Saturday, May 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

8 die in MiG-21 crash
Jet falls on bank building in Jalandhar

Jalandhar, May 3 Seven employees of a bank and a labourer were killed when a MiG-21 crash-landed and ripped apart the Bank of Rajasthan building in the thickly populated area of the city this morning. In video (28k, 56k)

Fire tenders try to control a devastating fire which broke out after a MiG-21 crash-landed on a bank building in Jalandhar on Friday.  — Photo J. S. Malhotra

• CM announces grant

• Ludhiana page: Their world came crashing down

• Editorial: Yet another MiG crash

IAF grounds MiG-21 fleet
New Delhi, May 3
With two of the country’s frontline fighter aircraft MiG-21 BIS having suffered the same fate in the past one month, the Indian Air Force today announced the grounding of a majority of its fleet for a complete check-up for the possible cause of crashes.

Saffron Maya woos Muslims
Lucknow, May 3
Immediately after taking oath as Chief Minister, Ms Mayawati struck a delicate balance — on the one hand defending the BJP on the Gujarat issue and on the other instilling confidence in Muslims, asking them not to get swayed by the Opposition propaganda.

K. P. S. Gill meets Advani
New Delhi, May 3
Former Punjab Police Chief K. P. S. Gill, whose appointment as the Security Adviser to the Gujarat Chief Minister has been cleared, met Union Home Minister L.K. Advani here today. The meeting lasted for about 30 minutes, sources said.

What a fall! rue lawmakers
Chandigarh, May 3

Veteran and new legislators today expressed concern over the diminishing respect for politicians, falling standards of political debates and rising political corruption that had become a way of life in the country.
88-year-old Ranbir Singh is honoured by Uttaranchal Governor Surjit Singh Barnala during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Punjab Legislative Assembly on Friday. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

• Assembly jubilee sidelights

• Punjab page: Honouring of Chohan stopped

• Editorial: Vidhan Sabha turns 50

Blackwill skirts Indians’ concern
US Ambassador Robert Blackwill must be complimented for seeking to allay the concerns of thousands of Indians regularly visiting the USA on tourist and business visas following the new regulations recently announced by the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service that may limit the duration of stay to 30 days instead of the earlier six-month period.

Former VC evades arrest
Patiala, May 3
Ousted Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia is proving to be elusive even as more than 12 senior police officers have been deputed to catch him across four states and in the union territory of Chandigarh.

Saroj Rani suspended
Patiala, May 3
Punjabi University today suspended Dr Saroj Rani, Head, Fine Arts Department, and relieved department technical assistant Jaspal Singh of duty on the ground that both had been detained on a criminal charge.

Don’t disclose confessions: HC Order to plug leaks in Sidhu case Chandigarh, May 3 Issuing notice of motion to Punjab’s Advocate-General, Mr Justice K. S. Garewal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today “completely prohibited” the state of Punjab, the investigating agency and other respondents from disclosing the details of the statements and confessions of the accused, besides the contents of the case diaries.            Punjab page        Shamsher to throw light on PPSC affairs?         Sidhu’s remand upheld        Police remand till May 7 for Dhira