Thursday, May 1, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

FM rules out VAT from June 1
Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill
New Delhi, April 30
In a clear signal of buckling under political pressure from both within and outside the NDA establishment, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh today sugarcoated the Budget proposals and announced a slew of measures, virtually ruling out the proposed VAT regime from June 1, 2003.

Bihar BJP leader shot dead
Khagaul (Bihar), April 30
Senior BJP leader Satyanarain Sinha was shot dead allegedly by RJD workers at a village in Patna district today, provoking violence in the area that left eight persons, including six policemen, injured.
In video (28k, 56k)

RJD vows to fight fascist forces A litter of stones is all that is left after the police ran away as RJD supporters hurled stones on them in Patna on Wednesday. — PTI photo

A-I suspends IPG chief, 27 pilots move court
Mumbai, April 30
The Air-India today came down heavily on the derecognised Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) by suspending its president, Capt Kenneth Khan, even as 27 aggrieved pilots moved the Mumbai High Court, challenging their suspension amid signs of chinks among the strikers.

Conflicting reports on SARS case
World page: Indian dies of SARS in Singapore

J&K minister’s house attacked
Phone exchange damaged in IED blast
Srinagar, April 30
Three days after an attempt on the life of Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, militants attacked his house with grenades and automatic weapons near Baramula, 60 km north of here, late last night, even as a telephone exchange was damaged in an IED blast in Rajouri district.

Ultras may have chemical weapons: Army
Jammu, April 30
Are the terrorists from Pakistan and Afghanistan operating in Jammu and Kashmir being armed with chemical weapons by their mentors? Intelligence reports indicate that fresh group of terrorists infiltrating here might be equipped with chemical weapons.
In video: Jammu and Kashmir DGP Ashok Suri says infiltration from across the border has gone up in the past two months. (56k)

PM’s offer to Pak bold step: UK
Boost in Indo-Pak ties expected
Nation page: MPs question PM’s offer to Pak

Justice Verma tipped to succeed Jacob
New Delhi, April 30
The Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta, Justice Om Prakash Verma, is tipped to succeed Lt Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) as Governor of Punjab, sources here said today.

Ex-HC judge Mukherjee arrested
New Delhi, April 30
For the first time in the history of the higher judiciary, a former high court judge was today arrested by the CBI in an alleged corruption case.

Spotted beasts on the prowl
Shimla, April 30
Prowling leopards are giving sleepless nights to villagers in the lower hill areas of Arki, Balh and Dehra. About 15 incidents of the spotted animals attacking human beings have been reported from these areas in the last two months.

VB raids on health centres Chandigarh, April 30 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, in its drive against corruption and other malpractices in government departments, conducted state-wide surprise checking of 324 primary health centres (PHCs) and dispensaries of the Health Department, Punjab, and found 91 doctors, 49 ANMs, 34 pharmacists, 19 multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) besides 295 others absent from duty.