Sunday, March 17, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Flareup claims 5 lives in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, March 16 One person was stabbed to death while another killed in alleged police firing in fresh spurt of violence in Gujarat today, taking the death toll to five since tension flared yesterday. In video (28k, 56k) A plainclothesman shows pointed weapons seized from rioters in the Dudhashwar area of Ahmedabad on Saturday. — PTI photo

   Gujarat carnage: gutted homes, divided hearts
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LPG cheaper by Rs 20
New Delhi, March 16
In an apparent sign of succumbing to public and political pressure, the Centre today announced a partial rollback of the hike in LPG prices and from tomorrow, an LPG cylinder will cost Rs 20 less than the existing price.

• Indian LPG, kerosene prices lowest in South Asia

Oil PSUs not to hike price of petrol,
diesel: Naik
New Delhi, March 16
Petroleum Minister Ram Naik today ruled out the possibility of any increase or decrease in the prices of petroleum products, including LPG or kerosene, till the middle of this year.

Peace in Ayodhya must: PM
New Delhi, March 16
In an firm expression of the government’s Ayodhya policy, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said the issue should not be allowed to become a "festering sore".
In video (28k, 56k)

VHP: House should find solution
Disfavours court settlement
Ayodhya, March 16
A day after the peaceful conduct of the shila daan ceremony, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which is spearheading the Ayodhya movement, today stressed that it was the responsibility of Parliament to find a solution to this vexed issue as it could not be resolved through courts.

VHP’s temple strategy takes back seat
New Delhi, March 16
With the shila daan being performed peacefully in Ayodhya yesterday, the Atal Behari Vajpayee government firmly believes that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad cannot draw up a strategy for another build-up on the mandir issue in the immediate future. 

I saved govt’s honour: Mahant
Ayodhya, March 16
A day after his shila daan programme ended in an anti-climax, Ram Janambhoomi Nyas President Ramchandradas Paramhans today sought to justify the change of venue, saying that he had saved the government’s honour and asserted that the Ram Temple could be built only through the use of force.

• Nation page: How govt prevailed upon Sangh Parivar

• NDA united over Ayodhya: BJP

Mandi water found contaminated
Mandi, March 16
The Superintending Engineer, Irrigation and Public Health, Mr Ashok Mahajan, while addressing a news conference here today disclosed that the results of the samples taken of over a dozen natural water springs and tanks, in the wake of the outbreak of hepatitis-E (jaundice), had been found to be contaminated.

Cong leaders unite for Malout poll Malout, March 16 To counter the major setbacks suffered by the Congress in the region to which former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal belongs, in the Assembly elections, the Congress leadership, while showing unusual cohesiveness today, appealed to the people to exercise their franchise decisively on April 4. From left: Mr Surinder Singla, Capt Amarinder Singh, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar at an election rally at Malout on Saturday.  — Photo Kulbir Beera