• Badal patronising criminals: Cong

Capt Kanwaljit Singh addresses the SAD-BJP rally in Muktsar. Seated from right are Chief Ministers Parkash Singh Badal (Punjab), Prem Kumar Dhumal (Himachal) and Om Prakash Chautala (Haryana). Right, Capt Amarinder Singh waves to the crowd at the Congress rally at Muktsar on the occasion of Maghi Mela on Saturday. 
— Tribune photographs by Manoj Mahajan

‘Govt patronising drug pedlars’
Vedanti, Manjit Singh lash out at coalition
JALANDHAR, Jan 13 — The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, and the Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh, today accused the SAD-BJP ruling coalition and the Punjab police of being directly responsible for spreading the drug menace in the state.

Bid on DSP’s life; minister’s house bombed
SRINAGAR, Jan 13 — Militants attacked the house of Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and made a bid on the life of a police officer in Jammu and Kashmir, where six militants were among eight persons killed in separate incidents since last night.

Kidnapped boy found murdered
LUDHIANA, Jan 13 — The body of six-year-old Amit, who went missing on Thursday afternoon from his residence in the Kote Alamagir area in the old city, was recovered from the dilapidated building of the Old Jail here today.

BJP leaders, Akalis held up
New Delhi, Jan 13 — The weather played spoilsport, leaving BJP chief and senior Akali Dal (Badal) leaders and other passengers stranded at Indira Gandhi International Airport for several hours.

Labour unrest claims 3 lives
KOLKATA, Jan 13 — In an unprecedented labour unrest at Baranagar jute mill about 7 kms from the state government’s headquarters at Writers Buildings two senior management personnel of the mill were burnt to death on the factory premises during office hours today.

Hindus, Muslims hold talks
lucknow, Jan 13 — The much talked about meeting here today between leaders of Hindus and Muslims to resolve the Ayodhya issue failed to achieve any breakthrough, but there was consensus that efforts should not be abandoned till the matter was settled.

NC advocates direct talks Hurriyat not representative body JAMMU, Jan 13 — The National Conference is totally opposed to any plan of encouraging the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to hold talks with those who matter in Pakistan on the plea that the APHC is not a representative body. J&K page: APHC may change dates of Pak visit