Friday, July 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Kalam elected President New Delhi, July 18 Noted missile scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was declared elected as the President today, defeating Left-backed rival Capt Lakshmi Sahgal by securing 89.58 per cent of the votes in the preferential system of elections.
In video: (28k, 56k)	Scientists hail election A dreamer extraordinaire Thanks parents, friends, professors Editorial: Man of destiny President-elect Abdul Kalam salutes an admirer after he was greeted with a bouquet outside the DRDO guest house in Khel Gaon Village in New Delhi on Thursday. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

 

3 ultras holed up in mosque shot
Jammu, July 18
Three militants holed up inside a mosque, were killed and six security personnel — a Major, a Captain, a Subedar and three policemen — (11 according to UNI) wounded in an encounter between security forces and rebels in Banihal on the Jammu-Srinagar highway today.

• Editorial page: Frankly Speaking
  USA, India and Pakistan
  Fighting terrorism requires a tough but honest approach
  

Espionage: 13 sentenced
New Delhi, July 18
The designated CBI court today sentenced Yogesh T. Maneklal, one of the main accused in the Coomar Narain espionage case, to 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment and 12 other co-accused to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment each.

HP raises old-age, widow pensions
Shimla, July 18
The Himachal government today decided to increase the Social Security Pension for the old, widows and disabled persons from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per month from August 1. The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet held here under the chairmanship of Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister.

Dabwali fire: three get jail
New Delhi, July 18
Three Dabwali fire accused were today sent to jail after the Special CBI court in Ambala confirmed the sentence, pronounced by a court earlier, asking them to undergo a two-year jail term for negligence leading to the death of more than 400 children of a school.

Shinde Oppn choice for Vice-President
New Delhi, July 18
Senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde will be the Opposition candidate against NDA nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in the August 12 vice-presidential election.

    Shekhawat files papers

Punjab writes to Centre
Heritage status for Golden Temple

Chandigarh, July 18 In keeping with its strategy of preserving the timeless heritage of the region, the Punjab Government has written to the Union Government, requesting it to declare the Golden Temple at Amritsar as a World Heritage Monument.

Golden Temple complex at Amritsar.  — Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

Heavy rain in Amritsar
Amritsar, July 18
Heavy rain brought the much-needed relief to residents of the holy city and surrounding areas today, who had been reeling under a dry spell since the last month. The rain accompanied by wind lasted about one-and-half-hour.

Panel to probe illegal mining Chandigarh, July 18 A committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests will visit Gurgaon district on July 20 to inquire into the allegations of large-scale illegal mining. The committee will study the allegations particularly in the Manesar area, situated in the Aravali range of mountains.