Friday, February 22, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Voters defy Pak firing, militants
45 to 61 pc polling in Jammu
Jammu, February 21
Neither the intermittent Pakistani firing nor the panic caused by militants affected polling in the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency where a large number of voters turned up to exercise their franchise today. The polling percentage in the hilly and border areas was higher than the plains, especially in the three Assembly segments of this constituency.
In video (28k, 56k)

UP records 55 pc polling
New Delhi, February 21
Barring a few minor incidents the final phase of Assembly elections in UP and Manipur for 166 seats and 20 seats, respectively, passed off peacefully today, the Election Commission said.
In video (28k, 56k)

• Cong alleges poll rigging in Amethi

Yamunanagar poll peaceful
Oppn concedes it as 70 pc voters turn up
Yamunanagar, February 21
The ruling INLD today belied all Opposition apprehensions regarding violence and bungling in the Yamunanagar Assembly byelection. The polling here today was so peaceful that even Opposition leaders conceded it on record.

Govt mulls new tax slab
May do away with exemptions
New Delhi, February 21
The government is actively contemplating increasing standard deduction, slapping higher taxes on the affluent class and doing away with exemptions on savings instruments.

• USA releases new hostage policy

PGI to be nodal centre for controlling plague
Chandigarh, February 21
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr C.P. Thakur, visited the six patients suffering from plague at the PGI here today.

• Plague patient discharged