CBI directed to quiz five top officials in Taj corridor case
New Delhi, August 21
Indicating that at least five important persons, including some high-ranking officials of the Uttar Pradesh Government were involved in sanctioning the controversial Rs 175 crore Taj Heritage Corridor project in Agra as per the CBI’s interim report, the Supreme Court today directed the agency to interrogate them immediately and verify their assets.

Man kills wife, shoots at son, daughter

SAS Nagar, August 21 It was a depressing morning for the township with households turning into scenes of heinous crimes. While in Phase 10 here, a man shot dead his wife, before shooting at his teenage stepdaughter and six-year-old son, in another incident at village Chandiala, a 22-year-old woman was burnt to death while her husband is battling for life with over 80 per cent burns. (Details on Chandigarh page)

Blood stains on the diwan cover are gory reminder of the murder in SAS Nagar on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Probe into Badal assets to be over by November-end
CM promises power to farmers
Naushera Pattan (Gurdaspur), August 21
Virtually ridiculing Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s charge that the Congress government had adopted a political vendetta against its political rivals, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said Mr Advani’s statement was “shameful”.

  Punjab page: 10 supporters of Vinod Khanna, SAD booked 
  MLA demands CM’s resignation
  Editorial: Bridge that divides

Liver transplant gives new lease of life to
9-year-old
New Delhi, August 21
Nine-year-old Aarti suffering from cryptogenic cirrhosis has survived the merciless verdict of terminal illness. On the morning of Independence Day, Ganga Ram Hospital’s liver transplant team spread smiles as Aarti was wheeled out of the operation theatre after a 12-hour-long surgery.

Plan to introduce Bill on cow slaughter shelved
New Delhi, August 21
In the face of stiff opposition from its crucial allies, the government today beat a retreat in the Lok Sabha and shelved plans for introduction of a Bill for banning cow slaughter but decided to convene an all-party meeting in a bid to evolve a consensus.

Ranjit Singh’s statue unveiled in Parliament House New Delhi, August 21 Sikh leaders finally got their due place in the Parliament complex with the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today unveiling the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh riding a horse and the portraits of Master Tara Singh and Baba Kharak Singh, who left an impeccable mark on the polity of Punjab. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, along with other leaders, poses for a group photo after unveiling the portraits of Bankim Chander Chattopadhyay, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Master Tara Singh, Dr B. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah Pantulu, Dr K. Munshi and Baba Kharak Singh at Parliament House in New Delhi on Thursday. — PTI photo