Sunday, March 9, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

ULFA ultras bomb Digboi Refinery
Guwahati, March 8
Banned ULFA separatists in Assam today carried out a series of attacks setting on fire a 5,000 KL petrol tank at the famous Digboi Refinery, blasting a gas pipeline nearby, attacking a police post and a commando barrack and firing at a Bihari settlement killing two persons and injuring six others. The two deaths took place in Lower Assam’s Goalpara district where a police outpost was attacked.

Akali unity on the cards
New Delhi, March 8
The unity move between Akali leaders Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra today got a fresh shot in the arm with Mr Badal driving down to the Capital to attend an “akhand paath” organised at the residence of the former Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president.

SAD President Parkash Singh Badal and General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa exchange greetings with Gurcharan Singh Tohra at his residence in the Capital on Saturday.
— Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

SSSB Chairman’s house sealed
Hamirpur, March 8
A team of the enforcement wing of the police today conducted a search of the State Subordinate Selection Board here after sealing the office premises. There were allegations of the board giving jobs to near and dear ones of BJP leaders, workers and those having connections with the management.

The main gate of the residence of the Chairman of the HP State Subordinate Selection Board at Hamirpur which was sealed by the Enforcement Department of Himachal police on Saturday. — Photo Chander Shekhar Sharma

‘Terrorist’ commits suicide, another held
Sahnewal, March 8
A suspected terrorist was caught while his accomplice committed suicide in a ‘‘controversial’’ encounter between the police at Sahnewal on National Highway No. 1 today afternoon. The two were allegedly members of a Jammu and Kashmir -based terrorist organisation and had links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Punjab Cabinet expansion on Monday
Chandigarh, March 8
The Punjab Council of Ministers will be expanded on March 10. Informed sources said the Congress High Command had cleared the list of MLAs to be inducted as ministers by the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. Portfolios of certain ministers are also expected to be changed.

TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Fake currency notes flood Punjab Jalandhar, March 8 Fake currency worth crores of rupees, printed by a number of gangs based in Doaba region and adjoining districts with the help of hi-tech equipment, including fine textile printers, and circulated in Punjab and adjoining states has started giving sleepless nights to big establishments and has resulted in harassment to the common man. Original-looking fake notes of the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 50, the circulation of which is common in the Doaba region of Punjab. — Photo Pradip