• Probe media firm’s role: India
  NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — The dubious role of a newspaper and virtually monopolistic cable television company in Nepal appears to be at the centre of the frenzied anti-India campaign leading to disturbances and rioting in the Himalayan kingdom over the past three days.
  
• Biharis flee homes after attacks
  BIRGANJ, Dec 28 — The massive Indian population living in the border areas of Nepal is on the firing line of the Nepalese students. As Left wing parties and the underground Maoist organisations joined hands with the agitating students yesterday, the Indian settlers were forced to flee the Himalayan kingdom. 
  
• Hrithik’s denial placates fans
  KATHMANDU, Dec 28 — Streets of the city were deserted today due to a general strike in protest against the violence on December 26, even as fans of Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan appeared to have accepted his denial of making derogatory remarks that triggered the rioting.
  

Nepalese youths and Leftwing students hold an anti-government demonstration demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudyal in Kathmandu on Thursday. The students were protesting against the alleged anti-Nepal remarks by film star Hritik Roshan. — Reuters photo

Hurriyat team to get passports
NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — The government today gave clearance for issuing of passports to four Hurriyat leaders following a request made by the amalgam leadership to travel to Pakistan, informed sources said here.

• Pak told to check foreign ultras
  NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — India asked Islamabad today to restrain foreign militant groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba from perpetrating violence, if Indo-Pak talks were to be resumed.
  
• Lashkar man gives vital clues
  NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — The Delhi police today claimed that the interrogation of the Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, Ashfaq Ahmed, had yielded vital information relating to alleged plans by the militant group to strike at different places, including important installations in the country.
  

GNDTP gets substandard coal
BATHINDA, Dec 28 — The management of the local Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant is finding it difficult to run the plant smoothly as it is not getting washed coal despite its entitlement.

Manipur Cong MLAs form front
IMPHAL, Dec 28 — In dramatic developments, the Congress Legislature Party in Manipur split with 10 of its 11 MLAs joining hands with the BJP in a new political alliance to topple the beleaguered Nipamacha Singh ministry.

 

Sikh sant’s Id gift to Muslims CHAHAR MAJRA (Mullanpur), Dec 28 — The mood was upbeat. The entire population of the village in general and Muslims in particular had every reason to feel overjoyed. Their enthusiasm was reflected not only in their colourful costumes and clothes but also in their fervour and warmth with which they greeted their guests on Id today. Muslims and Sikhs greet Id Mubarak at a newly constructed mosque given as an Id gift by Sant Waryam Singh at Chahar village near Ratwara Sahib in Ropar district on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma