Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee goes round the site after inaugurating the Thein Dam project in Gurdaspur district on Sunday.
 — Tribune photo by Karam Singh

Rockets used to blast statues
Kabul, March 4
Taliban soldiers blasted two towering ancient statues of Buddha with anti-aircraft weapons, according to the first eyewitness account from the area today. Other statues throughout the country were being demolished with rockets, tanks and explosives, ridding the nation of reminders of its pre-Islamic past.

• Taliban refuse to pay heed to envoy

• Nation page: Bajrang Dal warns of reaction to Taliban

• Monastery decries demolition

4 Army men, 2 militants killed
Lashkar attack on Army camp
Srinagar, March 4
At least four Army personnel, including two JCOs, were killed and eight injured when militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba attacked their camp in Baramula, about 60 km from here, early this morning. Two militants involved in the attack were also killed in the exchange of fire that ensued.

HP stalemate continues
New Delhi, March 4
Dissatisfied and unhappy, the seven BJP rebels left the Capital today without conveying their response to the party high command over the latter’s directive to withdraw their statement against Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. 

Himachal page:

Attend House session, BJP rebels told Support govt, Shanta tells rebels Kangra unit backs rebels