accused of trying to help Osama bin Laden obtain nuclear weapons.

DANIEL PEARL ABDUCTION
WSJ scribe drawn into a well-laid trap: Report
Daniel Pearl was allegedly trapped by abductors who had been in contact with him for more than two weeks, officials and reports in the US said.

OTHER REPORTS
Musharraf strips ex-Naval chief of rank for corruption
Admiral Mansur-ul-Haq, who was deported from the US last year to face trial, was found guilty by an anti-corruption court of taking millions of dollars of kickbacks in the French submarine deal.

Naval version of Trishul test-fired
The missile was tested in sea-skimming mode against low-flying targets, establishing capability of the system in 'anti-sea skimmer' role, an official announcement said.

Resolve differences through talks: Britain
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw conveyed Britain's views on the Indo-Pak tension to visiting External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

US-based surgeon chosen NRI of the year
Sharadkumar Dicksheet, 71, who braved paralysis, cancer and two heart attacks, has been conducting free corrective operations for underprivileged children in India six months a year.

Govt must submit defence acquisition documents to PAC: Congress
Defence Minister Fernandes, according to reports, had refused to hand over documents relating to recent defence purchases to the Public Accounts Committee.

Laloo, Rabri in dock for 'disrespect' to national anthem
Reports said that the Bihar CM and her husband failed to stand up when the anthem was being played at the Republic Day function on January 26.

Nation pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi
President Narayanan, Vice President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid floral tributes to Bapu on his 44th martyrdom day.

Pakistan hands over 'wanted' list to US
Among those that Pakistan wants extradited from the US includes the former chief minister of Sindh, Syed Abdullah Shah.

Associate of ISI agent held in Kolkata
Ramkrishna Behedi used to handle through the hawala route and maintained regular contact with ISI agent Mohammed Dilshad, arrested earlier on January four in Siliguri.

US deputy treasury secretary to visit India
During his visit, Kenneth Dam will address trade, investment and a range of steps supportive of strong economic growth.

Veerappan's forest hideout encircled
Tamil Nadu Home Secretary Naresh Gupta said they had information about the forest brigand's whereabouts.

Around 1000 hutments gutted in Mumbai fire
A major fire broke out at Sanjay Gandhi Nagar near Shivaji Nagar depot in north-east Mumbai in the wee hours of Wednesday.

NEIGHBOURS
Maoists bomb second Coca-Cola plant in Nepal
No one was injured in the explosion at the plant in Bharatpur, south of Kathmandu, but the building was badly damaged, reports said.

Panel needed to monitor truce with LTTE: Lanka
Cabinet spokesman G L Peiris, however, refused to say whether the monitoring mechanism would also include international observers.

SPECIAL
'Ma, don't cry'
A year ago, we brought you the story of the child God gave back in Bhuj. Sheela Bhatt met him recently.

DIARY
Flight into politics
Colonel (retd) Jayant Pooviah popped the question at M D Riti in midair...

January 29, 2002

TOP STORIES
BJP-VHP compromise over Ayodhya
The agreement entails that while the VHP would drop its deadline of March 12 for the construction of the temple in Ayodhya, the government would ensure that the case related to the dispute pending in the Allahabad high court is expedited.

Pt Ravi Shankar gets 4th Grammy nomination
The sitar maestro has been nominated for his live recording Full Circle/Carnegie Hall 2000 in the 'Best World Music Album' category.

Jaswant to attend Commonwealth meet on terrorism
The meet will focus on the effective implementation of UN General Assembly resolution 1373, which warned countries of actively or passively supporting terrorism.

INDO-PAK TIES
India trying to discredit Pakistan: Musharraf
The president said Pakistan has earned a `place of distinction' in the comity of nations as a major strategic partner in the international coalition against terrorism.

Demand for return of PoK absurd: Pakistan
A government spokesman said it was unfortunate that despite the goodwill shown by Pakistan, the response from India had been negative.

India for UN sanctions against Pakistan
Pakistan's continuing support to terrorism has made the government lean towards the option of launching a new diplomatic offensive, government sources said.

Pakistan yet to act: Indian delegation
'Rape, arson, looting and killings have become the instruments of Pakistan's state policy,' the delegation told the South African government.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR
APHC's latest proposal may have gone too far
A Cabinet member called the Hurriyat's election commission proposal a 'gimmick' and the opposition Congress too is none too pleased.

J&K: BSF soldier killed, 5 hurt in encounter
A joint search party of the BSF and Special Operations Group had raided a locality in Ahmednagar to flush out militants, when the encounter took place.

POLL SCENE
Congress expels 20 rebel party leaders
They had filed nomination against its official Congress candidates and alliance partner CPI nominees for next month assembly elections.

BJP expels 16 more rebels in UP
These leaders were earlier asked to withdraw their candidature, but when they chose to remain in the fray they were expelled, a party leader said.

No post-poll alliance with BJP: Mayawati
'This is a propaganda by the BJP... we will get absolute majority in the coming (UP) election,' the BSP leader said.

'Ram temple not a poll issue for BJP'
'BJP wants a majestic temple at Ayodhya, which would only materialise if all parties concerned agreed,' UP BJP president Kalraj Misra said.

VHP rules out further talks with govt
VHP international leader Pravin Togadia claimed that the undisputed land could be transferred by an executive order 'within one minute' and there was no injunction of the Supreme Court in the matter.

USIS ATTACK
No ISI link in USIS attack: Pakistan
It is 'ridiculous' that all persons who were killed in encounters in India confessed their Pakistani identity before their death, a defence spokesman said.

Lawyer, notary arrested in Farhan Malik passport case
The prime accused in the USIS case got a passport claiming to be a resident of Biharsharif even though he had never visited the place.

LeT behind attack on USIS office: Police
Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police Soumen Mitra said that Zahid, one of the two militants killed, admitted being a member of the LeT.

DANIEL PEARL ABDUCTION
Breakthrough in WSJ scribe abduction case
Cops say that Daniel Pearl had a long meeting with Al Qaeda activist Pir Mubarik Ali Shah, after which he went missing.

FBI team in Karachi to help locate Pearl
The National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty has claimed holding him in 'very inhuman conditions'.

AMERICA'S WAR
Bush, Rice broke down over Sept 11 strikes
The tears also steeled Bush's determination to destroy the Al Qaeda and Taliban and to take out any state that harbours terrorists.

Pakistan denies report of Osama's dialysis
Defence spokesman Rashid Qureshi said he smelt an 'Indian plot' behind the report, which appeared in a section of the US media.

Captured men not POWs: Bush
The US president's clarification comes amidst reports of differences in his cabinet over the fate of the Al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners.

Bush, Karzai ink partnership pact
The US pledged $50 million towards reconstruction efforts and offered its assistance to Afghanistan for developing its own military.

Pak Jamaat-e-Islami chief rearrested
Qazi Hussain Ahmed was put under preventive detention in early November for his fire-brand speeches supporting the Taliban and criticising Pakistan government's support to the US war against terrorism.

OTHER REPORTS
India, Britain to jointly fight terrorism
'India is a key partner for the UK. This has been confirmed again in the months since September 11,' British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.

Magical tunes enthral spectators at Beating the Retreat
Armed with seven new compositions, the massed bands kept date with tradition, presenting mesmerising numbers in the historic setting of Vijay Chowk.

US supports Musharraf's jihad
State department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the Pakistan president's jihad meant social development.

Afroz's remand extended till Feb 12
Afroz, on December 18, had reportedly confessed to having links with terrorist network Al Qaeda and revealed its plans to air-dash targets in foreign countries.

Police station attacked in Jharkhand
Armed activists of the MCC disconnected the telephone line of the Baloomath police station in Latehar district before attacking the cops.

Impound unauthorised ultrasound machines: SC
The order came on a petition filed by CEHAT, an NGO, alleging that large-scale illegal sex-determination in India is leading to female foeticide, resulting in imbalance in the male-female sex ratio.

Progress in Norway-sponsored talks: LTTE
The outfit wants Norway to finalise a draft agreement before February 24, when the temporary truce agreement with the Sri Lankan government expires.

Traffic on NF railway restored
Railway authorities suspect that the driver of the goods train overshot a red signal, resulting in the head-on collision with the stationary Kanchanjunga Express.

COLUMNS
Pakistan's web of lies
'Prevarication is almost second nature to Pakistan -- as even large sections of the Western media are now slowly and surely realising,' says Arvind Lavakare.

The abduction of Daniel Pearl
'The fact that an American journalist can suddenly go missing in Pakistan is a reminder of the professional hazards of journalism in that country. Second, it questions the assumption that General Musharraf is in complete charge of his nation,' says T V R Shenoy.

Someone Very Powerful
Who's the man behind Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain? Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi durbar.

January 28, 2002

2 killed in train mishap in Assam
The express train, which left Guwahati station around 1030 pm, was waiting at Kamakhaya station when the goods train from Dhubri side on the Jogigopa line collided head-on with it around 1100 pm.

CDS to Get the Field Marshal Room in South Block
If the room is merely symbolic, the Strategic Force, which would handle country's nuclear weapons, would make the CDS a powerful entity that would have a crucial role in any future war.

INDO-PAK TIES
Vajpayee rules out talks with Pakistan
The prime minister said India wanted to spend more money for development, but a large part of the resources was being spent on arms, as there was threat on the border.

'Musharraf to be judged by level of infiltration'
Home Minister L K Advani said that India had no problem if Pakistan handed over underworld don Dawood Ibrahim to the United States.

USIS ATTACK
2 Pakistanis confess involvement in USIS attack
They were shot dead while trying to escape from the police in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Bihar ex-cop being questioned
Ramraj Ram was picked up from his native village in Bhijpur district on charges of helping Farhan Malik get a passport.

India to highlight Pakistan's activities
Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande said that the involvement of its nationals in the USIS attack shows that Pakistan continues to indulge in sabotage and subversive activities on Indian soil.

POLL SCENE
Glut of candidates pose problem for poll officials
With 6615 candidates in the fray for 403 seats, UP has already beaten all records. But, the electronic voting machines cannot handle more than 16 candidates per seat.

Jaya charges DMK with conspiracy to defeat her
'The DMK does not want me to win the election and become the chief minister (of Tamil Nadu) once again,' the AIADMK chief said.

UP congressmen clamour for Priyanka
However, party chief Sonia Gandhi fears that a poor showing at the hustings would hurt her daughter's career.

70 polling officers suspended
They failed to turn up for a training programme on Electronic Voting Machines in preparation for the assembly elections in February.

EC asks political parties to file statement of accounts
The commission has also decided that the statement of accounts in connection with general elections will be placed in public domain in the manner it thinks fit.

Jaya charges DMK with conspiracy to defeat her
`The DMK does not want me to win the election and become the chief minister (of Tamil Nadu) once again,' the AIADMK chief said.

AYODHYA DISPUTE
BMAC slams VHP's demand for handing over disputed land
BMAC convenor Zafaryab Geelani said the BJP and the VHP are raising the Ayodhya issue with an eye on the Uttar Pradesh election.

Congress criticises PM for meeting VHP team
Party spokesman Jaipal Reddy said while the meeting was not objectionable in itself, 'its timing is unfortunate'.

BJP defends MPs attending VHP rally
On Sunday several BJP MPs had attended a VHP rally and criticised Prime Minister Vajpayee.

'UP govt failed to stop mosque demolition'
Home Minister L K Advani blamed the organisers of the Ram temple movement in equal measure, but insisted that there was no conspiracy behind the demolition.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Hurriyat to set up poll commission
The commission will oversee polls to determine who would represent the people of J&K in the event of tripartite talks on the Kashmir issue.

J&K militants squeezed for funds
Militants in Jammu and Kashmir have now started resorting to 'extortion' to meet their daily needs.

NEWS FROM JHARKHAND
Jharkhand governor denies report of resignation
His Principal Secretary D S Mukhopadhyay said reports about the governor's resignation were 'wrong'.

Nine Jharkhand cops killed in landmine blast
The blast was so powerful that the vehicle in which the victims were travelling went up about 30 feet in the air

AMERICA'S WAR
Malaysia was launch pad for Sept 11 strikes
A former Malaysian army captain had close links with the pilots of the hijacked planes and Osama bin Laden, a report quoting the FBI says.

Pakistani group claims to hold WSJ scribe captive
The National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty has claimed holding Daniel Pearl, a Mumbai-based reporter of the WSJ.

Osama in all likelihood alive: US
'If he were dead, there'd be more indications of it than we've seen. There'd be more noise in the system about his demise," Vice President Dick Cheney said.

Should Al Qaeda detainees be given POWs status?
Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the prisoners were not combatants of an army in uniform. They were unlawful combatants and terrorists and hence they were detainees.

OTHER REPORTS
US to resume arms sales to India
Washington is going to clear export licences of 20 weapons systems, US Ambassador Robert Blackwill said.

Medical entrance exam racket busted in UP
Two medical graduates of the Meerut Medical College, together with the owner of a coaching institute, were arrested for selling question papers.

US to resume arms sales to India
Washington is going to clear export licences of 20 weapons systems, US Ambassador Robert Blackwill said.

TN govt denies surrender offer from Veerappan
A senior Special Task Force officer told rediff.com that the negotiations for surrender are on with the forest brigand.

Assam militants step up violence
The fresh violence came less than 24 hours after Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha made his customary Republic Day peace overture to militants in the state.

INTERVIEW
'Kutchis shouldn't be permitted to live on dole'
One year after the devastating earthquake in Gujarat, Sandeep Virmani -- executive secretary of Sahjeevan, an NGO -- assesses the rehabilitation work in Kutch.

COLUMN
Who wants a war?
'It is more than evident what those who suffer the non-stop shelling from across the International Border and the LoC want the Indian government to do. In fact, it is only the urban elite, the "educated" "Indians," who speak the coward's words,' says Varsha Bhosle.

DIARY
The other side of the fence
And then, suddenly it hit Ratna Rajaiah: The fellow has Crossed Over! He's become One of Them!

SLIDE SHOW
A Show of Strength
Images from the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

January 27, 2002

RSS chief calls for changing the Constitution
'It is ironical that this ancient country with a hoary past and rich Vedic tradition should be following a Western model for governance,' K S Sudarshan said.

Fresh tremors in Kutch on quake anniversary
People came running out of their houses and children cried as tremors hit the region on Saturday night. No loss of life or damage to property was reported.

VHP will not depend on March 12 deadline: Das
Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das, who led a 12-member delegation to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, warned that though the government had till March 12 to decide on the matter, the sants would not depend on the deadline to achieve their aim.

Afghan ex-king to return after 3 decades
Zahir Shah will fly from Italy to Kabul and plans to make his first public appearance in the Afghan capital on March 21.

Children's illness not due to polio drops: Assam
Reports had claimed that nearly 75 kids had taken ill after being given the drops under the pulse polio immunisation programme.

Mayor honoured for helping quake victims
Mayor Anthony Williams of Washington, DC, was awarded the Counterpart Humanitarian Award for Civic Leadership.

Bal, Raj Thackeray share dais, Sena MLA quits
When contacted on the phone, Raj Thackeray said he had 'no differences' with his uncle.

Amitabh won't affect UP electoral outcome: Arjun Singh
The Congress politician admitted, however, that his own party was in no position to return to power in India's most populous state.

2 alleged ISI agents held in Hyderabad
Ashiq Ali alias Taher and Reaz Jan were arrested for sending sensitive information to Pakistan and trying to establish ISI's network in Andhra Pradesh.

Musharraf calls meeting of army commanders
The meeting will review the security situation and, perhaps, discuss a strategy to deal with India's demand for extradition of 20 criminals and terrorists.

Indians attacked, driven off by Durban gangsters
In the first incident, an elderly couple were driven off their farm at Hazlemere. In the second case, three Indian families were forced to flee from Silverglen in Durban.

January 26, 2002

KUTCH: ONE YEAR AFTER THE QUAKE
'We have to get on with our lives'
In the morning there was a palpable sense of fear in the air in many of Kutch's towns. As a resident put it, people were terrified.

Anjaar remembers a terrible tragedy
For the government, however, it seemed the perfect opportunity to indulge in a bit of self-publicity.

Emotional Modi lauds Kutchi resilience
The chief minister led some 7,000 people in Anjaar town in performing a puja to 'appease the spirit of the angry earth'.

'Today, I cannot control myself'
Most of the survivors in Bhuj are still mourning loved ones. And worshipping Mother Earth.

SLIDE SHOWS
Remains of the day
Images from Kutch, one year after the killer quake.

Week's Images
Attack on USIS office, Agni test-fired, bravery awards and more.

REPUBLIC DAY 2002
RSS hoists Tricolour after 52 years
The national flag flew at the Sangh's Mahal headquarters and at Reshimbagh, which houses memorials to the first two RSS chiefs, in Nagpur.

Sitara Devi turns down Padma Bhushan
'Little-known people who are younger than me have received Padma Vibhushan and I am being awarded Padma Bhushan,' the danseuse said. 'Is this the way to treat a leading artiste?'

R-Day parade loses gloss in military's absence
Most of the galleries were empty as tightened security, the terrorist threat and the absence of a display of military power kept citizens away.

Kamlesh Kumari is first woman to get Ashok Chakra
The CRPF constable was given the award posthumously for her action in trying to stop the terrorists who attacked Parliament in December.

Militants blow up DD transmitter in Kashmir
Shops and business establishments in the valley were closed in view of a strike called by the separatist All-Parties Hurriyat Conference.

THE AGNI MISSILE TEST
Pakistan will not reply now: Sattar
Some media reports said the country could not respond because of the presence of American forces on its soil.

Muted response from China
Beijing only said that every country should do things that would maintain stability in South Asia.

OTHER REPORTS
Musharraf again seeks dialogue with India
'Pakistan desires to establish tension-free and good-neighbourly relations with India,' he said in his Republic Day message to Prime Minister Vajpayee.

Advani agrees to change his residence
The Union home minister will move 'sometime next month' from his Pandara Park residence, where he has lived since 1970, to a bigger bungalow at Prithviraj Road.

Musharraf to stay for 5 years more
'There are [legal] questions that have to be resolved finally, but I am not going anywhere,' the general asserted.

COLUMNS
The Republic, in Kutch
'When I meet people like Lakshmi and Amina, and feel first-hand their spirit and courage -- that's when I am proud. These are the things, the people above all, that make the India I find so energizing. The India I salute,' says Dilip D'Souza.

January 25, 2002

HONOUR'S LIST
Padma Vibhushan for Gangubai Hangal, Kishori Amonkar, Sorabjee
Noted economist C Rangarajan and tabla player Pandit Kishan Maharaj were also conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour.

ONE YEAR AFTER GUJARAT QUAKE
What does this Jan 26 have in store for Bhachau?
Much of the detritus of this town, flattened in the quake that tore Gujarat apart on January 26 last year, has been cleared, but rubble still remains. As do the occasional iron rods, twisting up in seemingly mute plea towards the darkening sky.

A multi-speciality hospital for people without houses
One year after the earthquake, residents of Bhuj await administrative nod to reconstruct their houses. Work on a hospital blessed by the PM's relief fund, however, continues full-steam.

Modi is Kutch quake victims' last hope
'Nobody is answering us. They all want money. Where are we going to bring the money from? We've lost everything,' says a villager, who has been given the princely sum of Rs 3000 to rebuild his house.

INDIA'S MISSILE PROGRAMME
India successfully test fires Agni-3
The missile was test fired at 0855 IST from Wheeler's Island off the Orissa coast.

Short-range Agni to bring all of Pak within range
This version of the missile, which uses solid fuel, also counters the possibility of sabotage hurting India's missile strike force.

Test evokes mixed reactions
While Pakistan criticised India for conducting the test, Russia showed 'understanding'. China, a traditional friend of Pakistan, chose not to comment.

Agni test a threat to regional stability: Pak
'The test comes at a time of tensions when the Indian forces are massed on our borders... Pakistan favours a policy of restraint,' a foreign ministry statement said.

India needs missiles with longer range: RSS
'Today, there may not be any threat from China. But who knows about tomorrow? We should be prepared to counter any such threat,' RSS chief K Sudarshan said.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
President pays homage to personnel killed in Parliament attack
He lauded the security personnel for their vigilance, courage and timely action.

Private sector should adopt social policies: Narayanan
In his address to the nation the president did not refer to issues like security and the current Indo-Pak tensions.

On R-Day eve, nation on high alert
Delhi has been turned into a virtual fortress with nearly 65,000 security personnel on duty to prevent a recurrence of the December 13 attack.

SLIDE SHOW
Week's Images
Attack on USIS office, Agni test-fired, bravery awards and more.

USIS ATTACK
Cops close to major breakthrough
However, the Kolkata police is not willing to give details.

Interpol issues red corner alert against Ansari
The West Bengal government has been pursuing the matter with UAE authorities.

INDO-PAK STANDOFF
8 Pakistani soldiers killed in Indian strike
Pakistani soldiers shelled Indian positions in Noushera sector of Rajouri district forcing the Indian troops to reply effectively, a government spokesman said.

No immediate de-escalation along Pakistan border: Advani
The home minister said the government would require a couple of months to judge whether there is any let up in cross-border terrorism or infiltration.

Indo-Pak tensions dangerously high: US
US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton said that proliferation of nuclear materials and technology transfer posed a serious threat to international security.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Two NC leaders survive militant attack
Two National Conference leaders, including a former legislator, escaped unhurt when militants attacked their houses in Baramulla district in Kashmir late on Thursday night.

'India can't retreat in war against terror'
India wants peace and not war as it has never been an aggressor in the past wars with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said.

'Kashmir focus of fight against terrorism'
British High Commissioner Rob Young said what India has asked for of Pakistan is no less than what was required under the Security Council Resolution 1373 and nothing short of what is required by the international community.

WAR AGAINST TERRORISM
India declines joint operations with US
US ambassador-at-large Francis Taylor began pressurising India for joint operations after J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said that Al Qaeda terrorists had sneaked into the state.

2000 militants arrested in Pak crackdown
Of them, 130 militants belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed and 203 to Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

Terrorism to dominate Pervez-Bush talks
'Pakistan is a steadfast partner with the US and provides excellent cooperation in Operation Enduring Freedom', a White House statement said.

US to release over $200 mn worth of Afghan assets
The assets blocked in 1999 during the Taliban regime was kept in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

US forces raid 2 compounds in Kandahar, 12 killed
US defence officials said that intelligence inputs had indicated that the compound housed top Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders.

HONOUR FOR WAR VETERAN
Arjan Singh is India's first IAF marshal
The rank is equivalent to that of a field marshal in the army. Singh, the hero of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, will receive the honorary rank from President K R Narayanan on Saturday.

It is an honour for me and IAF: Arjan Singh
The first ever marshal of the Indian Air Force said along with economic progress, the security of the country had to be a top priority.

FROM THE STATES
What has been done to ban smoking, SC asks states
A bench comprising Justice R P Sethi and Justice K G Balakrishanan has asked the states to file their responses within one week.

Tight security for Buddhist monasteries in Bodh Gaya
Intelligence reports have warned of possible attacks by Maoists.

Jessica case: Manu Sharma gets interim bail
The court while granting the bail imposed other stringent conditions and asked Sharma to furnish a personal bond of Rs 100,000 along with two sureties of like amount.

SC asks Maharashtra govt to intervene in Shah bail plea
Diamond merchant and film financier Bharat Shah was arrested for alleged links with the underworld.

Assam police attempts to don friendly face
A new campaign -- Aashwas -- launched on by the police aims to establish channels of communication between the local populace and the security forces.

TDP wins Hyderabad local election
The Telugu Desam Party also took control of the Rajahmundry and Tirupati municipal bodies.

Policemen decamp with arms in Tripura
The fugitives were civilians and were recruited as special police officers to combat militancy in the state.

Despite ban, tribal women dance in the nude
Tribal women in Vellakadai village near the hill station of Yercaud in Tamil Nadu's Salem district danced in the nude to propitiate and invoke their deities.

Sexual abuse: 10 year jail term for couple
The case was filed against Shalini Sharma, a former vice chairman of Rajasthan's social welfare board, and her husband in 1996.

NEIGHBOURHOOD
Pakistan fighter jet crashes into Indian Ocean
The aircraft, which went missing after taking off from the Karachi airbase, went down in the Indian Ocean, an official press release said on Friday.

COLUMN
Doing your own thing
'One fails to understand why the sacking of Lt Gen Kapil Vij should raise the national hackles. No eyebrows are raised when a coach is dismissed if his team loses frequently or a corporate bigwig is shown the door,' says Admiral J G Nadkarni (Retd).

January 24, 2002

ATTACK ON AMERICAN CENTRE
ISI may dump Dawood for Farhan Malik
With India pressurising Pakistan for underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's extradition, the ISI may be trying to prop up another equally powerful and influential figure.

Cameras provide vital clues
The recordings from close-circuit TV cameras are enough to identify the killers, officials said.

India to seek Ansari's extradition from UAE
The Dubai-based underworld don is the main suspect in Tuesday's attack on the USIS office in Kolkata.

Bihar police probing Kolkata accused's passport
Prime accused in Tuesday's USIS attack Farhan Malik had procured a passport from Patna under dubious circumstances.

INDO-PAK TENSION
Indians in wanted list being traced: Pak
'Once they are found they will be dealt with according to the law of the land,' a defence spokesman said.

India provides Pak with details of terrorists
India has demanded the extradition of 20 criminals and terrorists from Pakistan.

India rejects Pak's proposal of no-war pact
Since 1947, it was always Pakistan which had launched aggression against India, Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah said.

Indian Navy conducts war exercise to test preparedness
The exercise involved at least eight ships, helicopters and jet fighters crisscrossing around 200 nautical miles of the bluewater off the Mumbai coast.

Annan offers to mediate between India, Pak
The UN secretary general called for military de-escalation along the Indo-Pak border and said the two countries should look for ways to resolve their differences peacefully.

No US opposition to Phalcon sale: Israel
Israeli defence ministry director general Amos Yaron refuted media reports that the sale of the spy plane to India would lead to military imbalance in South Asia.

US to be in South Asia for some time: Envoy
Robert Blackwill said the US presence may not be in the form of military bases, but Washington will be diplomatically and economically engaged.

REPUBLIC DAY
'Toughest arrangements' made for R-Day parade
Delhi Police chief Ajai Raj Sharma said various kinds of threats have been received, which include suicide attacks and car bomb blasts to target VIPs.

R-Day honours for security personnel killed in Parliament attack
Matbar Singh Negi, Jagdish Prasad Yadav and constable Kamlesh Kumari are likely to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the nation's highest peace time gallantry award.

WAR AGAINST TERRORISM
Vivek Katju named envoy to Afghanistan
A government spokesperson said Katju, at present India's ambassador to Myanmar, is expected to take up his assignment shortly.

India protests airlift of Pakistanis from Kunduz
Diplomatic notes protesting the airlift were sent to the US and Britain, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra said.

Blast outside UK embassy in Pak: Report
The small explosion took place in the parking lot of the British High Commission in Islamabad, witnesses said.

FBI chief meets Musharraf, discusses terrorism
The Pakistan president reportedly reiterated his country's commitment to fight terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

Captured American Taliban arrives in US
John Walker Lindh was captured in northern Afghanistan in November by American forces.

ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
Rival leaders shoot it out in UP
The shoot out took place between Ajit Singh, a Lucknow based BJP member of the state legislative council, and Akhilesh Singh, a sitting Congress MLA from Rae Barelli.

Nomination of Phoolan's husband rejected
Phoolan's younger sister Munni Devi has also filed nomination papers for the Mirzapur parliamentary by-poll.

Hema Malini may campaign against Jaya
Hema Malini has also been billed a 'star campaigner' for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election.

DMK moves HC for postponement of Andipatti poll
Party candidate Vaigai Sekar filed a petition alleging that 17,000 bogus names had been included in the electoral rolls of the constituency.

Jaya files nomination from Andipatti
The former Tamil Nadu chief minister said that she was contesting from Andipatti to fulfil the needs of the people of the constituency.

Five candidates for Kaliabor LS seat
The candidates who filed their nominations on Thursday are Thogi Gogoi (BJP), Bhadreswar Tanti (AGP) and Rashidul Haque (Samata Party).

Five file nominations for LS by-poll in Tripura
Former chief minister Sudhir Ranjan Majumdar is in the fray as a Trinamul Congress candidate.

INDIAN SPACE PROGRAMME
INSAT-3A, INSAT 3E lined up for launch
The Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K Kasturirangan said that India's requirement for transponders is 'burgeoning'.

INSAT-3C lifts off after 54-minute delay
'INSAT-3C will augment the INSAT series capacity and provide continuity to the services of the ageing satellites like INSAT-2C,' an ISRO spokesperson said.

OTHER REPORTS
No 'malafide intent' in coffin procurement: Army chief
General Padmanabhan's statement on the coffin controversy comes in his reply to a letter written by the defence minister.

Spare time for welfare plans: SC to PM
A welfare scheme for children has been hanging fire because the prime minister and his finance minister could not spare time to approve it.

NCERT refutes charges of discarding history
'Not a single stream of study covered by the old syllabus has been discarded in the new course. Rather, more chapters have been added,' NCERT said in a statement.

Dalai Lama ill, Kalchakra festival postponed
The Tibetan spiritual leader, who was to deliver a speech on Thursday, left the venue after 15 minutes with the announcement that he won't be able to do so.

One cop killed in militant attack in Poonch
Unidentified militants attacked a police post in Mandi tehsil of Poonch district early on Wednesday morning.

Over 200,000 Indians illegal US residents
The US census bureau said that a total of 8,705,421 illegal residents were in the country in the year 2000.

Cops nab Frenchman for sexually abusing kids
Pondicherry police said that Didier was running a charity organisation for helping street children and other abandoned kids.

Thackeray keeps 'options open' on successor
'With advancing age, I am losing my power to sustain shocks and it is my earnest request to family members not to hurt me', the Sena chief said without naming anyone.

Salman questioned for underworld links: Police
On media reports about a complaint lodged by Aishwarya's father against the actor for harassing his daughter, Mumbai Police Commissioner M N Singh said it was a personal matter and he would not like to comment on it.

NEIGHBOURHOOD
General election in October: Musharraf
'In the past, fake democracy has led to the deterioration in the social, political and economic foundations of Pakistan, the president said.

LTTE wants Lankan govt to lift ban
'The de-proscription of the LTTE will be a recognition of the legitimacy of the Tamil people's struggle,' LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham said.

DIARY
Angel, you have flown so high
'I wish I had looked into her eyes', writes Ashu Bansal, 'maybe there was a smile there for us.'

COLUMN
Relations improve, but fresh challenges lie ahead
'New Delhi should resist putting too much emphasis on the Sino-Pak relationship and denying itself the opportunity to improve relations with China,' says Jing-dong Yuan.

January 23, 2002

TOP STORIES
USIS attack: Cops detain 50
Kolkata police chief Sujoy Chakraborty said that two Bangladeshi nationals and one Islamic scholar, who he refused to identify, are among the detained.

Attackers came from Bangladesh: Officials
'We fear that Bangladesh would become a haven for all sorts of characters who want to come into India,' a senior government official said.

INSAT-3C all set for launch on Thursday
'INSAT-3C will augment the INSAT series capacity and provide continuity to the services of the ageing satellites like INSAT-2C,' an ISRO spokesperson said.

Major power failure in AP: PTI
The coastal Rayalaseema and Telangana regions were badly affected for several hours.

ATTACK ON USIS
3 Bangladeshi in custody, but cops mum
The Bangladeshis were teaching in madarsas in Bashirhat in North 24 Parganas district.

Dhaka protests media reports: PTI
Bangladesh was reacting to reports by a section of the Indian media that a branch of a terrorist outfit, involved in the incident, had been using Bangladesh territory and Bangladeshis for the attack.

Eyewitnesses yet to recover from shock
The government has beefed up security at all American installations across the country after a terrorist attack on a USIS office in Kolkata left four dead and more than 17 hurt.

NRIs condemn attack in Kolkata
The Ambassador-at-large for people of Indian origin, B K Agnihotri, said: `Everyone described it as an outrageous act that needs a strong response.'

Bush condemns terror attack in Kolkata
Hours after the attack US Secretary of State Colin Powell called up Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

INTERVIEW
'Kolkata is considered safe by Pak criminals'
'After the attack on the consulate, Rajiv Kumar (superintendent of police, CID) got a call from Aftab Ansari claiming that he had ordered the attack,' says Sudhir Sinha, inspector general of police, border range, Kutch.

NEIGHBOURHOOD
'Musharraf's speech a step in right direction'
However, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan wanted the Pakistani president to follow-up on his January 12 speech denouncing terrorism and terrorist outfits based in Pakistan.

Musharraf likely to visit US from Feb 12-14
This would be the Pakistani president's first official visit to the US to discuss bilateral issues.

Pakistan ready for no war pact: Musharraf
The president said Pakistan was also prepared to accept denuclearisation of South Asia.

INDO-PAK TENSION
Early to say if there is lowering of tension: India
`We haven't discerned any long-term trend about cross-border shelling or whether there has been a lowering of tension with Pakistan,' a government spokesperson said.

Decline in infiltration across LoC: US
US state department spokesman Richard Boucher cited the decrease in infiltration as evidence of the declining tension between India and Pakistan.

First Indian delegation leaves for Brussels
US state department spokesman Richard Boucher cited the decrease in infiltration as evidence of the declining tension between India and Pakistan.

Sell Phalcon after de-escalation: US to Israel
US state department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the issue of the sale of Phalcon radars was not discussed during Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to India.

SPECIAL
How prepared are we?
What does Operation Parakram, India's mobilisation of its armed forces against Pakistan, amount to? Josy Joseph takes a look.

J&K RELATED REPORTS
India only got lies from Pak: Abdullah
'One needs to study the history seriously. Ever since the period of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to present President Pervez Musharraf, we have only got tall claims with no truth', the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.

Pakistan's NKC not to observe 'Kashmir Day'
Every year on February 5, political parties, religious and militant groups used to take out processions to remind the people about Pakistan's stand on Kashmir.

FERNANDES VISIT TO US
India, US agree to jointly fight terrorism
Describing his six-day visit to the US as 'very positive and productive', the defence minister said that Pakistan should put an end to the cross-border terrorism.

AMERICA'S WAR
Pak allows US use of Karachi airport
'An agreement in this regard is expected within a week, while the operation will begin by the middle of February', Air Marshal (retd) Aliuddin, director general of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority said.

R-DAY PREPARATIONS
R-Day parade rehearsal passes off without a hitch
The Delhi police had asked all the newspaper offices situated on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg not to operate till afternoon as a security measure.

POLL SCENE
Filing of nomination for assembly poll ends: PTI
A number of former chief ministers will be among over 5,000 candidates in the fray for the February assembly polls to four states and by-polls to six Lok Sabha and as many assembly constituencies.

Rajnath launches campaign in UP; attacks SP
The UP chief minister charged the SP for have masterminded the murder of it own Member of Parliament, Phoolan Devi.

BJP plans extensive poll campaign in UP
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh would kick off the Bharatiya Janata Party campaign on January 24 from Saharanpur.

Two eunuchs to contest elections from Lucknow
While Payal is posing a challenge to Prime Minister Vajpayee's man Friday Lalji Tandon, Sridevi is taking on BJP MLA Suresh Tiwari.

22 in fray for Jammu LS seat: PTI
Prominent among those in the fray are Chowdhary Talib Hussain (National Conference), Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh (BJP) and Madan Lal Sharma (Congress).

OTHER REPORTS
PM gives bravery award to children
During the function, Vajpayee recalled how a friend had once saved him from drowning and regretted that there was no such award in those days.

Laloo Yadav released from jail
The Supreme Court on Monday had granted bail to Laloo Yadav in the case involving the fraudulent withdrawal of about Rs 380 million from the Chaibasa treasury during the period of 1990-96.

Attempt to blow up Ranchi jail foiled
Police recovered 22 gelatine sticks, 10 detonators and 20 metres of fuse wire from an abandoned scooter outside the Ranchi central jail.

Buddhist meet turning into a slug fest
The fight is between the Tibetan Buddhists and neo-Buddhists (read Ambedkarites) for supremacy and control of the Mahabodhi temple.

India, China to jointly conduct studies of Sutlej: PTI
The data would enable flood control measures to be undertaken in Himachal Pradesh where the river has been causing immense damage.

'I never called Vajpayee mask of govt'
BJP ideologue K N Govindacharya said the present economic policies of the government were born out of certain compulsions and were those of the NDA.

Cong leading in Maharashtra civic polls
The Nationalist Congress Party stood second with three posts of president and 98 councillors.

Congress calls M M Joshi a 'textbook terrorist'
Spokesman Jaipal Reddy said that while the party agrees with the need to lessen the load on schoolchildren, the exercise needs to be done in a transparent, consensual manner.

V K Ramamurthy returns to Congress
The former Union minister merged his Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress in the parent party and said he was willing to work under Tamil Nadu Congress chief E V K S Elangovan.

India to acquire 45 transport planes from Russia
The Antonov 'AN-38-100' transport planes have a range of 1,800 km and are capable of ferrying cargo and 27 passengers.

SLIDE SHOW
Rallying the Faithful
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Sant Chetavani Yatra.

COLUMNS
The limitations of a General
'General Musharraf would be happy to see the Dawood Ibrahims and the Chhota Shakeels depart. But it is open to question if he can force them to do so,' says T V R Shenoy..

Sino-Indian relations: a growing maturity
'Although on opposite sides of the political spectrum, India and China share a common interest in seeing Pakistan evolve as a modernising, non fundamentalist state,' says C V Ranganathan.

January 22, 2002

TOP STORIES
4 killed, 17 hurt in attack on Kolkata office of USIS
Four unidentified gunmen came on two motorbikes and fired indiscriminately on the police picket outside the United States Information Service office in Kolkata at around 6:35 am on Tuesday morning.

NDFB militants gun down 17 in Assam
The incident took place in the remote village of Junglebari under Udalguri police station. Those who were killed were Bihari labourers.

'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir belongs to India'
Union Home Minister L K Advani ruled out the return of J&K to the pre-1953 position.

India will accede to convention on nukes
With this, India will complete adherence to all the 12 instruments, which are accepted as benchmarks for a state's commitments in the fight against terrorism.

ATTACK ON AMERICAN CENTER
Three groups claim responsibility
Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami, Asif Rezak Commando and an underworld gang led by Dubai-based Farhan alias Aftab Malik have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pak condemns attack
Reacting to allegations that a ISI-trained militant group was involved in the attack, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said such allegations are baseless.

India, US to work jointly to wipe out terrorism
The home minister assured US Ambassador Robert Blackwill that the government will get to 'the bottom' of the conspiracy behind the attack on the USIS office.

Security around US embassy tightened
Senior police officials would be reviewing and personally supervising security arrangements around American installations.

US embassy happy with security detail
The United States embassy in New Delhi has expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements around American installations in the capital.

FIRST PERSON
'They did not even spare the pedestrians'
An eyewitness account of the attack on the United States Information Service office in Kolkata.

THE NEW INDO-US PARTNERSHIP
FBI-CBI ties have strengthened: Muller
The FBI chief said he was looking for close cooperation between the two agencies in fighting terrorism and cyber crime.

CBI hands over list of wanted men to visiting FBI chief
These men have taken residence in the United States. While nine of them are involved in terrorist activities, the rest have cases of cheating and forgery against them.

THE INDO-PAK STANDOFF
Pak should create climate for talks: Russia
Russia is sending Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to India and Pakistan early next month to bolster efforts to de-escalate tension between the two neighbours.

Musharraf to visit Washington in February
The invitation for the visit was extended during the visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell last week to Islamabad.

COLUMN
Paki lies continued... on J&K in the UN
'Pakistan's self-proclaimed president of a self-declared military dictatorship badly needs to study the authentic history of the Indian subcontinent,' says Arvind Lavakare.

WAR AGAINST TERRORISM
Pak officials evacuated from Kunduz: Report
President Musharraf won American support for the evacuation by warning that losing a large number of Pakistanis would jeopardise his political survival.

Al Qaeda may have missiles: Report
A United Nations expert panel said that the Taliban has shells packed with Sarin and VX nerve gas.

SLIDE SHOW
Auto Expo 2002: Those magnificent machines...
The latest models, one named after Sachin Tendulkar, F1 cars, powerful bikes and even a Dilip Chhabria-designed scooter - the expo had everything.

OTHER REPORTS
'Lt Gen Vij not shifted under pressure'
A defence ministry spokesman said the corps commander had completed his normal tenure and had requested for leave citing 'pressing personal reasons'.

Trailing terrorists, UP cops stumble on flesh trade
The kingpin, who enjoys the patronage of politicians, bureaucrats and even some senior police officials, is said to be a suspended official of the Food Corporation of India based in Lucknow.

Rumours of earthquake have a field day in Kutch
Kutch was the worst hit by the earthquake that struck Gujarat on January 26 last year.

Hawkish Dalmiya vows to build Ram temple
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad president said that he wasn't bothered if the BJP did not approve his organisation's plans to construct the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

SC issues notices to Jaya, TN govt
The notices pertain to petitions challenging the Madras high court order acquitting the AIADMK chief of all corruption charges in TANSI land deal cases.

India, Malaysia to ink extradition pact
With the signing of the treaty, the likelihood of the main accused in the Bofors scam, Ottavio Quattrochi, being extradited to India has increased.

VHP free to pursue its agenda: Rajnath
The Uttar Pradesh chief minister has filed his nomination papers from the Haidergarh assembly constituency.

Thackeray displeased by nephew's remarks
Raj Thackeray had expressed displeasure over the manner in which tickets were distributed for civic elections in Maharashtra.

Tamil Tigers release 10 Sri Lankan PoWs
Tamil newspapers quoted LTTE chief V Pirabhakaran as saying that the prisoners were treated with dignity and compassion in custody.

SPECIAL
Talking with the Tigers
The LTTE wants to hold a peace dialogue with the Sri Lankan government in south India. Can New Delhi allow it? George Iype reports.

DIARY
It's cold on top the world
Rohini Kapur is not a big shot CEO or the PM. Just a student who always happens to top.

MORE COLUMNS
Climb every crane
'Tenzin Tsundue had reminded the Chinese premier that Tibet will not be swept under some bland Chinese carpet, forgotten forever. What drives a man to take a risk like that?' wonders Dilip D' Souza.

Shut the door behind you...
Politicians do not give up their perks and privileges easily, do they? Capital Buzz.

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