Wednesday, July 17, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Opposition attacks govt on ways to end terror
New Delhi, July 16
The Opposition today made a scathing attack on the NDA Government in the Lok Sabha for failing to check the massacre of civilians in Jammu and Kashmir and instead repeatedly raising the Pakistan phobia and excessive reliance on the US intervention to contain cross-border terrorism.

Advani rules out division of J & K
Adjournment motion on Qasim Nagar massacre defeated
New Delhi, July 16
Even as Opposition-sponsored adjournment motion to discuss the July 13 terrorist massacre at Qasim Nagar, near Jammu, and the failure of the Centre to combat cross-border terrorism was today defeated in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote after the entire Opposition had staged walkout, the Vajpayee government firmly rejected the trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir as demanded by the RSS.
Videos:
Advani tells Parliament the government will fight its own battle against terrorism; rules out trifurcation of J&K and says the government is committed to ensure free and fair elections in the state. (28k, 56k)
The BJP holds a meeting before Deputy Prime Minister L. K.Advani makes a statement in Parliament over the recent massacre by militants in Jammu. (28k, 56k)

Forces shot civilians Victims had ‘no link’ with Chhattisinghpora killings Srinagar, July 16 Belying claims by security forces, forensic evidence has established that the five persons killed by security personnel two years ago in Anantnag district were innocent civilians and not terrorists even as Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today sought a CBI inquiry into the alleged fudging of their DNA samples by state government officials.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah addresses members of the state Assembly at the commencement of the Assembly summer session in Srinagar on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Amin War

In video: A stormy session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly begins for the first time in Srinagar after the October 1 militant attack last year. (28k, 56k)

7-yr-old battered to death
Mehsampur (Jalandhar), July 16
In a macabre incident, a seven-year-old child was battered to death, allegedly by a group of villagers after being subjected to sodomy.

Government braces for monsoon failure
New Delhi, July 16
The country’s food inventory was sufficient to meet any failure of the monsoon but farmers could be hit by poor rainfall. Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said the government was ready with a contingency plan in case the monsoon failed but was hopeful that rains would lash North India within the next week.

HC for panel to review criminal case delays
Chandigarh, July 16
In an order expected to benefit “thousands” of litigants aggrieved by the failure of the prosecuting agency to probe criminal cases without delay in the states of Punjab and Haryana, besides the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered the setting up of a review committee under the chairmanship of a Home Secretary within two weeks.

34 missing students traced
Allege maltreatment at the hands of staff
Zira (Ferozepore), July 16
Thirtyfour students of class X of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, who had gone missing on Sunday night, were traced at Dera Radha Swami Beas today and brought back to the school. The incident has kicked off a row between students, parents and the school administration. The students alleged maltreatment at the hands of some teaching and non-teaching staff members.

Tohra to revive “original SAD” Chandigarh, July 16 Mr G.S. Tohra is proactive working for a “Panthic convention” at Akal Takht to revive the “the original” Shiromani Akali Dal, which over the decades, has several times got divided into fractions and factions. Mr G.S. Tohra (left) at a press conference in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph