Electronic voting machines to be used for Punjab poll
NEW DELHI, Aug 13 — Decks for conducting Assembly polls completely through electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Pondicherry next year and in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in 2002 have been cleared, with the Finance Ministry sanctioning Rs 150 crore to the Election Commission (EC) for the purchase of 1.5 lakh new EVMs. 

Christians flay attacks on secularism
NEW DELHI, Aug 13 — Several Christian leaders today held a day-long fast and prayer at the Rajghat here for strengthening India’s secular and democratic traditions and denounced attempts by the vested political interests aimed at destroying the plural heritage of the country.

Members of the Christian community from Delhi and neighbouring districts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana hold banners and pray for peace and democracy in India at Raj Ghat in old Delhi on Sunday. — Reuters

Satta syndicates lure women, kids HISAR, Aug 13 — Satta kings have spread their tentacles to the countryside in Haryana where they have found a lucrative market in women and children, it is learnt. Satta was hitherto an exclusive male reserve limited to towns. Inquiries, however, reveal that over the past two years, different satta syndicates have extended their operations to villages where they have successfully cultivated an entirely new clientele among women and children.