Friday, July 5, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Mamata seeks PM’s intervention
New Delhi, July 4
After flexing her muscles during the past two days for a review of the bifurcation of Eastern Railway, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has come down several notches, seeking Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s intervention for resolving the issue.

• Editorial: Railway bifurcation plan

British Opposition Conservative Home Secretary Oliver Letwin and members of the Sikh lobby arrive at 10 Downing Street to present a petition to the government in London on Wednesday. — AP/PTI

Punjab seeks special package
Units in border dists sagging
New Delhi, July 4
The Punjab Government has urged the Centre to grant a special package of incentives for industrial units in the border areas on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir to help revive the sagging small-scale industry in the state.

LeT, Hizb may target yatra
New Delhi, July 4
Suicide squads from Pakistan-backed terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, along with the fast advancing Al-Qaida operatives, are likely to target the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra.

  J&K page: 3 Army men killed in J&K

Standoff may not end before J&K poll
New Delhi, July 4
Indo-Pakistan relations are currently stuck in a groove and this logjam is expected to continue till the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are over, well-placed sources said here today.

      Pakistan sets up airbase
      Nation page: 'De-escalation after Pak ends terror'

2 die in shooting at airport
Los Angeles, July 4
Gunfire erupted today at the ticket counter of Israel’s El Al airlines at Los Angeles international airport, killing two persons, the police said.

Pro-LTTE Vaiko booked under POTA
Madurai, July 4
Two days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha declared her government’s intention to arrest MDMK chief Vaiko, MP, for his pro-LTTE utterances, the police today registered an FIR against Vaiko and eight others under POTA and unlawful activities act in what is considered to be a prelude to arresting him for his statements.

Jagmohan for cut in air travel tax
New Delhi, July 4
Concerned over the fall in international tourist inflow into the country after the September 11 attack on the USA, Union Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan has urged the Finance Ministry to reduce air travel tax and duties in aviation turbine fuel to make the aviation sector more competitive to attract more tourists.

    Nation page: Survey: India safe for foreign tourists

Another death due to tubectomy Victim discharged one hour after operation Bathinda, July 4 Rani, a 24-year-old mother of three small children allegedly died a few hours after a tubectomy operation was performed on her in the Civil Hospital, Raman Mandi, 40 km from here, yesterday afternoon.  Family members of Rani, who died a few hours after a tubectomy operation at a civil hospital, register their protest to the Civil Surgeon at Bathinda on Thursday. — Photo Kulbir Beera