Troops to return to barracks?
SRINAGAR, Jan 6 — There could be a possibility of the Indian Government ordering its troops managing internal security in Jammu and Kashmir back to the barracks if the All-Party Hurriyat Conference can guarantee that militant violence in the state shall cease, perhaps after talks in Pakistan, according to well-placed sources.

Resignation of Nitish rejected
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today rejected Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar’s resignation from the Cabinet.

Mamata visits carnage site
CHOTOANGRA (WB), Jan 6 — The Trinamool Congress (TC) chief, Ms Mamata Banerjee, on Saturday collected charred human bones and blood-stained clothing of victims allegedly burnt to death by the CPM at this village, even as the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, maintained that there was no substance in the TC’s claims as no body had been found as yet.

Anisa Bibi (right) shows the charred remains of her two-storeyed house to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee (left), who also heads the Trinamool Congress, at Chhoto Angaria village in Garbeta, 200 km west of Kolkata, on Saturday. — Reuters photo

• Nation page: Midnapore SP heckled

Punjab sells Rajasthan property
ABOHAR, Jan 6 — A fact-finding team of revenue and irrigation officials from Rajasthan is likely to visit Ferozepore district next week to conduct a probe into reports that the Punjab Government had sold rest houses which actually belonged to the Rajasthan Government around the Gang canal.

Another spell of snow in Himachal
SHIMLA, Jan 6 — Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced another spell of snowfall while the sky remained partially cloudy in the region today. High altitude areas in the tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and the Pangi and Bharmour areas of Chamba district had fresh snowfall today. 

Surprise at VHP proposal
NEW DELHI, Jan 6 — The Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee has expressed surprise over the VHP’s announcement of negotiations on the Babri masjid question.