Tuesday, October 1, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 1:00 pm (IST)

17 killed in mid-air Naval aircraft collision 
New Delhi, October 1
Two aircraft of the Indian Navy collided in mid-air near Dabolim airport in Goa on Tuesday morning, according to an Indian Air Force spokesman. At least 17 persons were on board the ill-fated aircraft and were killed, a report said later.

Security umbrella for 3rd phase poll
Anantnag, September 30
Security agencies in the state are working overtime to diminish the possibility of any militant attack during the third phase of elections tomorrow. As 16 Assembly constituencies of Anantnag and Pulwama districts prepare to go to the polls, additional security has been provided in the most sensitive belts of south Kashmir.

227 in the fray   Graphic: Third phase of J&K assembly polls   Editorial: Crucial third phase A paramilitary soldier stands guard at Pulwama on Monday. Security has been beefed up in the valley for the third phase of elections on Tuesday. — Tribune photo Amin War

Minister escapes bid on life; 
Major, LeT chief shot
Srinagar, September 30
Jammu and Kashmir minister Bashir Ahmad Nengroo had a narrow escape when militants attacked his motorcade at Pulwama last evening while a polling officer from Uttar Pradesh was among four persons injured in a grenade attack on a polling booth at Pampore which goes to poll tomorrow.
J&K page:
  Disrupt poll, Pak message to ultras
  Fernandes reviews poll security

Hold Pak accountable: PM
New Delhi, September 30
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today asserted that Pakistan must be held accountable for continuing to sponsor terrorism in India.
In Video (28k, 56k)

Punjab farmers block rail, road traffic over MSP
Mansa, September 30
On a call of five kisan unions, hundreds of farmers sat in dharna here today in the railway yard railway track for four hours, hindering the flow of railway traffic. Union leaders criticised the Centre for not increasing the minimum support price of paddy.

Punjab page:
  All-party meeting tomorrow
  Dal (Mann) to attend Cong, CPI meetings
  CM to inaugurate procurement today
  Dayal takes CM to task
  Kanwaljit assures farmers of bonus

Ludhiana page: Farmers disrupt rail traffic near Phillaur, Sahnewal Farmers of different kisan unions lie on the railway track at Bhattian village, Jalandhar district, on Monday.  — Tribune photo Pradeep Tewari

Shivani murder  accused gets police remand
New Delhi, September 30
A Delhi court today remanded Ved Sharma, suspect in the journalist Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, to eight days’ police custody after he was brought here from a Haryana jail where he is serving 10 years of imprisonment in a rape case.

Strategic forces command on anvil New Delhi, September 30 The government is all set to put in place a strategic forces command which will have all strategic assets like aircraft-carrying nuclear weapons and land nuclear missiles under its command. Lt-Gen Pankaj Joshi, Chief of Integrated Staff Committee, addressing the media on the first anniversary of the setting up of the Integrated Defence Staff said today that the strategic forces command was on the anvil.