Saturday, September 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Abu Salem

Monica Bedi

Salem nabbed in Lisbon
New Delhi, September 20
Underworld don and one of the prime accused in the Mumbai serial blasts case, Abu Salem, has been arrested in Lisbon, Portugal, while reportedly travelling with Bollywood actress Monica Bedi, sources said today. Salem, who had been eluding the police dragnet. Since the Mumbai blasts in 1993, was arrested by Interpol officials on Wednesday. He was travelling on a Portugese passport.

Release Cauvery waters: Centre
New Delhi, September 20
Union Water Resources Minister Arjun Charan Sethi today asked Karnataka to honour the Cauvery River Authority instructions and release 9,000 cusecs of water from the Kabini reservoir even as the Karnataka Government accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa of trying to politicise the Cauvery water issue.

    Editorial: Politics at its lowest ebb
    Graphic: Cauvery water dispute

Sonia promises peace, growth
Jammu, September 20
It was perhaps the biggest rally so far during the current Assembly election which Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, addressed at the Parade Ground in the heart of the city here today. Audience of around 10,000 cheered and raised slogans when Mrs Sonia Gandhi ridiculed the ruling National Conference.

    Nation page:  Sonia’s speech divisive: BJP

SC notices to govt, EC
Petitions challenging poll reforms Ordinance
New Delhi, September 20
Seeking the Centre’s stand on the August 24 Ordinance on electoral reforms which made some changes in Election Commission’s guidelines on furnishing details by a candidate about his criminal background, liabilities and assets, the Supreme Court today issued notices to the government and EC on a bunch of petitions challenging the Ordinance.

Home Dept frames charges against Ravi Kant
Panchkula, September 20
Finally tightening the noose around suspended IG Ravi Kant Sharma, the Haryana Home Department is believed to have drawn up a charge sheet against him. Sharma, the main suspect in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, has been on the run since August 2. 

Kin of ‘human bomb’ held Bathinda, September 20 The police has arrested Dara Singh, brother of ‘human bomb’ Jarnail Singh (now in Ahmedabad jail) and seized one AK-56 rifle, three magazines, 150 cartridges, one hand grenade of H.E. 69 make and 50 cartridges of .30 bore ammunition. Police sources said the recovery of weapons and other explosives was made following a disclosure by Dara Singh.