Wednesday, October 16, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Ultimatum to Cong, PDP
Join hands, then seek our support: Inds
Srinagar, October 15
The efforts of the Congress to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir with the support of some Independents and smaller groups received a setback today as the group of seven Independents led by the CPM MLA, Mr Mohammad Yousuf Taragami, changed its stand and announced that they will extend their support only in case the Congress and the PDP joined hands.

    Cong willing to stake claim in J&K
    Congress whisks away BJP MLA to Srinagar
    Edit page: Significance of the Assembly poll

CPM MLA Mohmmad Yousuf Taragami (centre) and other leaders of the recently-constituted J&K Democratic People’s Forum (DPF) talk to mediapersons in Srinagar on Tuesday. — Photo Amin War

Troop withdrawal on cards
Decision at CCS meeting today
New Delhi, October 15
The Atal Behari Vajpayee government is understood to be of the view that time has now come for military de-escalation with Pakistan, but a formal decision to this effect would be taken at a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security here tomorrow.

MSP for maize, mustard fixed
Patiala, October 15
Punjab Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today announced support price for rabi crops of barley, maize and mustard. She said 12,000 acres of paddy and other crops were destroyed by recent hailstorm.

	Chandigarh page: Dasehra festivities light up city Nation page: Dasehra celebrated with gaiety Ludhiana page: Demons die under tight security NCR page: A day of bonfires The effigy of Ravana goes up in flames late on Tuesday evening at the OCF ground in Sector 29, Chandigarh, on the occasion of Dasehra. — Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

ASI attached to SGPC member shot dead
Amritsar, October 15
An ASI of the Punjab police, Mr Randhir Singh, attached as personal security officer to an SGPC member, Mr Balwant Singh Dhillon, was shot dead at around 8.30 p.m. today in the Labh Nagar locality on the Ram Tirath road.

• Punjab page: SHSAD not to contest for SGPC chief’s post

• SAD, SGPC draw up contingency plan