Friday, February 21, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Pak air chief killed in crash
16 other officers also die; sabotage not ruled out
Islamabad, February 20
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, his wife and 16 other officers were killed today in a plane crash in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), an official spokesman said. “They were on board a Fokker plane,” the spokesman told IANS. Among the victims were two air vice-marshals.

Vajpayee disapproves of indecent campaign

Mandi, February 20 The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today, expressed disapproval of the ‘’low’’ level of the poll propaganda indulged in by the contestants against each other in the elections to the Himachal Vidhan Sabha.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal presents a shawl to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at an election rally in Mandi on Thursday. — Tribune photo Karam Singh

VOTERS' VOICE
Respect for PM, but gratitude for Sukh Ram
Mandi, February 20
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today tried to touch a right cord with the Himachal Pradesh electorate by asking for a positive vote on development and taking a dig at political opponents and rebel candidates in his inimitable style.

Police remand for Dawood kin
Portugal to hand over Salem: govt
Mumbai, February 20
One of India’s most wanted criminals, Iqbal Hasan Sheikh Kaskar, deported here last night from Dubai, was today remanded in police custody till March 6, even as the gangster claimed that he had returned to the country on his own and not deported as stated by the authorities.
In video: Gangster Dawood Ibhrahim's younger brother Iqbal Kaskar and Ejaz Pathan, accused in 1993 Mumbai blasts case, deported to Mumbai from Dubai. (28k, 56k)

Five dead in Baramula IED blast

Srinagar, February 20 Five civilians were killed and two injured in an IED explosion in Baramula town, about 60 km north of here, this morning. The police said here that the explosion took place near the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Branch on the Tehsil Road at around 11 am.

Relatives mourn the death of Rashid in an IED blast in Baramula on Thursday. — Photo Amin War

KIDNEY SCAM
Middleman surrenders
Amritsar, February 20
In a significant development, Vickey Bhatia, key middleman in the multi-crore kidney scam, today surrendered before the Special Investigation Team (SIT). With his surrender, the SIT is likely to go into the depth of the case as he was responsible for hundreds of donors for the kidney transplants. The SIT has already initiated proceedings against him to get him declared as proclaimed offender along with a lawyer, George, on February 22.