Thursday, October 17, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

CCS okays troop withdrawal New Delhi, October 16 Accepting the recommendations of the National Security Advisory Board which could also start the de-escalation of tension with Pakistan, the Central Government today decided to withdraw troops deployed since December last, in a phased manner, from the international border with Pakistan.

Nation page: NSAB recommends calibrated troop withdrawal Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani at the National Security Advisory Board meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. —PTI photo

Governor extends deadline
Stalemate continues in J&K
Srinagar, October 16
Providing a breather to the three major political parties which have so far failed to cobble an alliance to reach the magic figure of 44 to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, today extended the deadline for the show of strength till 5 p.m. on October 21. 

PDP manifesto acceptable: Cong   J&K page: Panthers Party seeks CM from Jammu In video (28k, 56k) Governor G.C. Saxena shakes hands with PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad after the two met on Wednesday.  — Tribune photo Amin War

No free power to farm sector
Chandigarh, October 16
The facility of free power to operate farm tubewells stands withdrawn in Punjab. A decision to this effect was taken today by the Council of Ministers, which has accepted the Punjab State Electricity Regulatary Commission report in toto.

Sunita stripped of medals
Busan, October 16
Indian long-distance runner Sunita Rani was stripped of her Asian Games medals today after failing to pass doping tests, the organising committee said.

  Sports page: Sunita Rani alone not to blame
  Kalmadi warns Sunita of ‘strictest action’

Prices of diesel, petrol hiked
New Delhi, October 16
Government-owned oil companies today announced a 33 to 53 paise hike per litre of petrol and 32 to 57 paise per litre increase in the diesel price from midnight tonight.

2-day Haryana session from Oct 30
Chandigarh, October 16
The Haryana Cabinet today recommended to the Governor to summon a special two-day session of the State Assembly from October 30.

Rest house getting ready to ‘receive’ Badal? Pathankot, October 16 Katori Rest House situated on the border of Himachal Pradesh where Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, was kept during the tenure of the Beant Singh government is being renovated on a war-footing despite financial crunch.    Punjab page: CM: Badal’s wife, son also under scrutiny Labourers busy renovating Katori Rest House, 45 km from Pathankot, on the Himachal border where Mr Parkash Singh Badal was kept in detention during the Beant Singh regime. — Photo Rajiv Sharma